2 Samuel 21:16

16 And Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants ¹of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels^[a] of bronze, and who was armed with a new sword, thought to kill David.

2 Samuel 21:16 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 21:16

And Ishbibenob, which [was] of the sons of the giant
Of Goliath, or of a giant, of the race of them:

the weight of whose spear [weighed] three hundred [shekels] of brass in
weight;
which must be understood either of the wood of it, or of the head of it, the flaming point of it, as many interpret it; and if so, it was but half the weight of Goliath's spear, unless there was any difference of the weight of iron and of brass, see ( 1 Samuel 17:7 ) ;

he being girded with a new [sword];
or rather with a new girdle, as the Targum; and so Jarchi, which might be given him as a mark of honour, or as a token of his having a commission in the army:

thought to have slain David;
his aim was at him, and perceiving him faint and feeble, thought to take the advantage of it, and dispatch him.

2 Samuel 21:16 In-Context

14 And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father. And they did all that the king commanded. And after that God responded to the plea for the land.

15 There was war again between the Philistines and Israel, and David went down together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines. And David grew weary.

16 And Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was armed with a new sword, thought to kill David.

17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid and attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, "You shall no longer go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel."

18 After this there was again war with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giants.

Cross References

• 1. ver. 18, 20, 22

Footnotes

• [a]. A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams