2 Samuel 21 19

2 Samuel 21:19 kjv

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 nkjv

Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

2 Samuel 21:19 niv

In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver's rod.

2 Samuel 21:19 esv

And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

2 Samuel 21:19 nlt

During another battle at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed the brother of Goliath of Gath. The handle of his spear was as thick as a weaver's beam!

2 Samuel 21 verses

2 Samuel 21 19 Meaning

2 Samuel 21:19 records an encounter during David's reign where Elhanan, a man from Bethlehem, defeats a formidable Philistine warrior. This Philistine is identified as the brother of Goliath of Gath, the famous giant whom David had previously slain. The description of the spear's shaft being like a weaver's beam underscores the immense size and strength of this Philistine giant. This verse, read in harmony with 1 Chronicles 20:5, clarifies that Elhanan did not kill David's Goliath, but rather his sibling, known in Chronicles as Lahmi.

2 Samuel 21 19 Context

2 Samuel chapter 21 primarily recounts three distinct challenges during David's reign. It opens with a three-year famine that is revealed to be divine judgment for Saul's massacre of the Gibeonites, leading to David's act of atonement by handing over seven of Saul's descendants. Following this, the chapter transitions to a series of four major battles between Israel and the Philistines, specifically against their formidable giants, often called Rephaim or descendants of Rapha. Verse 19 is the third of these four giant-slaying narratives. These accounts highlight that even with David as king, Israel still faced powerful adversaries, and God continued to grant victory through various valiant men among David's forces, not just David himself. The presence of these giants, who were remnants of pre-Israelite inhabitants, signified the ongoing spiritual and physical warfare for the land promised to Israel. The historical context reflects a period of consolidation of David's kingdom, marked by persistent Philistine threats from their strongholds like Gath.

2 Samuel 21 19 Word analysis

• And there was again a battle: Signals the continuation of conflict and divine activity, part of an ongoing series of Philistine engagements during David's reign, as introduced in 2 Sam 21:15.
• in Gob: (Heb. גֹּב, Gov). An obscure location. While its exact identity is unknown, some propose it's an alternate name for Gezer (found in 1 Chron 20:4) or a nearby region. It simply designates the battle location against the Philistines.
• with the Philistines: (Heb. פְּלִשְׁתִּים, P'lishtim). The persistent adversaries of Israel, inhabiting the coastal plain. Their presence signifies the ongoing struggle for control and security in the promised land.
• where Elhanan: (Heb. אֶלְחָנָן, 'Elḥānān). Meaning "God has been gracious" or "God is gracious." He is one of David's mighty men (2 Sam 23:24, which states "Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem"). His name is significant, pointing to divine enablement for his heroic act.
• the son of Jaare-oregim: (Heb. יַעֲרֵי אֹרְגִים֙, Ya`arei 'Ōrgīm). This is the focal point of textual variation.
  • The literal meaning of "Jaare-oregim" is "forests of the weavers." Scholars widely accept this as a textual corruption in the Masoretic Text (MT) of 2 Samuel 21:19.
  • Comparison with 1 Chron 20:5 clarifies this as "Elhanan the son of Jair" (יָעִיר, Ya`ir). The "oregim" part (weavers) is believed to be an accidental scribal dittography (repetition) influenced by "weaver's beam" later in the verse (similar ending sound, oregim vs orgim). Therefore, Elhanan is the son of Jair.
• a Bethlehemite: Specifies Elhanan's origin. This is significant as Bethlehem was David's hometown, connecting Elhanan to David's clan and emphasizing the contributions of men from David's own community to his mighty army. This detail is not present in 1 Chronicles 20:5.
• slew the brother of Goliath: (Heb. וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־אַחִ֤י גָּלְיָת֙, wa-yach 'et-achi Golyat). This phrase directly addresses the apparent discrepancy with 1 Samuel 17.
  • The crucial addition of "the brother of" ('achi) is found in the Septuagint (LXX), Targum, and Syriac Peshitta versions of 2 Samuel 21:19, and is explicitly stated in the parallel passage in 1 Chron 20:5, which names him "Lahmi" (לַחְמִי, Laḥmī).
  • The Masoretic Text (MT) of 2 Sam 21:19 actually reads "slew Goliath the Gittite" (וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־גָּלְיָת֙ הַגִּתִּ֔י, wa-yach 'et-Golyat ha-Gitti), without "the brother of". However, due to the clarity of 1 Chron 20:5 and the strong contextual implications (David already killed Goliath), most English translations adopt the reading with "the brother of", understanding the MT of Samuel to be a scribal omission. This interpretation harmonizes the accounts, presenting Elhanan as the slayer of a different giant, Goliath's kin, named Lahmi.
• Goliath the Gittite: (Heb. גָּלְיָת֙ הַגִּתִּ֔י, Golyat ha-Gitti). Identifies the giant as related to the famous Goliath, and from Gath, one of the primary Philistine city-states known for its strong warriors and giants.
• the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam: (Heb. וְעֵץ֙ חֲנִיתֹו֙ כִּמְנֹ֣ור אֹרְגִ֔ים, wə-`etz ḥanîtô kî-mənor 'ōrgim). This descriptive detail is identical to the description of Goliath's own spear in 1 Samuel 17:7. It powerfully conveys the enormous size and weight of the weapon, and thus the immense stature and strength of the giant. A "weaver's beam" (like a massive cylinder in a loom) would have been understood by ancient readers as a thick, heavy piece of wood, far larger than a typical spear shaft, highlighting the supernatural scale of these Rephaim warriors.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite": This phrase establishes the identity and geographical origin of the hero. The textual discrepancy concerning "Jaare-oregim" highlights the role of careful biblical scholarship in understanding and harmonizing scriptural accounts. Elhanan, a native of David's city, emphasizes God's readiness to empower diverse individuals in His service.
• "slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam": This segment precisely describes the mighty feat. By stating Elhanan killed "the brother of Goliath" (based on the harmonized reading), the Bible resolves potential confusion, ensuring David's famous triumph remains singular while celebrating another distinct act of divine deliverance. The consistent "weaver's beam" imagery underscores the family trait of extraordinary physical might among the Gittite giants, signifying that Israel's battles were not against ordinary men but formidable, almost mythical adversaries, requiring God's intervention.

