Bible Strands
2 Samuel 21:18
Some time later at Gob, there was another battle with the Philistines. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, a descendant of Rapha.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative continues David’s reign as his commanders confront Philistine forces. At Gob, Sibbecai the Hushathite engages in combat following Abishai’s rescue of David and the subsequent oath restricting David’s personal military service.
The words — The Hebrew phrase וַֽ/יְהִי־אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵן (va/y.Hi-'a.cha.rei-Khen) literally renders “and it was after thus,” marking a sequential transition. The term ע֧וֹד (od) reinforces that this engagement is a subsequent battle at the same location.
The thread — This account of Sibbecai appears in the parallel commander list of 1 Chronicles 11:29. The narrative sequence places this Gob battle before the later engagement at Gob recorded in 2 Samuel 21:19.
Why it lands — The text records the systematic elimination of Rapha’s lineage through David’s appointed warriors. It requires the reader to observe how covenant leadership relies on delegated military action rather than individual heroism.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 11:29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
- 2 Samuel 21:20 And there was also a battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha,
- 2 Samuel 21:16 Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David.
- 1 Chronicles 27:11 The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
- 2 Samuel 21:22 So these four descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants.
- 1 Chronicles 20:4 Some time later, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued.