Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 21:17
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.
17. and smote ] Perhaps, and he (David) smote; as 2Sa 21:22 seems to imply that one of them fell by David’s own hand.
that thou quench not the light of Israel ] Extinguishing the lamp is a natural metaphor for changing the light of prosperity into the darkness of calamity; and in particular David’s sovereignty was the lamp which God’s favour had lighted for the well-being of His people. An Arab in misfortune says, “Fate has put out my lamp.” Cp. Job 18:6; Pro 13:9. The expression light of Israel seems to indicate that David was already king of all Israel, and if so, the incident may have happened in one of the wars recorded in ch. 2Sa 5:17-25.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 17. That thou quench not the light of Israel.] David is here considered as the lamp by which all Israel was guided, and without whom all the nation must be involved in darkness. The lamp is the emblem of direction and support. Light is used in this sense by Homer: –
, ‘
, .
Iliad, lib. xviii. ver. 102.
“I have neither been a LIGHT to Patroclus nor to his
companions, who have been slain by the noble Hector.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Lest thou be slain, and thereby thy people be ruined. Good kings are in Scripture justly called the light of their people, as 1Ki 11:36; 15:4; Psa 132:17, because the beauty and glory, the conduct and direction, the comfort, and safety, and welfare of a people depend upon them, and come from them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him,…. Observing him in danger, made haste to his relief:
and smote the Philistine, and killed him; it seems as if Abishai engaged with the Philistine, and killed him; but inasmuch as it will bear to be interpreted of David, and since the four giants here and hereafter mentioned are said to fall by the hand of David and his servants, 2Sa 21:22, it may be thought that this man fell by his hand; seeing it is clear that all the rest fell by the hands of his servants:
then the men of David sware unto him; after they had observed the danger he was exposed unto, and how narrowly he escaped with his life:
saying, thou shalt go no more with us to battle; they had persuaded him not to go to the battle with Absalom; they had suffered him to go with them now, he being, no doubt, forward and pressing to it; but now they were resolute, and determined he should never go more:
that thou quench not the light of Israel; signifying that their glory and prosperity depended on his life, and that, should he be taken away, they should be in affliction and adversity, their honour and their happiness would be at an end; the Targum is,
“thou mayest not extinguish the kingdom of Israel,”
the light and glory of it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(17) And smote.The original leaves it doubtful whether Abishai is the nominative to the verb, or whether it should be simply he, referring to David. 2Sa. 21:22 seems to imply that one at least of the sons of the giant fell by Davids own hand.
Sware unto him.This was a solemn transaction, by which David should hereafter be restrained from personal exposure in battle. That he should be spoken of as the light of Israel implies that his government over all Israel had continued long enough already to make its immense benefits sensible.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. Sware unto him The word seems here to have rather a causative signification, made him swear; that is, administered an oath unto him.
Quench not the light of Israel David’s position as king over Israel and leader of the armies was like that of the sun in the heavens, or a lamp in a house. Let it be suddenly removed, and all would be involved in darkness and terror. Compare 2Sa 18:3.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 21:17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.
Ver. 17. That thou quench not the light of Israel. ] As Epaminondas, by his death, did the Thebans, who were after that famous for their calamities, and no more for their victories. The body drowneth not whilst the head is above water; when that once sinketh, death is near: so here. Pray therefore for the preservation of good princes; we cannot pray for them, and not pray for ourselves.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
light = lamp. Compare Gen 15:17. 1Ki 15:4. Pro 13:9; Pro 20:20, though not the same word in Gen 15:17,
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Abishai: 2Sa 20:6-10
succoured: 2Sa 22:19, Psa 46:1, Psa 144:10
Thou shalt: 2Sa 18:3
quench: 2Sa 14:7, 1Ki 11:36, 1Ki 15:4, Psa 132:17, Joh 1:8, Joh 1:9, Joh 5:35
light: Heb. candle, or lamp
Reciprocal: Exo 18:23 – and all this Deu 31:2 – I can no more 1Ch 11:20 – Abishai 1Ch 18:12 – Moreover Jer 40:15 – wherefore Act 19:30 – the disciples Heb 11:34 – escaped
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 21:17. That thou quench not the light of Israel Lest thou be slain, and thereby thy people lose their glory and happiness, and even be utterly ruined. Good kings are, in Scripture, justly called the light of their people, because the beauty and glory, the conduct and direction, the comfort and safety, and welfare of a people depend greatly upon them. A noble image this of a king!
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
21:17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the {n} light of Israel.
(n) For the glory and wealth of the country stands in the preservation of the godly magistrate.