2 Samuel 12:26
New International Version
Meanwhile Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal citadel.

New Living Translation
Meanwhile, Joab was fighting against Rabbah, the capital of Ammon, and he captured the royal fortifications.

English Standard Version
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city.

Berean Standard Bible
Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress.

King James Bible
And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

New King James Version
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city.

New American Standard Bible
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and captured the royal city.

NASB 1995
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon and captured the royal city.

NASB 1977
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and captured the royal city.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Joab fought against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon and captured the royal city.

Amplified Bible
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city.

Christian Standard Bible
Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress.

American Standard Version
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

Contemporary English Version
Meanwhile, Joab had been in the country of Ammon, attacking the city of Rabbah. He captured the royal fortress

English Revised Version
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Meanwhile, Joab fought against the Ammonite city of Rabbah and captured its royal fortress.

Good News Translation
Meanwhile Joab continued his campaign against Rabbah, the capital city of Ammon, and was about to capture it.

International Standard Version
Meanwhile, Joab attacked the Ammonite city of Rabbah and captured its stronghold.

Majority Standard Bible
Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress.

NET Bible
So Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city.

New Heart English Bible
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

World English Bible
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Joab fights against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and captures the royal city,

Young's Literal Translation
And Joab fighteth against Rabbah of the Bene-Ammon, and captureth the royal city,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joab will fight against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and he will take the city of the kingdom.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Joab fought against Rabbath of the children of Ammon, and laid close siege to the royal city.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And then Joab fought against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and he fought outside the royal city.

New American Bible
Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured that royal city.

New Revised Standard Version
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and took the royal city.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Joab fought against Rabbath of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yuab fought with Rabbath of the sons of Amun and seized the city of the kingdom
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joab fought against Rabbath of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Capture of Rabbah
26Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress. 27Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have captured the water supply of the city.…

Cross References
1 Chronicles 20:1-3
In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war, Joab led out the army and ravaged the land of the Ammonites. He came to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. And Joab attacked Rabbah and demolished it. / Then David took the crown from the head of their king. It was found to weigh a talent of gold and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s head. And David took a great amount of plunder from the city. / David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes. And he did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1
In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war, David sent out Joab and his servants with the whole army of Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 5:6-10
Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.” / Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). / On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David.” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.” ...

2 Samuel 8:1-2
Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines. / David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

1 Kings 11:15-16
Earlier, when David was in Edom, Joab the commander of the army had gone to bury the dead and had struck down every male in Edom. / Joab and all Israel had stayed there six months, until he had killed every male in Edom.

1 Chronicles 18:11-12
and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had carried off from all these nations—from Edom and Moab, and from the Ammonites, Philistines, and Amalekites. / Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

2 Kings 12:17
At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he decided to attack Jerusalem.

2 Kings 14:7
Amaziah struck down 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He took Sela in battle and called it Joktheel, which is its name to this very day.

2 Kings 16:5-6
Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to wage war against Jerusalem. They besieged Ahaz but could not overcome him. / At that time Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram, drove out the men of Judah, and sent the Edomites into Elath, where they live to this day.

2 Kings 18:8
He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its borders, from watchtower to fortified city.

2 Kings 19:35-37
And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! / So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. / One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

Isaiah 37:36-38
Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! / So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. / One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

Jeremiah 49:2
Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites. It will become a heap of ruins, and its villages will be burned. Then Israel will drive out their dispossessors, says the LORD.

Ezekiel 25:14
I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’

Amos 1:13-15
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their territory. / So I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah to consume its citadels amid war cries on the day of battle and a violent wind on the day of tempest. / Their king will go into exile—he and his princes together,” says the LORD.


Treasury of Scripture

And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

Joab

2 Samuel 11:25
Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.

1 Chronicles 20:1
And it came to pass, that after 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.

Rabbah.

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Ammon Ammonites Bene-Ammon Captured Captureth Children Citadel City Fighteth Fighting Fought Joab Jo'ab Meanwhile Rabbah Royal
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Ammon Ammonites Bene-Ammon Captured Captureth Children Citadel City Fighteth Fighting Fought Joab Jo'ab Meanwhile Rabbah Royal
2 Samuel 12
1. Nathan's parable of the ewe lamb causes David to be his own judge.
7. David, reproved by Nathan, confesses his sin, and is pardoned
15. David mourns and prays for the child while it lives
24. Solomon is born, and named Jedidiah
26. David takes Rabbah, and tortures the people thereof














Meanwhile
This word indicates a continuation of events, suggesting that while other significant occurrences were unfolding, Joab was engaged in a military campaign. In the broader narrative, this connects to the aftermath of King David's sin with Bathsheba and the subsequent judgment pronounced by Nathan the prophet. The use of "meanwhile" serves to remind us that God's plans and the unfolding of history continue even amidst personal failures and divine discipline.

