War with the Philistines

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 (A)of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels[a] 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, (B)“You shall no longer go out with us to battle, lest you quench (C)the lamp of Israel.”

18 (D)After this there was again war with the Philistines at Gob. Then (E)Sibbecai (F)the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was one of the descendants (G)of the giants. 19 And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and (H)Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, (I)the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.[b] 20 And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended (J)from the giants. 21 And when (K)he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David's brother, struck him down. 22 These four were descended (L)from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 21:16 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
  2. 2 Samuel 21:19 Contrast 1 Chronicles 20:5, which may preserve the original reading

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, 16 Ishbi-benob, a descendant of the Raphah,[a] planned on killing David.[b] 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!”

18 Some time later, another battle with the Philistines took place at Gob. Then Sibbecai from Hushah killed Saph, a descendant of the Raphah. 19 There was yet another battle with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan, Jair’s son[c] from Bethlehem, killed Goliath from Gath, whose spear shaft was as strong as the bar on a weaver’s loom. 20 In another battle at Gath, there was a huge[d] man who had six fingers on his hands and six toes on his feet, twenty-four in all. He too was descended from the Raphah. 21 When he insulted Israel, Jonathan, who was the son of David’s brother Shimei, killed him. 22 These four Philistines were descended from the Raphah in Gath, and they fell by the hands of David and his servants.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 21:16 Or giants; also in 21:18, 20, 22
  2. 2 Samuel 21:16 LXX Joash’s son Dodo, a descendant of the Raphah (see previous note), captured David.
  3. 2 Samuel 21:19 See 1 Chron 20:5, LXXLMN (cf 2 Sam 23:24); Heb Jaare-oregim.
  4. 2 Samuel 21:20 See 1 Chron 20:6; MT a Midianite or a combative man.