The Philistines had yet war again with Israel After, or besides the other wars with the Philistines mentioned in this book, they yet again disturbed David's repose. David waxed faint Being no longer in the vigour of youth, but probably in declining years, though not old in age. Ishbi-benob, of the sons of the giant Either of Goliath, who, by way of eminence, is called the giant, or rather, as the Hebrew word, רפה, rapha, signifies, any giant. The words should rather be translated, Of the race of the giants, that is, of the Anakims, who fled into this country, particularly to Gath, when Joshua expelled them from Canaan, Joshua 11:22. Whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass This is to be understood of the head of his spear, which weighed half as much as that of Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:7. He being girded with a new sword One made on purpose for him, larger and heavier than those commonly used. Thought to have slain David Thought he had a fair opportunity to do it.
2 Samuel 21:15. David longed, and said, O! &c. Being hot and thirsty, he expresses how acceptable a draught of that water would be to him; but was far from desiring or expecting that any of his men should hazard their lives to procure it. He would not drink thereof Lest, by gratifying himself upon such terms, he should seem either to set too high a price upon the satisfaction of his appetite, or too low a price upon the lives of his soldiers. He poured it out unto the Lord As a kind of drink-offering, and acknowledgment of God's goodness in preserving the lives of his captains in so dangerous an enterprise; and to show that he esteemed it as a sacred thing, which it was not fit for him to drink.