Thematic Bible: Captures rabbah
Thematic Bible
Joab » Son of david's sister » Captures rabbah
In the spring, at the time of the year when kings usually go to war, David sent out Joab with his officers and the Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged the city of Rabbah. David stayed in Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, Joab fought against the Ammonite city of Rabbah and captured its royal fortress. He sent messengers to tell David: I fought against Rabbah and captured the fortress guarding its water supply. Assemble the rest of the troops. Surround the city and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city. Then it will be named after me. read more.
David assembled the rest of the army and attacked Rabbah. He captured the city.
David assembled the rest of the army and attacked Rabbah. He captured the city.
The letter said: Put Uriah on the front line where the fighting is the worst. Pull the troops back from him, so that he will be wounded and die. Joab carefully watched the city of Rabbah. He put Uriah in a place where he knew there were some of the enemy's best soldiers. The men of the city came out and fought Joab. Some of David's mercenaries fell and died. This included Uriah the Hittite. read more.
Joab sent a messenger to report to David all the details of the battle. And he commanded the messenger: When you finish telling the king about the battle, the king may become angry. He might ask you: 'Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Did you not know they would shoot from the wall?' Who killed Jerubbesheth's son Abimelech? Did a woman on the wall of Thebez throw a small millstone at him and kill him? Why did you go so close to the wall? If the king asks this, tell him: 'Your man Uriah the Hittite is also dead.' The messenger left. When he arrived he reported to David everything Joab told him to say. The messenger said to David: Their men overpowered us when they came to attack us in the field. Then we forced them back to the entrance of the city gate. The archers on the wall shot down at your mercenaries. Some of Your Majesty's mercenaries died. Your man Uriah the Hittite also is dead. David replied: This is what you are to say to Joab: 'Do not let this thing trouble you. After all a sword can kill one person as easily as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and destroy it. Say this to encourage him.'
Joab sent a messenger to report to David all the details of the battle. And he commanded the messenger: When you finish telling the king about the battle, the king may become angry. He might ask you: 'Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Did you not know they would shoot from the wall?' Who killed Jerubbesheth's son Abimelech? Did a woman on the wall of Thebez throw a small millstone at him and kill him? Why did you go so close to the wall? If the king asks this, tell him: 'Your man Uriah the Hittite is also dead.' The messenger left. When he arrived he reported to David everything Joab told him to say. The messenger said to David: Their men overpowered us when they came to attack us in the field. Then we forced them back to the entrance of the city gate. The archers on the wall shot down at your mercenaries. Some of Your Majesty's mercenaries died. Your man Uriah the Hittite also is dead. David replied: This is what you are to say to Joab: 'Do not let this thing trouble you. After all a sword can kill one person as easily as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and destroy it. Say this to encourage him.'
In the spring, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led the army to war. They destroyed the Ammonites and came to Rabbah to attack it, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down. David took the gold crown from the head of Rabbah's king. It was placed on David's head. The crown was found to weigh seventy-five pounds, and in it was a precious stone. David also took a lot of goods from the city.