2 Samuel 21 19 Bonus section

• Textual Criticism and Harmonization: The apparent discrepancy between 2 Samuel 21:19 (MT reads Elhanan killing "Goliath the Gittite") and 1 Samuel 17 (David kills Goliath) and 1 Chronicles 20:5 (Elhanan kills "Lahmi the brother of Goliath") is a classic example handled by textual criticism and harmonistic approaches. The widely accepted solution involves either an early scribal omission of "the brother of" in the Samuel text or that "Lahmi" (לחמי) might have been a deliberate scribal correction or expansion in Chronicles, interpreting the end of "Bethlehemite" (בית הלחמי) in 2 Sam 21:19. Regardless of the exact scribal history, the consistent message across the historical books affirms that David killed the Goliath, while Elhanan killed his brother, Lahmi. This emphasizes that while God used David for an iconic victory, He continued to grant similar triumphs through other faithful warriors.
• The Rephaim (Giants): This verse, along with 2 Samuel 21:15-22 and 1 Chronicles 20:4-8, emphasizes the lingering presence of giants, or Rephaim, in Canaan during the time of David. These were remnants of ancient peoples renowned for their extraordinary stature, whom the Israelites had previously been commanded to dispossess. Their presence in the Philistine cities of Gath suggests that these Philistine encounters were not just ordinary battles but also part of the broader, ongoing spiritual warfare to fully establish Israel in the Promised Land and overcome every form of opposition rooted in anti-God forces.
• The Importance of David's Mighty Men: This entire section (2 Sam 21:15-22) is often seen as an appendix highlighting the bravery and loyalty of David's mighty men. It shows that the victories attributed to David's reign were, in reality, a collective effort under God's empowerment, with many individuals playing crucial roles in safeguarding Israel and subduing its enemies. This serves to remind that leadership in God's kingdom often involves empowering and supporting others in their own divinely-enabled deeds of valor.

2 Samuel 21 19 Commentary

2 Samuel 21:19 records a specific act of valor within a broader series of confrontations between Israel and the Philistine giants during David's reign. This verse highlights Elhanan's pivotal role in overcoming a significant threat. The popular textual interpretation, guided by 1 Chronicles 20:5 and early Septuagint translations, clarifies that Elhanan did not kill Goliath of Gath (who was slain by David), but rather his brother. This resolution reinforces the inerrancy and harmony of Scripture, demonstrating that apparent contradictions often have logical and textual explanations. The mention of the "weaver's beam" spear shaft not only vividly portrays the immense scale of this giant, mirroring the description of Goliath himself, but also serves to underscore the divine empowerment enabling human heroes to overcome such colossal adversaries. The narrative subtly conveys that God’s ongoing victory over the enemies of Israel was secured not solely by King David, but by Him raising up and empowering others among David's mighty men, demonstrating His faithfulness to protect His people through diverse instruments. This serves as a reminder that God’s work is carried out through many hands, often those we might not immediately associate with monumental acts.