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Texts -- 2 Samuel 21:15-22 (NET)

Context
Israel Engages in Various Battles with the Philistines
21:15 Another battle was fought between the Philistines and Israel . So David went down with his soldiers and fought the Philistines . David became exhausted . 21:16 Now Ishbi-Benob , one of the descendants of Rapha , had a spear that weighed three hundred bronze shekels , and he was armed with a new weapon. He had said that he would kill David . 21:17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to David’s aid, striking the Philistine down and killing him . Then David’s men took an oath saying , “You will not go out to battle with us again ! You must not extinguish the lamp of Israel !” 21:18 Later there was another battle with the Philistines , this time in Gob . On that occasion Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph , who was one of the descendants of Rapha . 21:19 Yet another battle occurred with the Philistines in Gob . On that occasion Elhanan the son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite , the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam . 21:20 Yet another battle occurred in Gath . On that occasion there was a large man who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot , twenty-four in all ! He too was a descendant of Rapha . 21:21 When he taunted Israel , Jonathan , the son of David’s brother Shimeah , killed him. 21:22 These four were the descendants of Rapha who lived in Gath ; they were killed by David and his soldiers .

Pericope

NET
  • 2Sa 21:15-22 -- Israel Engages in Various Battles with the Philistines

Bible Dictionary

  • GIANTS

    [ebd] (1.) Heb. nephilim, meaning "violent" or "causing to fall" (Gen. 6:4). These were the violent tyrants of those days, those who fell upon others. The word may also be derived from a root signifying "wonder," and hence "monste...
    [isbe] GIANTS - ji'-ants The word appears in the King James Version as the translation of the Hebrew words nephilim (Gen 6:4; Nu 13:33); repha'im (Dt 2:11,20; 3:11,13; Josh 12:4, etc.); rapha' (1 Ch 20:4,6,8), or raphah (2 Sam 21:1...

  • Goliath

    [ebd] great. (1.) A famous giant of Gath, who for forty days openly defied the armies of Israel, but was at length slain by David with a stone from a sling (1 Sam. 17:4). He was probably descended from the Rephaim who found refuge...
    [isbe] GOLIATH - go-li'-ath (golyath; Goliath): (1) The giant of Gath, and champion of the Philistine army (1 Sam 17:4-23; 21:9; 22:10; 2 Sam 21:19; 1 Ch 20:5 ff). He defied the armies of Israel, challenging anyone to meet him in s...
    [smith] (splendor), a famous giant of Gath, who "morning and evening for forty days" defied the armies of Israel. (1 Samuel 17:1) ... (B.C. 1063.) He was possibly descended from the old Rephaim [GIANTS], of whom a scattered remnan...
    [nave] GOLIATH, a giant champion of Gath. Defied armies of Israel and is slain by David, 1 Sam. 17; 21:9; 22:10. His sons, 2 Sam. 21:15-22; 1 Chr. 20:4-8.

  • David

    [isbe] DAVID - da'-vid (dawidh, or dawidh, "beloved"; Daueid, also in New Testament, Dauid, Dabid; see Thayer's Lexicon): I. NAME AND GENEALOGY II. EARLY YEARS 1. Shepherd 2. Slinger 3. Harpist 4. Poet 5. Psalmist 6. Tribesman III....
    [nave] DAVID 1. King of Israel. Genealogy of, Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Sam. 16:11; 17:12; 1 Chr. 2:3-15; Matt. 1:1-6; Luke 3:31-38. A shepherd, 1 Sam. 16:11. Kills a lion and a bear, 1 Sam. 17:34-36. Anointed king, while a youth, by the ...

  • PHILISTINES

    [ebd] (Gen. 10:14, R.V.; but in A.V., "Philistim"), a tribe allied to the Phoenicians. They were a branch of the primitive race which spread over the whole district of the Lebanon and the valley of the Jordan, and Crete and other ...
    [isbe] PHILISTINES - fi-lis'-tinz, fil'-is-tinz, fil'-is-tinz (pelishtim; Phulistieim, allophuloi): I. OLD TESTAMENT NOTICES 1. Race and Origin 2. Religion 3. Individual Philistines Mentioned 4. Title of Ruler and Circumcision 5. H...

  • Ishbi-benob

    [isbe] ISHBI-BENOB - ish-bi-be'-nob (yishbi bhenobh): One of the four "born to the giant in Gath" who were slain by David and his men (2 Sam 21:15-22). Ishbi-benob was slain by Abishai, and David's life saved by the act (21:16,17)....
    [nave] ISHBI-BENOB, a giant warrior slain by Abishai, 2 Sam. 21:16.

  • SAMUEL, BOOKS OF

    [isbe] SAMUEL, BOOKS OF - || I. PLACE OF THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL IN THE HEBREW CANON II. CONTENTS OF THE BOOKS AND PERIOD OF TIME COVERED BY THE HISTORY III. SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS 1. Life of Samuel (1 Samuel 1 through 15) 2. Reign and D...

