Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 21:16
And Ishbibenob, which [was] of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear [weighed] three hundred [shekels] of brass in weight, he being girded with a new [sword], thought to have slain David.
16. Ishbi-benob ] Perhaps = “dweller on a height,” a name given him because he lived in some inaccessible castle. But there are good reasons for suspecting that there is some corruption in the text, and that the giant’s real name has been lost.
of the sons of the giant ] The word for sons is one specially used of the progeny of the giant races of Canaan (Num 13:22; Num 13:28; Jos 15:14). Rphh, or with the article ha-Rphh, translated “the giant,” may be a quasi proper-name for the father of the four giants here mentioned, or, more probably, for the founder of the tribe of Rephaim. The Vulg. has Arapha, and hence comes Harapha, the name of the giant introduced in Milton’s Samson Agonistes.
three hundred shekels ] About nine pounds: half the weight of Goliath’s spear head.
brass ] See note on ch. 2Sa 8:8.
with a new sword] There is no substantive expressed in the Hebrew: the Vulg. supplies sword: others suit of armour: the Sept. reads a mace instead of the word new, and this suggests the probability that the original reading was some rare word, denoting a specially formidable kind of weapon.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Ishbi-benob – A corrupt reading. The whole passage should perhaps run thus: And David waxed faint. So they halted in Gob (as in 2Sa 21:18-19). And there was a man (in Gob) which was of the sons of the giant, etc.
Sons of the giant – The giant here 2Sa 21:18, 2Sa 21:20, 2Sa 21:22 is ha-Raphah, whence, the Rephaim Gen 14:5; Deu 2:11. The sons of Ha-raphah, or Rephaim, are different from the Nephilim, or Giants Gen 6:4; Num 13:33. The sons of Anak were not strictly Rephaim, but Nephilim.
Three hundred shekels of brass – About eight pounds. Goliaths spears head weighed six hundred shekels of iron.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. Being girded with a new sword] As the word sword is not in the original, we may apply the term new to his armour in general; he had got new arms, a new coat of mail, or something that defended him well, and rendered him very formidable: or it may mean a strong or sharp sword.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The giant; so called by way of eminency. Or, of Rapha, a giant so called.
The weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels: see 1Sa 17:5.
With a new sword, or rather, with a new girdle or belt; for, first, This was the usual habit of soldiers, 1Sa 18:4; 2Sa 18:11; 1Ki 2:5; Isa 5:27, and when it was of an extraordinary fashion and price, an ensign of dignity and command in the army, Eze 23:15. So this may be mentioned to note that this was the first time either of his going out to fight, or of his advancement to some eminent place in the army; which made him desirous to signalize himself with some great action. Secondly, This supplement is more natural and usual, the word girdle being easily supplied from the word
being girded; such ellipses of conjugate words being frequent in the Hebrew tongue, as Num 11:14; Psa 76:12; Mat 20:12. Thirdly, The newness of the sword seems to have no emphasis nor significancy for the present purpose, seeing an old and tried sword would seem more considerable for his encouragement than one new and unproved.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Ishbibenob, which [was] of the sons of the giant,…. Of Goliath, or of a giant, of the race of them:
the weight of whose spear [weighed] three hundred [shekels] of brass in weight; which must be understood either of the wood of it, or of the head of it, the flaming point of it, as many interpret it; and if so, it was but half the weight of Goliath’s spear, unless there was any difference of the weight of iron and of brass, see 1Sa 17:7;
he being girded with a new [sword]; or rather with a new girdle, as the Targum; and so Jarchi, which might be given him as a mark of honour, or as a token of his having a commission in the army:
thought to have slain David; his aim was at him, and perceiving him faint and feeble, thought to take the advantage of it, and dispatch him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(16) Ishbi-benob.The name is a strange one, and it is generally thought that some error has crept into the text, but none of the suggested emendations are free from difficulty. Perhaps the most probable is that in the Speakers Commentary, by which for Ishbi (the Hebrew margin) they halted is read, and benob, by a very slight change in one letter, becomes at Gob; then a clause is supplied, there was a man, so that the whole reads, David waxed faint, and they halted at Gob. And there was a man which was of the sons, &c.; 2Sa. 21:18 (as well as 2Sa. 21:19) seems to imply a previous battle in Gob.
Three hundred shekels.About eight pounds; just half the weight of Goliaths spear-head (1Sa. 17:7).
Girded with a new sword.The word sword is not in the original, and its omission, where intended, is unusual. Either it should be girded with new armour, or else the word for new is intended to denote some otherwise unknown weapon.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. Ishbi-benob The name means, his dwelling on the hill, and was perhaps given him on account of some high citadel or castle which he occupied.
Sons of the giant Or, sons of Raphah. On the ancient giant race, Rephaim, compare Gen 14:5; Gen 15:20; and Deu 3:11. The word Raphah (or Rapha, as in 1Ch 20:4) seems to have been the proper name of the father of a race of giants that dwelt among the Philistines, but he was doubtless related to the more ancient Rephaim.
Weight of whose spear The reference is doubtless to the metal head of his spear.
Three hundred shekels About nine pounds, half the weight of Goliath’s. See 1Sa 17:7.
New sword Better to supply the word armour in place of sword. His entire military garb was new.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 21:16 And Ishbibenob, which [was] of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear [weighed] three hundred [shekels] of brass in weight, he being girded with a new [sword], thought to have slain David.
Ver. 15. Which was of the sons of the giant. ] Such as were those before the flood, and the Zamzummims, Deu 2:20 and that Gabbara in Pliny brought out of Arabia, under the empire of Claudius, who was nine feet and nine inches high.
Thought to have slain David.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
giant = Rapha. See App-23and App-25,
thought to have slain, or, said he would slay.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
of the sons: Gen 6:4, Num 13:32, Num 13:33, Deu 1:28, Deu 2:10, Deu 2:21, Deu 3:11, Deu 9:2, 1Sa 17:4, 1Sa 17:5
the giant: or, Rapha, 2Sa 21:18, 2Sa 21:20, *marg. 2Sa 5:18, Gen 14:5
whose spear: Heb. the staff, or, the head
thought: 1Sa 17:45-51
Reciprocal: Jos 11:22 – only in Gaza Psa 33:16 – mighty Psa 87:4 – this man Psa 144:10 – who delivereth Heb 11:34 – escaped
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
21:16 And Ishbibenob, which [was] of the sons of {l} the giant, the weight of whose spear [weighed] three hundred {m} [shekels] of brass in weight, he being girded with a new [sword], thought to have slain David.
(l) Or, of Haraphah, the race of giants.
(m) Which amounts to 9 3/4 pounds.