United Commentaries

1Chr.18.1-20.8

This section recounts David’s wars and military achievements, presenting David as the great warrior of Israel’s history. This account relates the public and political aspects of David’s enemies, but it deals very little with their private affairs.

Three distinct sections reflect accounts in Samuel: (1) the battles in the expansion of the kingdom (18:1-17; see 2 Sam 8:1-16); (2) the battle against the Ammonites (1 Chr 19:1–20:3; see 2 Sam 10:1–11:1; 12:30-31); and (3) the exploits of David’s mighty men (1 Chr 20:4-8; see 2 Sam 21:18-22). Each section begins with a chronological transition (after this) that loosely joins these events (1 Chr 18:1; 19:1; 20:4).

1Chr.20.1-3

This war against the Ammonites was the context of David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:2–12:25), which the Chronicler omits.