2 Samuel 21:17

But Abishai came to help David, and attacked the giant and killed him. Then David’s soldiers forced him to promise that he would not go with them into a battle again. They said to him, “ If you die, and none of your descendants become king, that would be like [MET] extinguishing the last light in Israel.”

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

16One of the Philistia men thought that he could kill David. His name was Ishbi-Benob. He was a descendant of a group of giants. He carried a bronze spear that weighed about ◄7-1/2 pounds/3-1/2 kg.►, and he also had a new sword.

18Some time after that, there was a battle with the army of Philistia near Gob village. During the battle, Sibbecai, from the Hushah clan, killed Saph, one of the descendants of the Rapha giants.

Read all of 2 Samuel 21

Cross References

2 Samuel 14:7Now, all my family oppose me. They are insisting that I allow them to kill my son who is still alive [MTY], in order that they may get revenge for his killing his brother. But if they do that, I will not have any son to inherit my husband’s possessions. That would be like [MET] extinguishing the last coals of a fire, and my husband would not have a son to preserve our family’s name. [DOU]”

2 Samuel 18:3But his soldiers said, “No, we will not allow you to go with us. If they force us all to run away, they will not be concerned about that happening. Or if they kill half of us, that will also not be what they want. To them, killing you is more important than killing 10,000 of us. So it will be better that you stay here in the city and send help to us.”

2 Samuel 22:19They attacked me when I was experiencing troubles/difficulties, but Yahweh, you protected me.

1 Kings 11:36I will allow Solomon’s son to rule one tribe, in order that descendants [MET] of David will always rule in Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen to be the place where my people worship me [MTY].

Psalms 46:1God is the one who protects us and causes us to be strong; he is always ready to help us when we have troubles.

Psalms 144:10You enable kings to defeat their enemies; and you rescued me, your servant David, from being killed by my enemies’ swords.

Matthew Henry on 2 Samuel 21:16-22

The Giants Subdued. ( b. c. 1020.) 15 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. 16 And Ishbi-benob, 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. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study 2 Samuel 21:17