2 Samuel 21:16-17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:15-22

We have here the story of some conflicts with the Philistines, which happened, as it should seem, in the latter end of David's reign. Though he had so subdued them that they could not bring any great numbers into the field, yet as long as they had any giants among them to be their champions, they would never be quiet, but took all occasions to disturb the peace of Israel, to challenge them, or make incursions upon them. I. David himself was engaged with one of the giants. The Philistines began... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:16

And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant ,.... Of Goliath, or of a giant, of the race of them: the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight ; which must be understood either of the wood of it, or of the head of it, the flaming point of it, as many interpret it; and if so, it was but half the weight of Goliath's spear, unless there was any difference of the weight of iron and of brass, see 1 Samuel 17:7 , he being girded with a new sword... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:17

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him ,.... Observing him in danger, made haste to his relief: and smote the Philistine, and killed him ; it seems as if Abishai engaged with the Philistine, and killed him; but inasmuch as it will bear to be interpreted of David, and since the four giants here and hereafter mentioned are said to fall by the hand of David and his servants, 2 Samuel 21:22 , it may be thought that this man fell by his hand; seeing it is clear that all the rest fell... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:16

Being girded with a new sword - As the word sword is not in the original, we may apply the term new to his armor in general; he had got new arms, a new coat of mail, or something that defended him well, and rendered him very formidable: or it may mean a strong or sharp sword. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:17

That thou quench not the light of Israel - David is here considered as the lamp by which all Israel was guided, and without whom all the nation must be involved in darkness. The lamp is the emblem of direction and support. Light is used in this sense by Homer: - Ουδε τι Πατροκλῳ γενομην φαος, αυδ ' ἑταροισιπ Τοις αλλοις, οἱ δη πολεες δαμεν Ἑκτορι διῳ. Iliad, lib. xviii. ver. 102. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:15-22

The difficulty of establishing the kingdom of God in the world. The facts are: 1 . In one of his wars with the Philistines David waxes faint in personal conflict with a giant, and is succoured by the intervention of Abishai. 2 . Observing the failing strength of the king, his people deprecate his going forth with them to battle, lest by personal failure he should be a means of general discouragement. 3 . On each of three subsequent occasions of battle, a Philistine giant is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:15-22

( 1 Chronicles 20:4-8 ) .— Giants: a sermon to young people. "As for these four, they were born to the giant ( Ha-rapha ) in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants" ( 2 Samuel 21:22 ). Of the age before the Flood it is said, "In those days were the giants [ Nephilim, men of lofty stature and ferocious character] upon the earth" ( Genesis 6:4 ; Numbers 13:32 , Numbers 13:33 ). At a subsequent period there was a like formidable race called... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:16

Ishbi-benob. The Hebrew has Ishbo-benob, which Gesenius interprets as meaning "dweller upon the height." But surely the man's name would not be Hebrew; he was a Raphah, and we shall not be able to explain his name until we know the language of the Rephaim. Of the sons of the giant; Hebrew, of the children of the Raphah; that is, he belonged to the race of the Rephaim, the word not signifying "sons," but the members of a stock. It is translated "children" in Numbers 13:22 , Numbers... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:16-22

Giant killers. These huge monsters were dangerous enemies. To slay them was to do valuable service to king and country. To assail them required much courage. Those who killed any of them gained great renown; and their names and deeds were recorded in the chronicles of the kingdom, and, as to some of them, have found a place in the Book of books. I. SOME GIANT FOES OF THE DIVINE KING AND KINGDOM THAT NEED TO BE DESTROYED . We may name superstition, whether... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:17

The men of David sware unto him. David's men were specifically the mighties, who had so long been his friends and companions. They now bound him by an oath never again to fight in person, lest he should be singled out for combat by some warrior among the enemy and slain. The light of Israel. The lamp in the dwelling was the proof that there was life there, and so it became the symbol of prosperity. In Job 18:5 , Job 18:6 the extinction of the lamp signifies the destruction of the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:15-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:17

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:15-22

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:15-22

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:16

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:16-22

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:17

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