What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 21:16? Then Ishbi-benob • The action in 2 Samuel 21:16 opens with the word “Then,” tying the episode to the Philistine wars that resume in 21:15. Scripture places us in a real battlefield where David, now older (2 Samuel 21:15), is vulnerable. • “Ishbi-benob” is introduced without prior mention, highlighting that new threats can arise even late in life. Just as David once surprised Israel as a youthful champion (1 Samuel 17:32-37), so an unexpected enemy now targets him. • The historical setting is affirmed elsewhere when the same list of giant-killings appears in 1 Chronicles 20:4-8, underscoring that this is reliable history, not legend. a descendant of Rapha • The phrase links Ishbi-benob to the Rephaim, a group of unusually large warriors (Deuteronomy 2:20-21). • Earlier, Goliath is called “the champion…from Gath” and described as a giant (1 Samuel 17:4). Now another of that lineage challenges David, showing the ongoing spiritual and physical battle Israel faced with the Philistines (Joshua 11:21-22). • God’s past victories over the Rephaim (Joshua 12:4; 13:12) assure us He remains sovereign over present dangers. whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels • Three hundred shekels (about 7–8 pounds) signals exceptional strength, though still lighter than Goliath’s 600-shekel spear (1 Samuel 17:7). • Scripture uses weapon weight to draw a stark contrast between human might and divine deliverance. David’s earlier triumph with only a sling (1 Samuel 17:45-47) reminds us that victory depends on the Lord, not on impressive armaments (Psalm 20:7). and who was bearing a new sword • A “new” sword pictures Ishbi-benob as freshly equipped and confident. Technological or tactical advantages never unsettle God’s plan (Psalm 33:16-18). • Ironically, the sword theme circles back to David: he once used Goliath’s own sword (1 Samuel 17:51; 21:9). Here the enemy’s blade threatens him, but God again proves faithful (2 Samuel 21:17). resolved to kill David • The verb stresses deliberate intention. Decades earlier Saul “sought to pin David to the wall” (1 Samuel 18:10-11); now a Philistine giant takes up the same murderous resolve. Satanic opposition to God’s anointed persists across generations (Psalm 2:1-2). • David’s exhaustion (2 Samuel 21:15) sets the stage for Abishai’s rescue (21:17), illustrating the body of believers rallying to protect their leader (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). • The episode foreshadows the ultimate preservation of the Messiah’s line, ensuring the promise of 2 Samuel 7:12-16 cannot fail. summary 2 Samuel 21:16 records a fresh giant, formidable weapons, and a focused intent to end David’s life. Yet every detail—lineage, spear weight, new sword—serves to highlight God’s continued protection of His chosen king. The verse reminds us that no matter how intimidating the threat or how weary the servant, the Lord remains the decisive factor in every battle. |
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