2 Samuel 12:29
ESV
So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it.
NIV
So David mustered the entire army and went to Rabbah, and attacked and captured it.
NASB
So David gathered all the people and went to Rabbah, and he fought against it and captured it.
CSB
So David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; he fought against it and captured it.
NLT
So David gathered the rest of the army and went to Rabbah, and he fought against it and captured it.
KJV
And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
NKJV
So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, fought against it, and took it.
What does 2 Samuel 12:29 mean?
The year before, the king of the Ammonites, Nahash, died. David had liked Nahash and sent messengers to comfort his son, Hanun. Hanun thought the messengers were spies and that David wanted to know how to defeat his royal city. He treated the Israelites disgracefully and hired foreign armies to defend him against Israel (2 Samuel 10:1–6). When the Syrians couldn't help, Hanun fled to Rabbah, his walled city. With the Ammonites out of reach, Joab returned home (2 Samuel 10:14).The next spring, David told Joab to complete the mission (2 Samuel 2:1). Aside from a few skirmishes, it's likely his strategy was to set a siege against the city. The Israelites kept the Ammonites from leaving while the Ammonite archers shot whomever they could from the walls (2 Samuel 11:19–20). Finally, Joab has apparently gained control of the city's water supply (2 Samuel 12:27). The Ammonites don't have a lot of time.
This battle is a war of honor. Hanun humiliated David's official messengers, thus dishonoring David and all of Israel (2 Samuel 10:1–5). Joab knows David needs to witness Hanun's humiliation. Before Joab enters the city, he sends a messenger, telling David to come quick (2 Samuel 12:28). David gathers the forces which aren't already with Joab and marches in. The city falls easily.
The first thing David does is to shame Hanun by taking his enormous crown (2 Samuel 12:30). Hanun's self-fulfilling prophecy has come true, but it's all his own fault. David was ready to be a friend.
