And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

2 SAMUEL 12:31KJV
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2 Samuel 12:31 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 12:31 mean?

2 Samuel 12:31 describes how David dealt with the people of the Ammonite cities after capturing Rabbah. According to the King James Version, David put the people to forced labor using saws, iron tools, and brick kilns, and he did this to all the Ammonite cities before returning to Jerusalem.

This verse comes at the end of the account where David’s army, led by Joab, conquers the Ammonite capital after a long siege. The text focuses on what happened to the defeated people, using strong language about tools and labor, which some translations and scholars understand as forced labor rather than execution. The verse highlights the harsh treatment of conquered peoples in ancient warfare and marks the conclusion of David’s campaign against Ammon.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 12:31

  • saws (מְגֵרוֹת, megērōt): This word refers to saws or cutting tools. The mention of saws suggests the people were put to work in difficult, possibly dangerous, labor.
  • harrows of iron (חַרְצֵי הַבַּרְזֶל, chartzei habarzel): "Harrows" are iron tools for breaking up soil. This detail emphasizes the hard, physical nature of the labor imposed.
  • brickkiln (מַלְבֵּן, malbēn): This word means a place for making bricks, often involving intense heat and heavy work. The reference to passing through the brickkiln likely means the people were forced to work in brickmaking, not executed by fire.
  • put (שִׂים, sīm): This verb means to set, place, or appoint. Here, it shows that David assigned the people to these tasks, supporting the idea of forced labor rather than punishment by death.

Why 2 Samuel 12:31 matters

  • This verse is sometimes misunderstood as describing mass execution, but the original Hebrew words and context point more toward forced labor.
  • The verse shows the severity of ancient warfare and how victors often imposed harsh conditions on the defeated, which helps explain the historical setting of David’s reign.
  • Understanding this verse clarifies the end of the Ammonite conflict and sets the stage for the next events in David’s story, showing both his power and the realities of his rule.

Where else these words appear

“saws” Hebrew H4050 · used in 3 verses

  • 1 Kings 7:9 All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.
  • 1 Chronicles 20:3 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.

“harrows” Hebrew H2757 · used in 3 verses

  • 1 Samuel 17:18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
  • 1 Chronicles 20:3 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.

“brickkiln” Hebrew H4404 · used in 3 verses

  • Jeremiah 43:9 Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah;
  • Nahum 3:14 Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln.

“iron” Hebrew H1270 · used in 70 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • 1 Kings 6:7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
  • Psalms 107:16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.