2 Samuel 21:15

War with the Philistines

15 Once again war broke out between the Philistines and Israel. David and the soldiers who were with him went down and fought the Philistines. When David grew tired,

2 Samuel 21:15 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 21:15

Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel
Besides what is before recorded in this and the preceding book; being animated to it partly by the number of giants among them, and partly by the decline of David's life, and it may be chiefly by the insurrections and rebellions in Israel; though some think that these battles were not after the rebellions of Absalom and Sheba, and the affair of the Gibeonites, though here recorded; but before, and quickly after the war with the Ammonites, next to which they are placed in ( 1 Chronicles 20:1-8 ) ; but they seem to be placed here in their proper order:

and David went down, and his servants with him;
to the borders of the Philistines, perceiving they were preparing to make war against him:

and fought against the Philistines;
engaged in a battle with them:

and David waxed faint;
in the battle, not able to bear the fatigues of war, and wield his armour as he had used, being in the decline of life; after he had been engaged a while, his spirits began to fail, not through fear, but through feebleness; but, according to Josephus, it was through weariness in pursuing the enemy put to flight, which the following person perceived, and turned upon him ^F25.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 12. sect. 1.

2 Samuel 21:15 In-Context

13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there and collected the bones of the men who had been hanged by the Gibeonites.

14 The bones of Saul and his son Jonathan were then buried in Zela, in Benjaminite territory, in the tomb of Saul's father Kish. Once everything the king had commanded was done, God responded to prayers for the land.

15 Once again war broke out between the Philistines and Israel. David and the soldiers who were with him went down and fought the Philistines. When David grew tired,

16 Ishbi-benob, a descendant of the Raphah, planned on killing David. The weight of his spear was three hundred shekels of bronze, and he was wearing new armor.

17 But Zeruiah's son Abishai came to David's aid, striking the Philistine down and killing him. Then David's men swore a solemn pledge to him: "You will never march out to battle with us again! You must not snuff out Israel's lamp!"