Keraia
2 Samuel 12

2 Samuel 12:31

The Capture of Rabbah · 2 Samuel 12:26–31
Read 2 Samuel 12

Translations

Modern
David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
Traditional
And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
Literal
And the people who were in it he brought out, and he set them to the saw, and to picks of iron, and to axes of iron, and he made pass through to the brick kilns. And so he did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
Latin
…populum quoque ejus adducens serravit, et circumegit super eos ferrata carpenta: divisitque cultris, et traduxit in typo laterum: sic fecit universis civitatibus filiorum Ammon. Et reversus est David et omnis exercitus in Jerusalem.

Original

Hebrew
English
David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

Notes

2 Samuel 12:31

He also enslaved the people of Rabbah, forcing them to work. Enslaving defeated peoples followed the rules in Deuteronomy 20:11. Solomon later did the same with the Canaanites (1 Kings 9:20–22; see also Judges 1:30, 33). Another interpretation suggests the defeated Ammonites were tortured (compare textual note on 1 Chronicles 20:3).

2 Samuel 12:26–31

David's fight with the Ammonites, which began in 2 Samuel 10, ended in success.

2 Samuel 12:1–31

Chapter 12 expands on the final part of 2 Samuel 11:27.

Theme notes and profiles

David Hittites Dealing with Conflict

Events

Parallels

1 Chronicles 20:1–3

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ

Places

Ammon: An ancient nation and its capital city, enemies of Israel Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

Glossary

Ammon, Ammonites David Hanun Hittites Joab King Kings, Books of First and Second Minerals and Metals Psalms, Book of Samuel, Books of First and Second Slave, Slavery

Topics

Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Harrow Ammonites: Defeated by the Israelites Ax: An Implement Brick-Kiln: Captives Tortured In Brick: Made by Israelites Captive: Cruelty to Tortured Under Saws and Harrows David: King of Israel: Ammonites Defeated and Tortured Harrow: An Agricultural Implement Used As an Instrument of Torture Iron: First Recorded Use of Harrow Iron: Made Into: Implements for Husbandry Prisoners of War: Put to Death Rabbah: Also Called Rabbath: Captured by David Saw used As an Instrument of Torture The Ammonites of Rabbah Reduced to Hard Bondage