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2 Samuel 21:17

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 21:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored 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 lamp of Israel.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored 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 lamp of Israel.
2 Samuel 21:17 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was entreated for the land.
15And the Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. And David waxed faint;
16and Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred [shekels] of brass in weight, he being girded with a new [sword], thought to have slain David.
17But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored 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 lamp of Israel.
18And it came to pass after this, that there was again war with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbecai the Hushathite slew Saph, who was of the sons of the giant.
19And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim the Beth-lehemite slew Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver`s beam.
20And there was again war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.
← 2 Samuel 21:162 Samuel 21:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, etc.] 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, (<102122>2 Samuel 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…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:17 Abishai was an accomplished warrior and fiercely loyal to David, whom he heroically rescued (see “Abishai” Profile). • the light of Israel? Cp. 18:3. Both passages reflect the glowing adoration that David’s men had for him.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Abishai: Sa2 20:6-10 succoured: Sa2 22:19; Psa 46:1, Psa 144:10 Thou shalt: Sa2 18:3 quench: Sa2 14:7; Kg1 11:36, Kg1 15:4; Psa 132:17; Joh 1:8, Joh 1:9, Joh 5:35 light: Heb. candle, or lamp 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 21:18”
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Related study paths

Read 2 Samuel 21 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification