2 Samuel 21:15-22

The Philistine Giants

15 The Philistines again waged war against Israel. David went down with his soldiers, and they fought the Philistines, but David became exhausted.

16 Then Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giant,^[a] whose bronze spear weighed about eight pounds^[b] and who wore new armor, intended to kill David.

17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David's men swore to him: "You must never again go out with us to battle. You must not extinguish the lamp of Israel."^[c]

18 After this, there was another battle with the Philistines at Gob. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giant.^[d]

19 Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed^[e] Goliath the Gittite. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam.^[f]

20 At Gath there was still another battle. A huge man was there with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot-24 in all. He, too, was descended from the giant.^[g]

21 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan, son of David's brother Shimei, killed him.

22 These four were descended from the giant^[h] in Gath and were killed by David and his soldiers.^[i]

2 Samuel 21:15-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 21

A famine being in the land three years, the Lord was inquired of, to know the reason of it; and it being answered, that it was on account of Saul's slaughter of the Gibeonites, they were summoned by David to know what satisfaction they required for the cruel usage of them, 2Sa 21:1-3; to which they replied, that they only desired seven of Saul's sons to be delivered up to them, to be hanged by them, which was granted, 2Sa 21:4-9; whose bones, with those of Saul and Jonathan, David buried in the sepulchre of their fathers, 2Sa 21:10-14; and the chapter is closed with an account of the various battles fought with the Philistines, in which four of their generals were slain, 2Sa 21:15-22.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or Raphah
• [b]. Lit 300 (shekels)
• [c]. 2 Sm 18:3; 1 Kg 11:36
• [d]. Or Raphah
• [e]. 1 Ch 20:5 adds the brother of
• [f]. 1 Sm 17:7
• [g]. Or Raphah
• [h]. Or Raphah
• [i]. 1 Ch 20:4-8