1 Chronicles 20:1It happened, at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led forth the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.
The setting
Jerusalem palace, spring ~994 BC. Campaign season begins as winter rains end and armies can move again...
The emotion here: setting the stage for tragedy he knows is coming
The original word
teshûbah (תְּשׁוּבָה) — the turning/return of the year, agricultural cycle timing
Why it matters
Ancient armies campaigned only March-October due to weather and food supply logistics
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Chronicles 20:1
This is the infamous campaign where David should have gone but stayed home, leading to his affair with Bathsheba
Common misconceptionThis seems like a routine military note, but the chronicler is deliberately highlighting the moment that led to David's greatest moral failure.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Chronicles 20:1
Bible Genome reading
1 Chronicles 20:1 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Chronicles 20:1 comes from the book of 1 Chronicles, written during the United Kingdom period. The setting is the battlefield. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is starting, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include seasons, warfare. Notable phrases: return of the year; kings go out to battle.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same starting
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
— Genesis 1:1
“God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.”
— Genesis 1:3
“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
— Philippians 4:13
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and t…”
— Acts 1:8
“Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receiv…”
— Acts 2:38
Your reflection
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