2 Samuel 11:1
ESV
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.
NIV
In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.
NASB
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 brought destruction on the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem.
CSB
In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.
NLT
In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
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.
NKJV
It happened in the spring 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 people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
What does 2 Samuel 11:1 mean?
The story of David and Bathsheba is heartbreaking on several levels. First, it becomes a turning point in David's life. For the first time, he acts in open rebellion against the Lord, and for the first time, the Lord is openly displeased with him (2 Samuel 11:27).The story begins with David sending Joab and the army of Israel out to war with the Ammonites. Commentators assume this takes place in the year after the events of the previous chapter. Because of a foolish decision by the Ammonites' new king, Joab and the army sent them racing back to the fortified city of Rabbah (2 Samuel 10:13–14). The Syrians, the Ammonites' allies, raised a massive force to attack Israel, and David went with the army and defeated them (2 Samuel 10:17–18). No mention is made of the Ammonites participating in that second conflict.
David has unfinished business with the Ammonites. He sends Joab and the army out once more to lay siege to Rabbah and defeat them for the last time. Such campaigns often took place in the spring, after the winter rains and before the spring harvest season.
Some commentators over the years have suggested that David's choice to remain in Jerusalem during the time when "kings go out to battle" shows some weakness of character. However, it was not unusual for kings to send out their armies on their behalf and remain at home to deal with domestic issues. David could "go out" to battle in the sense of sending Joab and the army out with his full authority. However, the choices David makes in Jerusalem while his army is on the battlefield will plainly reveal sinful weakness in the king.
