A battle in Gob with the Philistines— Houbigant, with whom Calmet agrees, observes, that both here and in the next verse, the reading of the parallel place, 1 Chronicles 20:4-5 is to be preferred. It is there read, in Gezur, a city on the borders of Israel, near the Philistines; and as David slew Goliath, our translators, 2 Samuel 21:19 have inserted the words, the brother of. There can be no question, we think, that the text must be corrected from the parallel place in Chronicles. Houbigant reads it, where Elhanam, the son of Jair, a Beth-lehemite, slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath, a Gittite, &c. Commentators have collected various instances of men, who, like the giant mentioned in 2 Samuel 21:20 have had six fingers on their hands, and six toes on their feet. Tavernier, in his relation of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, p. 95 tells us, that the eldest son of the emperor of Java, who reigned in the year 1648, when he was in that island, had six fingers on each hand, and as many toes on each foot, all of equal length: and, not to be tediously prolix in recounting such instances, M. Maupertuis, in his 17th Letter tells us, that he met with two families at Berlin, where six-digitism, as he calls it, was equally transmitted both on the side of father and mother.
REFLECTIONS.—The Philistines, though subdued for a season, yet now, towards the latter end of David's reign, attempt to shake off their yoke and recover their liberty, emboldened in the attempt by those giants whose fall is here recorded.
1. David, though old, would himself lead his troops to battle. Being singled out by Ishbi-benob the giant, and not now, as in the days of youth and vigour, able to wield the shield and spear, he is in imminent danger of being slain, when Abishai bravely succours him, and enables him to slay the giant, or smites him himself (for the text will bear either sense). Struck with the danger that their king had escaped, the great officers and people about David resolve that he shall no more expose a life so valuable, lest, by any accident, this light of Israel should be extinguished. Note; (1.) Age creeps upon us so silently that we do not perceive it, till experience proves us unequal to our former undertakings. (2.) The enemies of God's people, confident of their power, think nothing can resist them; but they learn, to their cost, that it is in vain to fight against God. (3.) When we are ready to faint in our spiritual conflicts, Jesus, our captain, is near to succour us; and through his help we shall come off conquerors.
2. Three other battles soon followed, the Philistines making a desperate push to recover their losses: but in each they are defeated, and the mighty warriors who led them slain. And thus the race of the sons of Anak was rooted out by David and his servants. Note; (1.) While we are in this world, we must expect continual conflicts, with the enemies of our souls. (2.) The giant-like corruptions of our heart will fall before the victorious grace of Jesus.