1 Chronicles 20 - Introduction

XX.

(1) The siege and storm of Rabbah. Completion of the Ammonite campaign (1 Chronicles 20:1). (2) A fragment, relating how three heroes of Israel slew three Philistine giants (1 Chronicles 20:4).

Section (1) is parallel to 2 Samuel 11:1; 2 Samuel 12:26; 2 Samuel 12:30. The chronicler omits the long intervening account of David’s guilt in relation to Uriah and Bathsheba, not because he had any thought of wiping out the memory of David’s crimes (an object quite beyond his power to secure, even if he had desired it, unless he could first have destroyed every existing copy of Samuel), but because that story of shame and reproach did not harmonise with the plan and purpose of his work, which was to portray the bright side of the reign of David, as founder of the legitimate dynasty and organiser of the legitimate worship.