Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 20:3
David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes. And he did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David addresses the conquered Ammonite population immediately after seizing their king’s crown and plundering the city. He orders these captives into forced labor using heavy tools before marching his army back to Jerusalem.
The words — The Hebrew וַיִּשַּׂר (va.yišśar) translates literally as "he sawed," paired with בַּמְּגֵרָה (ba.məgērāh), "with the saw." It describes the specific mechanical method of subjugation applied to the captives.
The thread — This forced labor motif echoes the Israelites' own bondage in Egypt (Exodus 1:14) and the permanent servitude imposed on the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:23). The pattern of defeated peoples becoming laborers for Israel's leadership recurs in later conquest accounts.
Why it lands — The text records a calculated military policy of economic subjugation following territorial conquest. It requires the reader to recognize how ancient warfare operated through systematic displacement and forced labor rather than mere annihilation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 19:2 And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to console Hanun concerning his father. But when David’s servants arrived in the land of the Ammonites to console him,
- Exodus 1:14 and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.
- Joshua 9:23 Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
- Judges 8:6 But the leaders of Succoth asked, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your possession, that we should give bread to your army?”
- Judges 8:16 Then he took the elders of the city, and using the thorns and briers of the wilderness, he disciplined the men of Succoth.
- 2 Samuel 12:31 David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
- 1 Kings 9:21 their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.
- Psalms 21:8 Your hand will apprehend all Your enemies; Your right hand will seize those who hate You.