Day 165 – 2 Samuel 21:15-22

Scripture Review

2 Samuel 21:15-22

"Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint."

(2 Samuel 21:15)

The word "moreover" points to a larger problem and shows that David's troubles were not finished. The phrase "had yet war again" reminds me that some battles return. He had fought the Philistines for years, beginning with Goliath in his youth. Yet here they are again.

David goes down with his servants and fights. But the Bible says He "waxed faint." He grew weak, weary, and exhausted. He is brave, but he is not young anymore. The man who once seemed unstoppable is now tired in battle.

"And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David."

(2 Samuel 21:16)

A giant warrior named Ishbibenob comes against David. He was of the "sons of the giant." To me scripture refers to a lineage of giant warriors connected with the Philistines around Gath. His gear wasn't as impressive as Goliath's but it was heavy indeed. His spear weighed probably around ten pounds. The point is that this man carried heavy weapons and was a dangerous fighter. He had a new weapon and thought he could kill David.

"But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel."

(2 Samuel 21:17)

Abishai comes to David's aid and kills the Philistine. This is an important moment for Abishai. He was often severe and quick with the sword, but here his strength is used to preserve David's life.

Then David's men made a solemn oath telling David he must no longer go out with them to battle. This was not disrespect, but protection. They say, "that thou quench not the light of Israel." David is called the "light of Israel" because his life, leadership, and throne were a source of hope and stability for the nation. His men understand that if David dies in battle, Israel loses more than a soldier. They lose the king.

"And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant."

(2 Samuel 21:18)

Another battle comes at Gob. But this time Sibbechai the Hushathite kills Saph, one of the sons of the giant. Sibbechai is not as famous as David, but he is faithful in his place. He steps forward and faces a giant of his own. David killed Goliath, but he did not kill every giant alone. His courage trained a nation. His example helped produce men who could stand where he once stood.

"And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam."

(2 Samuel 21:19)

Again, there is another battle at Gob. This time Elhanan, a Bethlehemite, kills the brother of Goliath the Gittite. 1 Chronicles 20:5 names him as Lahmi, the brother of Goliath. The staff of his spear was "like a weaver's beam." Again the description shows the great size and weight of the weapon. Like Goliath before him, Lahmi was physically intimidating. A heart after God remembers that the size of the enemy does not change the power of God. The God who gave victory over Goliath can give victory over Goliath's brother too.

"And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant."

(2 Samuel 21:20)

Now the battle moves back to Gath. The man described here was of "great stature," meaning he was unusually large. He had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, "four and twenty in number." He was also labeled a giant connecting him to that line of powerful Philistine warriors.

"And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him."

(2 Samuel 21:21)

This giant "defied" or mocked Israel. Does that sound familiar? This sounds much like Goliath, who defied the armies of the living God in David's youth. But Jonathan, the son of Shimea, David's brother, kills him. David's family line and inner circle are producing men who stand up against giants.

"These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants."

(2 Samuel 21:22)

The chapter closes on a victorious note by saying these four were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants. The giants fall through a company of faithful men.