2 samuel 21:19 - There was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite’s brother, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
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What does "2 samuel 21:19" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 21:19 presents a point of contention in biblical scholarship due to its apparent contradiction with the famous story in 1 Samuel 17, where David kills Goliath. Here's a breakdown of the verse and its potential interpretations:
"There was again war with the Philistines at Gob": This indicates a subsequent conflict with the Philistines, taking place at a location called Gob (likely a specific town or area). This sets the context for another heroic deed during warfare.
"Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite’s brother": This is the core of the issue. It states that Elhanan, a Bethlehemite, killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite (Goliath being from the city of Gath). The key part is that the person killed is identified as Goliath's brother, not Goliath himself.
"the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam": This is a description of the slain Philistine's spear, emphasizing its massive size. This description is similar to the description of Goliath's spear in 1 Samuel 17, adding to the confusion.
Possible Interpretations and Explanations:
1. The most common explanation is that Elhanan killed Goliath's brother, not Goliath himself. This interpretation reconciles the two passages by suggesting two separate incidents involving two different men associated with the name "Goliath".
2. Parallel Accounts with Different Details: Some scholars suggest that the stories of David and Elhanan originally referred to the same event, and that the details were later altered or conflated in different versions of the narrative. The name "David" may have been added to the account later, perhaps to enhance David's heroic image.
3. Scribal Error: Some believe that there was a scribal error in either 1 Samuel 17 or 2 Samuel 21. It's possible a mistake was made in copying the text, leading to the confusion over who killed Goliath.
4. A different Goliath: Some suggest that Goliath was a common name or title among the Philistines, so there could have been more than one Goliath, and perhaps one was the brother of the other.
In summary, the verse from 2 Samuel 21:19 states that Elhanan, not David, killed Goliath's brother, a Philistine giant whose spear was similar to that of the more famous Goliath. While there are different perspectives on reconciling this verse with the story of David and Goliath, most interpretations suggest that they are distinct events or that there were alterations to the original narratives over time.
2 samuel 21:19 - There was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite’s brother, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
What does "2 samuel 21:19" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 21:19 presents a point of contention in biblical scholarship due to its apparent contradiction with the famous story in 1 Samuel 17, where David kills Goliath. Here's a breakdown of the verse and its potential interpretations:
"There was again war with the Philistines at Gob": This indicates a subsequent conflict with the Philistines, taking place at a location called Gob (likely a specific town or area). This sets the context for another heroic deed during warfare.
"Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite’s brother": This is the core of the issue. It states that Elhanan, a Bethlehemite, killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite (Goliath being from the city of Gath). The key part is that the person killed is identified as Goliath's brother, not Goliath himself.
"the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam": This is a description of the slain Philistine's spear, emphasizing its massive size. This description is similar to the description of Goliath's spear in 1 Samuel 17, adding to the confusion.
Possible Interpretations and Explanations:
1. The most common explanation is that Elhanan killed Goliath's brother, not Goliath himself. This interpretation reconciles the two passages by suggesting two separate incidents involving two different men associated with the name "Goliath".
2. Parallel Accounts with Different Details: Some scholars suggest that the stories of David and Elhanan originally referred to the same event, and that the details were later altered or conflated in different versions of the narrative. The name "David" may have been added to the account later, perhaps to enhance David's heroic image.
3. Scribal Error: Some believe that there was a scribal error in either 1 Samuel 17 or 2 Samuel 21. It's possible a mistake was made in copying the text, leading to the confusion over who killed Goliath.
4. A different Goliath: Some suggest that Goliath was a common name or title among the Philistines, so there could have been more than one Goliath, and perhaps one was the brother of the other.
In summary, the verse from 2 Samuel 21:19 states that Elhanan, not David, killed Goliath's brother, a Philistine giant whose spear was similar to that of the more famous Goliath. While there are different perspectives on reconciling this verse with the story of David and Goliath, most interpretations suggest that they are distinct events or that there were alterations to the original narratives over time.