2 Samuel 12:31 Meaning: David and the Ammonites
He brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work under saws, under iron picks, under axes of iron, and made them go to the brick kiln; and he did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
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.
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. And David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
and the people who are in it he hath brought out, and setteth to the saw, and to cutting instruments of iron, and to axes of iron, and hath caused them to pass over into the brick-kiln; and so he doth to all the cities of the Bene-Ammon; and David turneth back, and all the people, to Jerusalem.
And he brought out the people that were in it, and put them under the saw, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkilns. And so did he to all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
Meaning in one sentence
Did David torture the Ammonites or force them into labor? Explore the Hebrew text, textual variants, and what this passage meant for David's story.
Context
This verse lands near the end of a long, hard chapter. Earlier, Nathan confronted David over Bathsheba and Uriah. Now the war against Ammon is finished. Joab conquered Rabbah, the royal city, and called David to take the final credit. David went, took the Ammonite king's crown, and brought out the plunder. Then he dealt with the captured people. The chapter closes with David and all the troops returning to Jerusalem. The description of what David did to the Ammonites is difficult for modern readers, and interpreters have wrestled with it for centuries.
Key Words
The Hebrew text uses a verb that makes a big difference. In verse 31, it says vayyasem, 'he put them' or 'he set them.' That verb shares letters with the verb for 'sawed' (vayyesar) in 1 Chronicles 20:3, and manuscripts sometimes confuse the two. Here in Samuel, the straightforward reading is that David put the people to work, not to death. The tools named, saws (megurah), iron picks (charits), axes (magzerot), were used in construction or quarrying. The brick kiln (malben) was where bricks were made. These words point to forced labor, not execution. But the same tools could also be instruments of torture, as some ancient cultures did. The ambiguity in the Hebrew leaves room for both readings, and that's part of why this verse troubles us.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in different ways. Some, like the Wesleyan commentator Adam Clarke, argue strongly that the Hebrew describes enslavement and hard labor, not torture. They point to the textual difference with 1 Chronicles 20:3 and note that 'sawed' in Chronicles is likely a copyist's mistake. Others, including the Anglican Cambridge Bible and some Reformed commentators, see the tools as instruments of execution. They connect the brick kiln to the Ammonites' own practice of child sacrifice to Molech, suggesting a punishment fitting the crime. Each tradition seeks to honor what the text says, but no single reading resolves the discomfort this passage raises.
A common misunderstanding
Many readers assume David executed the Ammonites by sawing them in half. In fact, the Hebrew verb in 2 Samuel 12:31 means 'to put' or 'to set,' not 'to saw.' The parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 20:3 does use a verb meaning 'to saw,' but that may be a scribal variation. The plain meaning of the Samuel text describes forced labor with tools meant for stone and brick, not for killing. The mistake often comes from reading one translation without checking the Hebrew or the textual history.
Living This Out
This verse asks you to hold two things at once. First, the Bible shows its heroes without polish. David acted harshly here, whether through forced labor or worse. The text does not defend him; it simply reports. Second, you are invited to bring your discomfort to God. When Scripture troubles you, it is okay to say so. You don't have to explain away the hard parts. Instead, sit with the tension and ask what it reveals about human power, divine justice, and your own need for a King who wields authority with perfect mercy.
Main takeaway: Scripture records David's harshness plainly, reminding us that God works through flawed leaders and that even the faithful can act in ways that trouble us.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
David won a big battle. He made the people who lost work for him, cutting wood and making bricks. Sometimes what leaders do is hard to understand, but God still loved David.
For ages 9, 12
This verse is one of the hardest in David's story. Scholars aren't sure if David made the Ammonites into slaves or hurt them badly. The Bible doesn't hide the hard parts of its heroes. It shows us real people, and that helps us ask questions about fairness and mercy. You can ask God your honest questions too.
Questions People Ask
Did David torture the Ammonites with saws and axes?
The Hebrew of 2 Samuel 12:31 says David 'put them' to work with those tools, not that he used them to kill. The parallel verse in 1 Chronicles 20:3 says he 'cut them with saws.' Scholars debate whether one text was miscopied or whether both describe the same harsh treatment. The words alone don't settle it.
Why is 2 Samuel 12:31 so different from 1 Chronicles 20:3?
The two accounts use similar Hebrew words but with one letter different. In Samuel it is 'vayyasem' (he set/put), in Chronicles it is 'vayyesar' (he sawed). Many copies of Chronicles actually read the same as Samuel. This scribal variation is why translations differ so much.
Does this verse mean David was not really a man after God's own heart?
The Bible never says David was perfect. 'A man after God's own heart' describes his overall trust and repentance, not his every action. This verse shows that even David could act harshly, especially during wartime. Scripture includes those moments without excuse, and they point us to a greater King who rules with perfect justice and mercy.
What did the 'brick kiln' have to do with the Ammonites?
The word 'malben' can mean brick mold or brick kiln. Some commentators connect it to the Ammonite worship of Molech, where children were passed through fire. They suggest David forced the Ammonite leaders to experience a similar punishment. Others read it simply as forced labor in brick making.
How should Christians read violent Old Testament passages like this one?
First, read the Hebrew carefully, the violence may not be as clear as English translations suggest. Second, understand the historical context of ancient warfare. Third, remember that all Scripture points to Christ, who shows us God's full character. These passages should humble us and drive us to thank God for a Savior who conquers through love, not force.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study