And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.

1 CHRONICLES 20:2KJV
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1 Chronicles 20:2 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 20:2 mean?

1 Chronicles 20:2 describes how David took the crown from the defeated enemy king’s head, found it to be extremely heavy and valuable, and placed it on his own head. The verse also notes that David brought a large amount of loot from the conquered city.

This verse is part of a historical account where King David leads Israel in battle against the Ammonites. After their victory, David claims the enemy king’s crown, which is described as weighing a talent of gold and decorated with precious stones. The act of placing the crown on David’s head symbolizes his triumph and authority over the conquered people, and the mention of “exceeding much spoil” highlights the scale of the victory.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 20:2

  • עֲטֶרֶת (‘ateret, “crown”): This word refers to a royal crown, emphasizing the transfer of kingship or authority from the defeated king to David.
  • כִּכָּר (kikkar, “talent”): A “talent” was a large unit of weight, often around 75 pounds (34 kilograms), showing just how massive and valuable the crown was.
  • זָהָב (zahav, “gold”): The crown was made of gold, underlining the wealth and splendor of the enemy king, and by extension, the significance of David’s victory.
  • שָׁלָל (shalal, “spoil”): This word for “spoil” or “plunder” points to the practice of taking goods and wealth from a defeated city, which was common in ancient warfare.

Why 1 Chronicles 20:2 matters

  • This verse clears up that David’s victory was not just military but also symbolic, as taking the crown showed a complete transfer of power and honor.
  • The detail about the crown’s weight and precious stones emphasizes the wealth and status of the enemy, making David’s triumph even more striking.
  • In the wider context, this verse shows a pattern in David’s reign: God’s favor leads to significant victories, which strengthen Israel’s position among neighboring nations.

Where else these words appear

“crown” Hebrew H5850 · used in 23 verses

  • 2 Samuel 12:30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
  • Proverbs 14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
  • Isaiah 62:3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

“precious” Hebrew H3368 · used in 36 verses

  • 1 Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
  • 2 Chronicles 9:1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
  • Proverbs 6:26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

“weigh” Hebrew H4948 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 24:22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
  • Numbers 7:67 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
  • 1 Chronicles 28:14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:

“talent” Hebrew H3603 · used in 55 verses

  • Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
  • 2 Samuel 12:30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:4 Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: