1 Chronicles Chapter 20
Showing all 8 verses for 1 Chronicles Chapter 20.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"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 of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it. "
"The following spring, at the time when kings usually went out to war, Joab led the army out, devastated the land of the Ammonites, and laid siege to their capital, Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and destroyed it."
What gets left out of a story sometimes matters as much as what's included - I care about the whole truth of a person's life, including the parts they'd rather not have remembered, so be honest with yourself even when others aren't looking.
"And 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. "
"David took the crown off the Ammonite king's head - it weighed about thirty-four kilograms of gold and was set with precious stones - and it was placed on David's own head. He also brought a great amount of plunder out of the city."
Trophies and wealth won through conflict can look impressive, but they say nothing about the state of a person's heart - measure your life by more than what you've accumulated or conquered.
"And 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. "
"David brought out the people of the city and put them to hard labour with saws, iron picks, and axes. He did the same to all the other Ammonite cities. Then David and his army returned to Jerusalem."
I won't pretend history's violence away, but I also won't ask you to imitate it - what matters now is how you treat people who are vulnerable or defeated in your own life, and I call you to mercy, not domination, whenever you hold power over someone else.
"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 children of the giant: and they were subdued. "
"After this, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the giants, and the Philistines were subdued."
Not every meaningful act of courage gets a big spotlight - Sibbechai's victory is recorded by name even though he's not one of the most famous figures in the story, and I notice and value the courage of people who never become well known.
"And 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. "
"There was another war with the Philistines, and Elhanan, son of Jair, killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear shaft was as thick as a weaver's beam."
Great victories often run in families or patterns - one person's courage can inspire others to face the very things that once seemed unbeatable, in their own time and their own way.
"And 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. "
"There was still more war, this time at Gath, against a huge man who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot - twenty-four in total - and who was also descended from the giants."
What looks unbeatable or overwhelming on the outside doesn't determine the outcome - courage and conviction can still overcome whatever intimidates you, however unusual or powerful it appears.
"But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him. "
"When this giant taunted and defied Israel, Jonathan, the son of David's brother Shimea, killed him."
Arrogance and contempt for others eventually meets its match - don't build your confidence on looking down on people, because the very thing you scorn may be exactly what brings you down.
"These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. "
"These giant warriors were all descendants of the giant of Gath, and they were all killed by David or by his soldiers."
The credit for good things accomplished doesn't always belong to one person alone - a wise leader shares the honour of victory with everyone whose courage made it possible, and so should you.