Joab
Joab, the commander of David's army, is a complex figure in the biblical narrative. His name in Hebrew, יוֹאָב (Yo'av), means "Yahweh is father." Joab is known for his military prowess and loyalty to David, though his methods are often ruthless. His role in capturing Rabbah underscores his strategic importance in securing Israel's borders and expanding its influence. Joab's actions, while effective, often raise questions about the morality of his decisions, reflecting the tension between divine justice and human agency.

fought against
The Hebrew root for "fought" is לָחַם (lacham), which conveys the idea of engaging in battle or warfare. This phrase highlights the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Ammonites, a recurring theme in the historical books of the Old Testament. The battles against surrounding nations were not only physical but also spiritual, as they often involved the defense of God's covenant people against idolatrous influences.

Rabbah
Rabbah, the capital city of the Ammonites, is located in present-day Amman, Jordan. Archaeological evidence suggests it was a significant urban center during the Iron Age. The capture of Rabbah was crucial for Israel's dominance in the region. Historically, Rabbah's strategic location made it a valuable military target, and its conquest by Joab marked a turning point in Israel's territorial expansion.

of the Ammonites
The Ammonites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, and often in conflict with Israel. Their relationship with Israel was marked by hostility and warfare, as seen in various biblical accounts. The Ammonites' worship of the god Milcom or Molech, which involved detestable practices, was a constant threat to Israel's spiritual purity. The mention of the Ammonites serves as a reminder of the ongoing spiritual battle between the worship of Yahweh and the pagan practices of surrounding nations.

captured
The act of capturing, from the Hebrew root לָכַד (lakad), implies a decisive victory. Joab's success in capturing Rabbah demonstrates the fulfillment of God's promise to give Israel victory over its enemies. This victory is not just a military achievement but also a testament to God's faithfulness in securing the land He promised to His people.

the royal fortress
The royal fortress, or "city of waters" as it is sometimes referred to, was a fortified part of Rabbah, likely containing the king's palace and other significant structures. Its capture signified the complete subjugation of the Ammonite capital. Spiritually, the fall of such a stronghold can be seen as a metaphor for overcoming spiritual strongholds in our lives through God's power and guidance.

(26) Took the royal city.--The parallel narrative is resumed at this point in 1Chronicles 20:2. Rabbah was situated in the narrow valley of the upper Jabbok, on both sides of the stream, but with its citadel on the cliff on the northern side. The "royal city" of this verse, and "the city of waters" of the next, refer probably to the city proper, while the "city" of 2Samuel 12:28-29 is no doubt the citadel, which was more strongly fortified.

Verse 26. - Joab... took the royal city. As the siege of Rabbah would be conducted by the slow process of blockade, it might easily be prolonged into the second year, and so give ample space for David's sin and its punishment by the death of the child. But more probably the narrator, having commenced the history of David's sin, completes the story before returning to his account of the war. Thus the capture of Rabbah would occupy some of the interval between David's adultery and Nathan's visit of rebuke, and would lessen the difficulty, which we cannot help feeling, of David remaining for nine or ten months with the guilt of adultery and murder resting upon him, and no open act of repentance. Some short time, then, after Uriah's death, Joab captured "the city of waters." This is not a poetical name for Rabbah, but means the "water city," that is, the town upon the Jabbok, whence the supply of water was obtained. The citadel, which occupied a high rock on the northwestern side, must, therefore, soon be starved into submission, and the whole of "the royal city," that is, of the metropolis of the Ammonites, be in Joab's power. He therefore urges David to come in person, both that the honour of the conquest may be his, and also because probably the blockading force had been reduced to as small a body of men as was safe, and the presence of a large army was necessary for completing the subjugation of the country, which would follow upon the capture of the capital.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Meanwhile, Joab
יוֹאָ֔ב (yō·w·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3097: Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites

fought
וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם (way·yil·lā·ḥem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle

against Rabbah
בְּרַבַּ֖ת (bə·rab·baṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7237: Rabbah -- two places in Israel

of the Ammonites
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

and captured
וַיִּלְכֹּ֖ד (way·yil·kōḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3920: To catch, to capture, occupy, to choose, to cohere

the royal
הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃ (ham·mə·lū·ḵāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4410: Something ruled, a realm

fortress.
עִ֥יר (‘îr)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement


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OT History: 2 Samuel 12:26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
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