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.

And the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, "Go, strengthen yourself; take note, and see what you should do, for in the spring of the year the king of Syria will come up against you."

So it was, in the spring of the year, that Ben-Hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.

Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the [raiding] bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year.

Then I said, "Lord, how long?" And He answered: "Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate,

"Behold, I have created the blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy.

"For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the giants. Indeed his bedstead [was] an iron bedstead. ([Is] it not in Rabbah of the people of Ammon?) Nine cubits [is] its length and four cubits its width, according to the standard cubit.

Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city.

Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim,

Therefore behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will cause to be heard an alarm of war In Rabbah of the Ammonites; It shall be a desolate mound, And her villages shall be burned with fire. Then Israel shall take possession of his inheritance," says the LORD.

"Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is plundered! Cry, you daughters of Rabbah, Gird yourselves with sackcloth! Lament and run to and fro by the walls; For Milcom shall go into captivity With his priests and his princes together.

"Appoint a road for the sword to go to Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to Judah, into fortified Jerusalem.

"And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels and Ammon a resting place for flocks. Then you shall know that I [am] the LORD."

But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, And it shall devour its palaces, Amid shouting in the day of battle, And a tempest in the day of the whirlwind.

So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there [were] valiant men.

Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war,

if it happens that the king's wrath rises, and he says to you: 'Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?

So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent by him.

"The archers shot from the wall at your servants; and [some] of the king's servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also."

Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city.

"Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called after my name."

Then he took their king's crown from his head. Its weight [was] a talent of gold, with precious stones. And it was [set] on David's head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance.