2 Samuel 11:1

King James Version (KJV)

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.

Translations

2 Samuel 11:1 - Amplified Bible

IN THE spring, when kings go forth to battle, David sent Joab with his servants and all Israel, and they ravaged the Ammonites [country] and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1 - American Standard Version

And it came to pass, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go out 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 at Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1 - Bible in Basic English

Now in the spring, at the time when kings go out to war, David sent Joab and his servants and all Israel with him; and they made waste the land of the children of Ammon, and took up their position before Rabbah, shutting it in. But David was still at Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1 - Darby Bible

And it came to pass, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go forth, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they laid waste the [land of the] children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David abode at Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1 - English Standard Version

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1 - King James Version

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.

2 Samuel 11:1 - La Biblia de las Americas

Aconteciò que en la primavera, en el tiempo cuando los reyes salen a la batalla, David enviò a Joab y con él a sus siervos y a todo Israel, y destruyeron a los hijos de Amòn y sitiaron a Rabá. Pero David permaneciò en Jerusalén.

2 Samuel 11:1 - The Message

When that time of year came around again, the anniversary of the Ammonite aggression, David dispatched Joab and his fighting men of Israel in full force to destroy the Ammonites for good. They laid siege to Rabbah, but David stayed in Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1 - New American Standard Bible

Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out {to battle,} that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Aconteciò que en la primavera, en el tiempo cuando los reyes salen a la batalla, David enviò a Joab y con él a sus siervos y a todo Israel, y destruyeron a los Amonitas y sitiaron a Rabá. Pero David permaneciò en Jerusalén.

2 Samuel 11:1 - World English Bible

It happened, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go out [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 stayed at Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1 - Young's Living Translation

And it cometh to pass, at the revolution of the year -- at the time of the going out of the messengers -- that David sendeth Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel, and they destroy the Bene-Ammon, and lay siege against Rabbah. And David is dwelling in Jerusalem,

2 Samuel 11:1 - Additional Comments

This took place when the weather became agreeable for war. In the 2 World Wars our greatest suffering was caused by weather, not by the enemy. In Iraq they waited to fight before winter and stopped fighting during sandstorms.
Ammon is east of the Jordan River, level with Jerusalem. Rabbah is the capital city in Ammon, about 20 miles east of the Jordan River.
Hanun was now king of Ammon (2 Sam 10:1). David had had peace with Hanun's father (10:1), but when he died, Hanun's princes talked Hanun into turning away David's effort at continuing the peace, even to the point of causing friction between them, and eventually war (10:1-7).
Joab was David's nephew, who became commander-in-chief of David's army. He was ruthless but completely loyal to David.
Why was this story included in Scripture, when David is so godly and revered? It may be so that "him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (see 1 Cor 10:1-13), and that others' failures may be our warnings. David's heart was what God sought (1 Sam 16:7). This shows how the best of men may fall, lest we think we are ever above something like this. Be afraid, be very afraid.
Some may give up, thinking if David couldn't make it, how can we? But God placed it here to tell us not to make David's mistake, no matter where we are spiritually. And, he also shows us that we are all capable of falling (again, 1 Cor 10:13). This passage should draw us to be wary, or in whatever sin we are found, to be repentant.
Many consider David already was making poor decisions, being in the wrong place, since he should have been at the battle himself, as he later does (12:29). Sin can start out so simply, so seemingly innocent. Don't place yourself in any situation where you can get close to sin.

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