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

Wars Against the Philistines(A)

15 Once again there was a battle between the Philistines(B) and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. 16 And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels[a] and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. 17 But Abishai(C) son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp(D) of Israel will not be extinguished.(E)

18 In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbekai(F) the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.

19 In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair[b] the Bethlehemite killed the brother of[c] Goliath the Gittite,(G) who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.(H)

20 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21 When he taunted(I) Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah,(J) David’s brother, killed him.

22 These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 21:16 That is, about 7 1/2 pounds or about 3.5 kilograms
  2. 2 Samuel 21:19 See 1 Chron. 20:5; Hebrew Jaare-Oregim.
  3. 2 Samuel 21:19 See 1 Chron. 20:5; Hebrew does not have the brother of.