Bible Strands

2 Samuel 21:19

Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The text records a historical account of a Philistine conflict at Gob, narrated in the third person without direct address. It occurs during a series of engagements against the Philistines following earlier battles at the same location.

The words — ע֧וֹד (od) translates to "again," marking the recurrence of the hostilities, while וַ/יַּ֡ךְ (va/i.Yakh) means "and he struck down," describing the decisive combat action.

The thread — The passage parallels 1 Chronicles 20:5, which names the slain opponent as Lahmi, and recalls the earlier champion Goliath described in 1 Samuel 17:4. It also cross-references the warrior Elhanan in 1 Chronicles 11:26.

Why it lands — The text states that Elhanan killed the brother of Goliath, clarifying that the famous giant was not slain by David. It asks the reader to track the repeated Philistine threat and the specific combatants who neutralized it.

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 there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare–oregim, a Beth–lehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

Cross-references

People named

GoliathElhananJaare-oregim

Places named

Gob