This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.
# at the time when kings normally go to war
This is background information from the author. It was harder to fight wars in the cold winter, so kings normally waited for spring to attack their enemies. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])
# kings normally go to war ... Joab led the army into battle
Here "kings" is a metonym that means the kings sent their armies into battle. Joab was the commander of David's army. AT: "kings normally send their armies to war ... Joab led David's army into battle" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
# devastated the land
"destroyed the land." This refers to when an army will ruin the land where their enemies grow food.
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