2 Samuel 21:15

Translations

Modern

Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines. But David became exhausted.

Traditional

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.

Literal

And again were the Philistines at war with Israel, and David went down, and his servants with him, and they fought against the Philistines, and David grew faint.

Latin

Factum est autem rursum prælium Philisthinorum adversum Israël, et descendit David, et servi ejus cum eo, et pugnabant contra Philisthiim. Deficiente autem David,

Original

Hebrew

English

Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines. But David became exhausted.

Notes

2 Samuel 21:15

Describing David as weak and tired shifts the focus from his skills and achievements to God as the reason for his success (2 Samuel 22).

2 Samuel 21:15–22

The longer account of battles with the Philistines highlights important victories by David’s mighty warriors. A similar list of their deeds appears later in the chapter (see also 2 Samuel 23:8–39).

2 Samuel 21:1–24:25

The final chapters of 2 Samuel form a coda (a concluding section). This section brings together and summarizes the main themes from earlier chapters.

These chapters are thematic, not chronological (arranged by topic, not by time). Because of this, not all the events happened at the end of David’s reign (for example, 2 Samuel 22:1).

The material is arranged using a common Hebrew literary pattern called a chiasm (a mirror-like structure). In a chiasm, the first and last sections match, and the middle section is the focus.

The structure of this chiasm is as follows:

A: Saul’s sin against the Gibeonites and the punishment that affected the whole community (2 Samuel 21:1–14)
- B: David’s warriors and their heroic deeds (2 Samuel 21:15–22)
  - C: David’s Psalm (2 Samuel 22:1–51)
  - C′: David’s Psalm (2 Samuel 23:1–7)
- B′: David’s warriors and their heroic deeds (2 Samuel 23:8–39)
A′: David’s sin involving the census and the punishment that affected the whole community (2 Samuel 24:1–25)

A chiasm draws attention to the center section. Here, the center is David’s hymns. These hymns do not focus on David himself. Instead, they focus on David’s God.

Theme notes and profiles

Abishai David The Philistines

Events

Reign of Davidc. 1055 BC

Related verses

Joshua 14:10–11
Now behold, as the LORD promised, He has kept me alive these forty-five years since He spoke this word to Moses, while Israel wandered in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old,
Ecclesiastes 12:3
…on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,
2 Samuel 5:17
When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.
Psalm 71:9
Do not discard me in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.
2 Samuel 5:25
So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
2 Samuel 5:22
Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
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.
Isaiah 40:28–30
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.
Psalm 71:18
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.
Jeremiah 9:23–24
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.
1 Peter 1:24–25
For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

Parallels

1 Chronicles 20:4–8

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Philistia: An ancient people and region in Canaan

Glossary

Abishai Avenger of Blood Philistia, Philistines Rephaim Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Armies: March in Ranks: Champions Fight Instead of Championship: Representatives of the Philistines Land David's Armies David: King of Israel: Defeats the Philistines Giants, Rephaim: The: The Last of, Destroyed by David and his Warriors Goliath: His Sons The Philistines: David: Often Defeated in the Course of his Reign

2 Samuel 21:15

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People

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Glossary?

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Translations

Original

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Events

Related verses

Parallels

Glossary

Topics