20
David Defeats the Philistines
(2 Samuel 11:1; 12:26–31; 21:15–22)
1 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. 2 He took the gold crown from the head of Rabbah’s king and put it on David’s head. (The crown was found to weigh 75 pounds, and in it was a precious stone.) David also took a lot of goods from the city. 3 He brought out the troops who were there and put them to work with saws, hoes, and axes.* He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the troops returned to Jerusalem.
4 After this, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. Then Sibbecai from Hushah† killed Sippai, a descendant of Haraphah, and the Philistines were defeated. 5 When more fighting broke out with the Philistines, Elhanan, son of Jair, killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath from Gath. (The shaft of Lahmi’s spear was like a beam used by weavers.) 6 In another battle at Gath, there was a tall man who had 24 fingers and toes: six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He also was a descendant of Haraphah. 7 When he challenged Israel, Jonathan, son of David’s brother Shimea, killed him. 8 These ⌞men⌟ were the descendants of Haraphah from Gath, and David and his men killed them.
* 20:3 One Hebrew manuscript, 2 Samuel 12:31; other Hebrew manuscripts “saws.” † 20:4 Or “a descendant of Hushah.”