Bible Strands
2 Samuel 21:22
So these four descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator concludes a campaign against Philistine giants in Gath, recording the defeat of four specific warriors. This follows the immediate battle account where Jonathan, son of David’s brother Shimei, killed a taunting giant.
The words — יֻלְּדוּ (yu.le.Du) literally means "they were born," identifying the fallen combatants as descendants. בְּיַד (bə-yad) translates as "by the hand of," directly attributing their defeat to David and his servants.
The thread — The same historical record appears in 1 Chronicles 20:8, which confirms these descendants of Rapha fell at David’s hands. The structural emphasis on collective victory over individual champions parallels the theological framing in Romans 8:31 and Jeremiah 9:23.
Why it lands — The text states that military success comes through David’s servants rather than through isolated heroes. It requires the reader to acknowledge recorded history as the basis for trusting divine provision in warfare.
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
These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 20:8 So these descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants.
- Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Jeremiah 9:23 This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.
- Joshua 14:12 Now therefore give me this hill country that the LORD promised me on that day, for you yourself heard then that the Anakim were there, with great and fortified cities. Perhaps with the LORD’s help I will drive them out, as the LORD has spoken.”
- Psalms 60:12 With God we will perform with valor, and He will trample our enemies.
- Psalms 108:13 With God we will perform with valor, and He will trample our enemies.
- Psalms 118:15 Shouts of joy and salvation resound in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD performs with valor!
- Ecclesiastes 9:11 I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.
- Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.