The big picture
1 Chronicles 20 opens in verse 1 with “And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 4 with “And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at…”, and closes in verse 8 with “These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the…” Repeated or prominent terms include David, children, giant, hand, slew. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Chronicles · King James Version · 81 Chronicles 20:1-8
1–8: It came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings…
1 Chronicles 20:1–8 opens with “And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle…” and reaches “These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 20 develops its own movement around David, children, giant, hand, slew, with particular weight carried by David, children, giant.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.
“And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even…” Naming David and Ammon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the…” Naming Elhanan and Gittite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him.” Naming David and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 20:1-8
King James Version1And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.
2And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David’s head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.
3And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
4And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.
5And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver’s beam.
6And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant.
7But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him.
8These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Chronicles 20:1 begins with “And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country…”
Where the chapter turns
1 Chronicles 20:4 forms a natural hinge: “And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the…”
The final note
1 Chronicles 20:8 leaves the reader with “These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words David, children, giant, hand, slew, Ammon help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What assumption drives Abraham's deception?
He assumes there is no fear of God in the place and that he will be killed.
How does the chapter expose that assumption?
Abimelech responds seriously to God's warning and confronts Abraham about wrongdoing.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.