David Captures Rabbah
26 Meanwhile, Joab was fighting against Rabbah, the capital of Ammon, and he captured the royal fortifications.12:26 Or the royal city.27 Joab sent messengers to tell David, "I have fought against Rabbah and captured its water supply.12:27 Or captured the city of water.28 Now bring the rest of the army and capture the city. Otherwise, I will capture it and get credit for the victory."
29 So David gathered the rest of the army and went to Rabbah, and he fought against it and captured it. 30 David removed the crown from the king’s head,12:30a Or from the head of Milcom (as in Greek version). Milcom, also called Molech, was the god of the Ammonites. and it was placed on his own head. The crown was made of gold and set with gems, and it weighed seventy-five pounds.12:30b Hebrew 1 talent [34 kilograms]. David took a vast amount of plunder from the city. 31 He also made slaves of the people of Rabbah and forced them to labor with12:31a Hebrew He also brought out the people [of Rabbah] and put them under. saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to work in the brick kilns.12:31b Hebrew and he made them pass through the brick kilns. That is how he dealt with the people of all the Ammonite towns. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.