2 Samuel 21:17 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“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. {light: Heb. candle, or, lamp}”

2 Samuel 21:17

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.

And Ishbibenob, which {was} of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear {weighed} three hundred {shekels} of brass in weight, he being girded with a new {sword}, thought to have slain David. {the giant: or, Rapha} {spear: Heb. the staff, or, the head}

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. {light: Heb. candle, or, lamp}

And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which {was} of the sons of the giant. {the giant: or, Rapha} {Saph: or, Sippai}

And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew {the brother of} Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear {was} like a weaver's beam. {Jaareoregim: or, Jair}

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2 Samuel 21:1

"Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, {It is} for Saul, and for {his} bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. {enquired...: Heb. sought the face, etc}"

2 Samuel 21:2

"And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites {were} not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)"

2 Samuel 21:3

"Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?"

2 Samuel 21:4

"And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, {that} will I do for you. {We will...: or, It is not silver nor gold that we have to do with Saul or his house, neither pertains it to us to kill, etc}"

2 Samuel 21:5

"And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us {that} we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, {devised...: or, cut us off}"

2 Samuel 21:6

"Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, {whom} the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give {them}. {whom...: or, chosen of the LORD}"

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