The Reader will recollect the circumstances which are here related have been before noticed, and with more particulars in 2 Samuel 11:1 and 2 Samuel 12:1. I refer therefore to the account there given. I would only desire the Reader to recollect, that while Joab was thus engaged at Rabbah, this was the sad period when David was falling into the fool sin of adultery at Jerusalem. It is remarkable, however, that though the relation of that sin is immediately connected with the account of the war at Rabbah in the book of Samuel, yet it is not inserted here. Perhaps as it said there on David's confession, the Lord hath put away thy sin, the Holy Ghost thought proper not to record it in the Chronicles, which was written so many years after. Sweet thought to the poor sinner, whose sins are blotted out, when the times of refreshing are come from the presence of the Lord. So saith one prophet, and the same is confirmed by another. The sin of Judah shall not be found, saith Jeremiah, Jeremiah 1:19. And the Prophet Micah adds, the Lord will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19.
1 Chronicles 20:1-3
1 And it came to pass, that aftera the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.
2 And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weighb 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.
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.