1 Chronicles 20:1-8
1 And it came to pass, that aftera 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.
2 And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weighb 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.
3 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.
4 And it came to pass after this, that there arosec 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.
5 And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jaird slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam.
6 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.
7 But when he defiede Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him.
8 These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
Joab's conquest of the children of Ammon was complete. They were despoiled of their possessions and reduced to servitude. There is practically no doubt that this is the meaning of the story as it is written here. In the Revised Version, verse 1 Chronicles 20:3, if the italicized word "them" is omitted, this sense is at once apparent. The people were put to the menial work of cutting with saws, with harrows, and with axes. The last mention of David's wars by the chronicler occupies the latter half of this chapter. It tells of the defeat of the Philistines at Gezer.
There is a statement in the first verse which is full of significance. "But David tarried at Jerusalem." That is the only reference in this Book to the most awful sin and failure of David's career. Its insertion would have no meaning in the purpose of this Book, but we ought not to allow ourselves to forget the warning it affords. Nothing is more subtly dangerous to the man of faith than to remain inactive when the business of God demands that he be out on the field of conflict. How many have found the place of ease to be of deadliest peril when the enterprises of God were calling them to strenuous endeavor. It is a very old adage, and very simple, and we are inclined to smile at it, but it is well to remember, not only in childhood, but to the end of the pathway, that Satan finds some mischief still For idle hands to do.
If I ought to be at Rabbah with the army, and am not, some Bathsheba waits to work my ruin.