20. Rising from the ground, David washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes. Then he went to the house of the Lord and worshiped. He returned to his own house and asked for food; they set it before him, and he ate.
21. His servants said to him: “What is this you are doing? While the child was living, you fasted and wept and kept vigil; now that the child is dead, you rise and take food.”
22. He replied: “While the child was living, I fasted and wept, thinking, ‘Who knows? The Lord may grant me the child’s life.’
23. But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”
24. Then David consoled Bathsheba his wife. He went and slept with her; and she conceived and bore him a son, who was named Solomon. The Lord loved him
25. and sent the prophet Nathan to name him Jedidiah, on behalf of the Lord.
26. Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured that royal city.
27. He sent messengers to David to say: “I have fought against Rabbah and have taken the water-city.
28. Therefore, assemble the rest of the soldiers, join the siege against the city, and capture it, lest I be the one to capture the city and mine be the name people mention, not yours.”
29. So David assembled the rest of the soldiers, went to Rabbah, fought against it, and captured it.
30. He took the crown of Milcom from the idol’s head, a talent of gold in weight, with precious stones; this crown David wore on his own head. He also brought out a great amount of spoil from the city.
31. He deported the people of the city and set them to work with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, or put them to work at the brickmold. He dealt thus with all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and his whole army returned to Jerusalem.