2 Samuel 11:1 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →While his army wages war against the Ammonites, David stays behind in Jerusalem.
What Does 2 Samuel 11:1 Mean?
Spring has come, the season when armies took the field. David, who had led Israel to victory after victory, sends Joab and the whole army to besiege Rabbah, the Ammonite capital. The narrator notes pointedly that the king himself remained at home.
Scripture lingers on that one quiet word: David tarried. The man after God's own heart is found in the wrong place at the wrong time, idle while others bear the burden. Sin rarely begins with a great fall; it begins with a small drift from where duty would have kept us. The story warns that no past faithfulness exempts us from the watchfulness each new day requires.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 11:1
What does 2 Samuel 11:1 mean?
While his army wages war against the Ammonites, David stays behind in Jerusalem.