  • PSALMS, BOOK OF

    [isbe] PSALMS, BOOK OF - samz, (tehillim, "praises," cepher tehillim, "book of praises"; Psalmoi, Psalterion): I. INTRODUCTORY TOPICS 1. Title 2. Place in the Canon 3. Number of Psalms 4. Titles in the Hebrew Text II. AUTHORSHIP AN...

  • RIZPAH

    [isbe] RIZPAH - riz'-pa (ritspah, "hot stone"; Josephus, Rhaispha): In 2 Sam 3:7 the subject of a coarse slander. 2 Sam 21 contains the pathetic story of Rizpah's faithful watch over the bodies of her dead sons Mephibosheth and Arm...

  • Armies

    [nave] ARMIES Who of the Israelites were subject to service in, Num. 1:2, 3; 26:2; 2 Chr. 25:5; who were exempt from service in, Num. 1:47-50; 2:33; Deut. 20:5-9; Judg. 7:3. Enumeration of Israel's military forces, Num. 1:2, 3; 26...

  • Anakim

    [ebd] the descendants of Anak (Josh. 11:21; Num. 13:33; Deut. 9:2). They dwelt in the south of Palestine, in the neighbourhood of Hebron (Gen. 23:2; Josh. 15:13). In the days of Abraham (Gen. 14:5, 6) they inhabited the region aft...

  • Championship

    [nave] CHAMPIONSHIP Battles were decided by. Instances of Goliath and David, 1 Sam. 17:8-53. Young men of David's and Abner's armies, 2 Sam. 2:14-17. Representatives of the Philistines' and David's armies, 2 Sam. 21:15-22.

  • Abishai

    [ebd] father of (i.e., "desirous of") a gift, the eldest son of Zeruiah, David's sister. He was the brother of Joab and Asahel (2 Sam. 2:18; 1 Chr. 2:16). Abishai was the only one who accompanied David when he went to the camp of ...
    [isbe] ABISHAI - ab'-i-shi, a-bi'-shi ('abhishai, in Ch 'abhshai; meaning is doubtful, probably "my father is Jesse," BDB): Son of Zeruiah, David's sister, and one of the three famous brothers, of whom Joab and Asahel were the othe...
    [nave] ABISHAI Son of Zeruiah, David's sister, 1 Chr. 2:16. One of David's chief men, 2 Sam. 23:18. Seeks Saul's life, 1 Sam. 26:6-8. Pursues and slays Abner, 2 Sam. 2:24; 3:30. Defeats the Edomites, 1 Chr. 18:12; the Ammonites...

  • GOB

    [ebd] a pit, a place mentioned in 2 Sam. 21:18, 19; called also Gezer, in 1 Chr. 20:4.
    [isbe] GOB - gob (gobh): A place mentioned in 2 Sam 21:18 f as the scene of two of David's battles with the Philistines. The name appears here only. In the parallel passage, 1 Ch 20:4, it is called Gezer (compare Ant, VII, xii, 2)....
    [smith] (cistern), a place mentioned only in (2 Samuel 21:18,19) as the scene of two encounters between David?s warriors and the Philistines. In the parallel account in (1 Chronicles 20:4) the name is given as GEZER.

  • GATH

    [isbe] GATH - gath (gath; Septuagint Geth, "winepress"): One of the five chief cities of the Philistines (Josh 13:3; 1 Sam 6:17). It was a walled town (2 Ch 26:6) and was not taken by Joshua, and, although many conflicts took place...

  • HEREDITY

    [isbe] HEREDITY - he-red'-i-ti: 1. Physiological Heredity: Heredity, in modern language, is the law by which living beings tend to repeat their characteristics, physiological and psychical, in their offspring, a law familiar in som...

  • RAPHA, RAPHAH

    [isbe] RAPHA, RAPHAH - ra'-fa (rapha'): (1) In the Revised Version margin these names are substituted for "the giant" in 1 Ch 20:4,6,8 and in 2 Sam 21:16,18,20,22. The latter passage states that certain champions of the Philistines...

  • Saph

    [ebd] extension, the son of the giant whom Sibbechai slew (2 Sam. 21:18); called also Sippai (1 Chr. 20:4).
    [isbe] SAPH - saf (caph; Codex Vaticanus Saph; Codex Alexandrinus Sephe): A Philistine, one of the four champions of the race of Rapha ("giant") who was slain by Sibbecai, one of David's heroes (2 Sam 21:18; 1 Ch 20:4). It is suppo...
    [smith] (tall), one of the sons of the giant slain by Sibbechai the Hushathite. (2 Samuel 21:18) In (1 Chronicles 20:4) he is called SIPPAI. (B.C. about 1050.)
    [nave] SAPH, called also Sippai. A Philistine giant, 2 Sam. 21:18; 1 Chr. 20:4.

