And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
When spring came around—the time when kings usually go out to war—David sent Joab and his officers with all the Israelite army to fight. They destroyed the Ammonites and surrounded their capital city of Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
The writer is showing that David chose to stay home in comfort while his army went to war, setting up a moment when he would be vulnerable to temptation.
📚 Historical Context
This was during David's reign as king of Israel, around 1000 BC. Spring was the traditional campaigning season when ancient Near Eastern kings would lead military campaigns after winter. David was at the height of his power and had established Israel as a dominant force in the region.
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