2 Samuel 21:15

DAVID'S LIFE WAS SAVED BY ABISHAI

"The Philistines had war again with Israel, and David went down together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines; and David grew weary. And Ishbibenob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was girded with a new sword, thought to kill David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David"s men adjured him, `You shall no more go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.'"

Here again the exact time of this episode is unknown; and, "Part of the text here is corrupt."[20] David was often critical of his nephews, the sons of Zeruiah, but on this occasion Abishai saved his life. Josephus tells us that, "David was totally exhausted and that he had fallen to the ground at the time the giant turned back to slay him, but Abishai covered David with his shield as he lay down and slew the enemy."[21]

"Three hundred shekels of bronze" (2 Samuel 21:16). The scholars who mention this generally agree that the weight indicated is between 7 and one-half pounds and 8 pounds. "The Hebrew word here rendered `giants' is a collective noun denoting a giant race that inhabited Canaan in the pre-Israelite times. The word is [~rapha`], rendered by the Vulgate Arapha; and from it comes Harapha the name of the giant in Milton's Samson Agonistes."[22]