King James Version

1 Chronicles 20:1

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.

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Hebrew

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וַיְהִ֡יvayhiand beהָיָהconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and be”, the next action in the storyH1961to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use.לְעֵת֩leetto whenעֵתpreposition, noun, common, both genders, singular, construct — “to when”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6256time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.[phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when.תְּשׁוּבַ֨תteshuvatanswerתְּשׁוּבָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “answer”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH8666a recurrence (of time or place); a reply (as returned)answer, be expired, return.הַשָּׁנָ֜הhashanahthe yearשָׁנֶהdefinite article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “the year”, the ordinary formH8141a year (as a revolution of time)[phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly).לְעֵ֣תleetto whenעֵתpreposition, noun, common, both genders, singular, construct — “to when”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6256time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.[phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when.צֵ֣אתtsetbring forthיָצָאverb, qal, infinitive construct — “bring forth”, the to-form of the verbH3318to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.[idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail…הַמְּלָכִ֗יםhamlakhimthe kingמֶלֶךְdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “the king”, the ordinary formH4428a kingking, royal.וַיִּנְהַ֣גvayinhagand carry awayנָהַגconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and carry away”, the next action in the storyH5090to drive forth (a person, an animal or chariot), i.e. lead, carry away; reflexively, to proceed (i.e. impel or guide oneself); also (from the panting induced by effort), to sighacquaint, bring (away), carry away, drive (away), lead (away, forth), (be) guide, lead (away, forth).יוֹאָב֩yoavJoabיוֹאָבnoun, proper name — “Joab”H3097Joab, the name of three IsraelitesJoab.אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).חֵ֨ילcheylarmyחֵילnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “army”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH2426an army; also (by analogy,) an intrenchmentarmy, bulwark, host, [phrase] poor, rampart, trench, wall.הַצָּבָ֜אhatsavathe armyצָבָאdefinite article, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “the army”, the ordinary formH6635a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship)appointed time, ([phrase]) army, ([phrase]) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).וַיַּשְׁחֵ֣תvayashchetand batterשָׁחַתconjunction, verb, hiphil, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and batter”, the next action in the storyH7843to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)batter, cast off, corrupt(-er, thing), destroy(-er, -uction), lose, mar, perish, spill, spoiler, [idiom] utterly, waste(-r).אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).אֶ֣רֶץeretsearthאֶרֶץnoun, common, both genders, singular, construct — “earth”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH776the earth (at large, or partitively a land)[idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.בְּנֵֽיbenesonבֵּןnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct — “son”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)[phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, […עַמּ֗וֹןamonAmmonעַמּוֹןnoun, proper name — “Ammon”H5983Ammon, a son of Lot; also his posterity and their countryAmmon, Ammonites.וַיָּבֹא֙vayavoand to comeבּוֹאconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and to come”, the next action in the storyH935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat,…וַיָּ֣צַרvayatsarand adversaryצוּרconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and adversary”, the next action in the storyH6696to cramp, i.e. confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile)adversary, assault, beset, besiege, bind (up), cast, distress, fashion, fortify, inclose, lay siege, put up in bags.אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).רַבָּ֔הrabahRabbahרַבָּהnoun, proper name — “Rabbah”H7237Rabbah, the name of two places in Palestine, East and WestRabbah, Rabbath.וְדָוִ֖ידvedavidand Davidדָּוִדconjunction, noun, proper name — “and David”H1732David, the youngest son of JesseDavid.יֹשֵׁ֣בyoshevdwellיָשַׁבverb, qal, participle, absolute — “dwell”, a verb used as a describing wordH3427properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry(make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, r…בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑םbirushalimin Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםpreposition, noun, proper name — “in Jerusalem”H3389Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of PalestineJerusalem.וַיַּ֥ךְvayakhand strikeנָכָהconjunction, verb, hiphil, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and strike”, the next action in the storyH5221to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound.יוֹאָ֛בyoavJoabיוֹאָבnoun, proper name — “Joab”H3097Joab, the name of three IsraelitesJoab.אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).רַבָּ֖הrabahRabbahרַבָּהnoun, proper name — “Rabbah”H7237Rabbah, the name of two places in Palestine, East and WestRabbah, Rabbath.וַיֶּֽהֶרְסֶֽהָvayehersehaand breakהָרַסconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “and break”, the next action in the storyH2040to pull down or in pieces, break, destroybeat down, break (down, through), destroy, overthrow, pluck down, pull down, ruin, throw down, [idiom] utterly.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

And it came to pass, at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that 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 overthrew it.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

And it came to pass, at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle , that Joab led forth 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 overthrew it.

Young’s Literal Translation

And it cometh to pass, at the time of the turn of the year — at the time of the going out of the messengers — that Joab leadeth out the force of the host, and destroyeth the land of the sons of Ammon, and cometh in and beseigeth Rabbah — David is abiding in Jerusalem — and Joab smiteth Rabbah, and breaketh it down.

World English Bible

At the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out, Joab led out the army and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.

Darby Translation

And it came to pass at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go forth, that Joab led forth the power of the army, and laid waste the land of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David abode at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and overthrew it.

Douay-Rheims

And it came to pass after the course of a year, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab gathered together an army and the strength of the troops, and wasted the land of the children of Ammon: and went and besieged Rabba. But David stayed at Jerusalem, when Joab smote Rabba, and destroyed it.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

And it came to pass at the return of the year, at the time of the going forth of kings to war , that Joab gathered the whole force of the army, and they ravaged the land of the children of Ammon; and he came and besieged Rabba. But David abode in Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabba and destroyed it.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἐπιόντι ἔτει ἐν τῇ ἐξόδῳ τῶν βασιλέων καὶ ἤγαγεν Ἰωὰβ πᾶσαν τὴν δὺναμιν τῆς στρατείας, καὶ ἔφθειραν τὴν χώραν υἱῶν Ἀμμών· καὶ ἦλθεν καὶ περιεκάθισεν τὴν Ῥάββαν. καὶ Δαυεὶδ ἐκάθητο ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ· καὶ ἐπάταξεν τὴν Ῥαββὰ καὶ κατέσκαψεν αὐτήν.