Christian Standard Bible
2 Samuel 21:17
17But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle. You must not extinguish the lamp of Israel.”
2 Samuel 21:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid and attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, "You shall no longer go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel."
- New King James Version (NKJV)But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.”
Context of 2 Samuel 21:17
15The Philistines again waged war against Israel. David went down with his soldiers, and they fought the Philistines, but David became exhausted. 16Then Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giant, whose bronze spear weighed about eight pounds and who wore new armor, intended to kill David. But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle. You must not extinguish the lamp of Israel.” 18After this, there was another battle with the Philistines at Gob. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giant. 19Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath of Gath. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam.
Read all of 2 Samuel 212 Samuel 21:17 word by word
וַיַּֽעֲזָר־לוֹ֙ אֲבִישַׁ֣י בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֔ה וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖י וַיְמִיתֵ֑הוּ אָ֣ז נִשְׁבְּעוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁי־דָוִ֨ד ל֜וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר לֹא־תֵצֵ֨א ע֤וֹד אִתָּ֙נוּ֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א תְכַבֶּ֖ה אֶת־נֵ֥ר יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But Abishaiאֲבִישַׁי'ăbîyshay 'abshay · AbishaiH52
- the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Zeruiahצְרוּיָהtserûyâh · ZeruiahH6870
- succouredעָזַר‛âzar · to helpH5826
- him, and smoteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
- the Philistineפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
- and killedמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- him. Then the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- of Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- swareשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
- unto him, sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Thou shalt goיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- no more out with us to battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
- that thou quenchכָּבָהkâbâh · to quenchH3518
- not the lightנֵרnîyr nir nêyr nêr nêrâh · lampH5216
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 21:17
- 2 Samuel 20:6So David said to Abishai, “Sheba son of Bichri will do more harm to us than Absalom. Take your lord’s soldiers and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.”
- 2 Samuel 22:19They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.
- Psalms 46:1God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.
- Psalms 144:10the one who gives victory to kings, who frees his servant David from the deadly sword.
- 2 Samuel 18:3“You must not go!” the people pleaded. “If we have to flee, they will not pay any attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not pay any attention to us because you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore, it is better if you support us from the city.”
- 2 Samuel 14:7Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant and said, ‘Hand over the one who killed his brother so we may put him to death for the life of the brother he murdered. We will eliminate the heir! ’ They would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on earth.”
- 1 Kings 11:36I will give one tribe to his son, so that my servant David will always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city I chose for myself to put my name there.
- 1 Kings 15:4But for the sake of David, the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up his son after him and by preserving Jerusalem.
- Psalms 132:17There I will make a horn grow for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one.
- John 1:8He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.
- John 5:35John was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 21:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17That 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."Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-22Verses 15-22 These events seem to have taken place towards the end of David's reign. David fainted, but he did not flee, and God sent help in the time of need. In spiritual conflicts, even strong saints sometimes wax faint; then Satan attacks them furiously; but those who stand their ground and resist him, shall be relieved and made more than conquerors. Death is a Christian's last enemy, and a son of Anak; but through Him that triumphed for us, believers…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Abishai was a skilled warrior and very loyal to David, whom he bravely saved (see “Abishai” Profile). the lamp of Israel: Compare 2 Samuel 18:3. Both passages show the deep admiration David’s men had for him.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-2215-22. Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel--Although the Philistines had completely succumbed to the army of David, yet the appearance of any gigantic champions among them revived their courage and stirred them up to renewed inroads on the Hebrew territory. Four successive contests they provoked during the latter period of David's reign, in the first of which the king ran so imminent a risk of his life that he was no longer allowed to…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 21:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries