26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon and captured the royal city . 27 Joab sent messengers to David and said , "I have fought against Rabbah , I have even captured the city of waters . 28 "Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and camp against the city and capture it, or I will capture the city myself and it will be named e after me." 29 So David gathered all the people and went to Rabbah , fought against it and captured it. 30 Then he took the crown of their king from his head ; and its weight was a talent of gold , and in it was a precious stone ; and it was placed on David's head . And he brought out the spoil of the city in great amounts .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 12:26-30
Commentary on 2 Samuel 12:26-31
(Read 2 Samuel 12:26-31)
To be thus severe in putting the children of Ammon to slavery was a sign that David's heart was not yet made soft by repentance, at the time when this took place. We shall be most compassionate, kind, and forgiving to others, when we most feel our need of the Lord's forgiving love, and taste the sweetness of it in our own souls.