2 Samuel 21:19

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 21:19

And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines ,.... Another battle with them in the same place: where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite ; the word "brother" is rightly supplied from 1 Chronicles 20:5 ; where his name is said to be Lahmi, for not Goliath himself was slain, though some so interpret it, and take Elhanan to be David; so Jarchi, and with which agrees the Targum; but he was slain not at Gob, but in the valley... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:19

Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim - slew - Goliath the Gittite - Here is a most manifest corruption of the text, or gross mistake of the transcriber; David, not Elhanan, slew Goliath. In 1 Chronicles 20:5 , the parallel place, it stands thus: "Elhanan, the son of Jair, slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear-staff was like a weaver's beam." This is plain; and our translators have borrowed some words from Chronicles to make both texts agree. The corruption... 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 21:16-22

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 21:19

Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Beth-lehemite, slew Goliath the Gittite. The words "the brother of" are inserted by the Authorized Version in order to bring this place into verbal agreement with 1 Chronicles 20:5 , where we read that "Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite." The Jewish Targum had the same reading as that still found in the text, but regards Elhanan, "God is gracious," as another name for David, and, instead of Jair or Jaare, reads Jesse.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 21:19

The Hebrew text is manifestly very corrupt. First, for “Jaare-oregim,” 1 Chronicles 20:5 gives us the reading Jair. “Oregim” has evidently got in by a transcriber’s error from the line below, where “oregim” is the Hebrew for “weavers.” Again, the word the “Bethlehemite” is very doubtful. It is supported by 2 Samuel 23:24, but it is not found in the far purer text of 1 Chronicles 20:5, but instead of it we find the name of the Philistine slain by Elhanan, “Lahmi the brother of Goliath the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 21:19

2 Samuel 21:19. Elhanan, a Beth-lehemite Another of David’s worthy and valiant commanders. Slew the brother of Goliath The relative word, brother, is not in the Hebrew text, but is properly supplied out of the parallel place. 1 Chronicles 20:5, where it is expressed. The staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam For thickness; that is, like the large roller on which the cloth is fastened in weaving. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1-22

21:1-24:25 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERSThe writer of 2 Samuel has finished his historical record of David’s reign. Since the story of David’s sin with Bathsheba, the writer has mainly been concerned with showing how this one event changed the course of David’s life. He now returns and records various other stories and poems to show other difficulties David faced during his reign. He shows also how God cared for him during those difficulties. (The story of David’s closing years is given in the opening... read more

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