  • Elhanan

    [ebd] whom God has graciously bestowed. (1.) A warrior of the time of David famed for his exploits. In the Authorized Version (2 Sam. 21:19) it is recorded that "Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of...
    [isbe] ELHANAN - el-ha'-nan ('elchanan, "whom God gave"): (1) A great warrior in the army of David who slew a Philistine giant. There is a discrepancy between 2 Sam 21:19 and 1 Ch 20:5. In the former passage we read, "And there was...
    [smith] (the grace of God). A distinguished warrior in the time of King David, who performed a memorable exploit against the Philistines. (2 Samuel 21:19; 1 Chronicles 20:5) (B.C. about 1020.) One of "the thirty" of David?s gu...
    [nave] ELHANAN 1. A distinguished warrior in the time of David, who killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath, the Gittite, 2 Sam. 21:19. Compare 1 Chr. 20:5. 2. Son of Dodo, one of David's heroes, 2 Sam. 23:24; 1 Chr. 11:26.

  • Shammah

    [isbe] SHAMMAH - sham'-a (shammah): (1) The son of Reuel, the son of Esau, a tribal chief of Edom (Gen 36:13,17; 1 Ch 1:37, Some). (2) The third son of Jesse and brother of David. Together with his two other brothers he fought unde...
    [nave] SHAMMAH 1. Son of Reuel, Gen. 36:13, 17; 1 Chr. 1:37. 2. David's brother, 1 Sam. 16:9; 17:13. Called Shimeah, 2 Sam. 13:3, 32; 21:21; Shimma, 1 Chr. 2:13; Shimea, 1 Chr. 20:7. 3. One of David's mighty men, son of Agee, 2 ...

  • Rapha

    [nave] RAPHA 1. Son of Benjamin, 1 Chr. 8:2. 2. Called also Rephaiah. A descendant of Jonathan, 1 Chr. 8:37; 9:43. 3. An ancestor of certain Philistine warriors, 2 Sam. 21:16, 20, 22; 1 Chr. 20:4, 6, 8.
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Arts

Sermon Illustrations

Five Smooth Stones; Five Smooth Stones; 2 Samuel 21:17

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Having completed the major addresses to the Israelites recorded to this point in Deuteronomy, Moses needed only to make a few final arrangements before Israel was ready to enter the land. The record of these events concludes ...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • (Continued from notes on 1 Samuel)V. David's triumphs chs. 1-8A. The beginning of David's kingdom 1:1-3:51. David's discovery of Saul and Jonathan's deaths ch. 12. David's move to Hebron 2:1-4a3. David's overtures to Jabesh-g...
  • "From the religious heights of chapter 7 we descend again to the everyday world of battles and bloodshed in chapter 8. The military action picks up where the story left off at the end of chapter 5."130Chapter 8 evidently desc...
  • Chapters 9-20 contrast with chapters 2-8 in that this later section is negative whereas the earlier one was positive. It records failure; the former records success. Compare the similar narrative of Saul's triumphs (1 Sam. 7-...
  • The last major section of the Book of Samuel (2 Sam. 21-24) consists of six separate pericopes that together constitute a conclusion to the whole book (cf. Judg. 17-21). Each pericope emphasizes the theological message of the...
  • This record emphasizes the supernatural character of the victories David was able to enjoy because God fought for him by using various men in his army."The lists of heroes and heroic exploits that frame the poetic centre-piec...
  • David proceeded to offer sacrifices in response to Gad's instructions (v. 18). David needed to commit himself again to God (the burnt offering) and to renew his fellowship with God (the peace offering, v. 25). God instructed ...
  • When 1 Samuel opened Israel was a loosely connected affiliation of tribes with little unity and loyalty. Judges led her many of whom were weak and ineffective. Her worship was in disrepute due to corruption in the priesthood....
  • Achtemeier, Paul J., and Elizabeth Achtemeier. The Old Testament Roots of Our Faith. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1979.Ackerman, James S. "Knowing Good and Evil: A Literary Ananysis of the Court History in 2 Samuel 9-20 and ...
  • Jeroboam, who would become the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was from Ephraim, the most prominent tribe in the North (v. 26).Part of Benjamin affiliated voluntarily with Judah eventually (v. 32; cf. 12:21; 2 C...
  • Abijam (or Abijah, lit. my father is Yah[weh]) reigned from 913-911 B.C. while Jeroboam ruled over Israel.155"The accession formulae from this reign onwards make cross-references between Judah and Israel. It is not clear whet...
  • David contrasted his trust in the Lord with the treachery of those who have no regard for Him in this psalm.The historical background appears in the title (2 Sam. 21-22). Undoubtedly Doeg the Edomite was in David's mind as he...
  • 132:11-12 God promised David that He would raise up a dynasty of David's descendents that would follow him on Israel's throne (2 Sam. 7:12-16). If they were faithful to the Lord, He would give them an unbroken succession. Of ...
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