2 Samuel 21:17

¹⁵ Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines; but David became exhausted.

¹⁶ Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels and who was bearing a new sword, resolved 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, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”

¹⁸ Some time later at Gob, there was another battle with the Philistines. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.

¹⁹ Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”
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.
WEB: But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “Don’t go out with us to battle any more, so that you don’t quench the lamp of Israel.”
ASV: 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.
DARBY: And Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the lamp of Israel.
BLB: And Abishai son of Zeruiah came to aid him 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.”

ÅB: Men Abisai, Serujas sønn, kom ham til hjelp og slo filisteren og drepte ham. Da svor Davids menn og sa til ham: Du skal ikke mere dra ut med oss i striden, for at du ikke skal utslukke Israels lys.
OTB: Men Abisjai, sønn av Seruja, kom ham til hjelp og slo filisteren og drepte ham. Da sverget Davids menn til ham og sa, "Du skal ikke gå ut igjen med oss i kamp, slik at du ikke slukker Israels lampe."
B1930: Men Abisai, Serujas sønn, kom ham til hjelp og slo filisteren og drepte ham. Da svor Davids menn og sa til ham: Du skal ikke mere dra ut med oss i striden, forat du ikke skal utslukke Israels lys.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Kings 11:36
I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put My Name.
Read in context
2 Samuel 18:3
But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will pay no attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better for now if you support us from the city.”
Read in context
Psalms 132:17
There I will make a horn grow for David; I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one.
Read in context
1 Kings 15:4
Nevertheless, for the sake of David, the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and to make Jerusalem strong.
Read in context
2 Samuel 14:7
Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.”
Read in context
2 Samuel 20:6–10
And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.”
Read in context
John 5:35
John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light.
Read in context
Psalms 144:10
to Him who gives victory to kings, who frees His servant David from the deadly sword.
Read in context