2 Samuel 21:17

Contextual Overview

¹⁵Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. ¹⁵ Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. ¹⁵And the Philistines were at war again with Israel, so David went down and his servants with him; and as they fought against the Philistines, David became weary. ¹⁵ Now when the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David went down and his servants with him; and as they fought against the Philistines, David became weary. ¹⁵ Moreouer, yt Philistines had yet warre againe with Israel, and Dauid went downe and his seruauntes with him, & fought against the Philistines: And Dauid waxed faintie. ¹⁵ The Philistines started another war with Israel. David and his men went out to fight the Philistines, but David became very tired and weak. ¹⁵ And again the Philistines warred with Israel. And David went down, and his servants with him. And they fought with the Philistines. And David was weary. ¹⁵ The Philistines had war again with Israel, and David went down together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines; and David grew weary. ¹⁵ The Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. David grew faint; ¹⁵ Moreouer, the Philistines had yet warre againe with Israel, and Dauid went down, and his seruants with him, and fought against the Philistines, and Dauid waxed faint.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Abishai: 2 Samuel 20:6-10

succoured: 2 Samuel 22:19, Psalms 46:1, Psalms 144:10

Thou shalt: 2 Samuel 18:3

quench: 2 Samuel 14:7, 1 Kings 11:36, 1 Kings 15:4, Psalms 132:17, John 1:8, John 1:9, John 5:35

light: Heb. candle, or lamp

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:23 - and all this Deuteronomy 31:2 - I can no more 1 Chronicles 11:20 - Abishai 1 Chronicles 18:12 - Moreover Jeremiah 40:15 - wherefore Acts 19:30 - the disciples Hebrews 11:34 - escaped

Cross-References

Genesis 15:1
After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. "

Genesis 15:1
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."

Genesis 15:1
After these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying,"Do not fear, Abram,I am a shield to you;Your reward shall be very great."

Genesis 15:1
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great."

Genesis 15:1
After these thynges, the worde of the Lorde came vnto Abram in a vision, saying: feare not Abram I am thy shielde [and] thy exceedyng great rewarde.

Genesis 15:1
After all these things happened, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. God said, "Abram, don't be afraid. I will defend you and give you a great reward."

Genesis 15:1
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."

Genesis 15:1
And so whanne these thingis weren don, the word of the Lord was maad to Abram bi a visioun, and seide, Abram, nyle thou drede, Y am thi defender, and thi meede is ful greet.

Genesis 15:1
After these things, the word of the LORD came vnto Abram in a vision, saying; Feare not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Genesis 15:1
After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him,.... Observing him in danger, made haste to his relief:

and smote the Philistine, and killed him; it seems as if Abishai engaged with the Philistine, and killed him; but inasmuch as it will bear to be interpreted of David, and since the four giants here and hereafter mentioned are said to fall by the hand of David and his servants, 2 Samuel 21:22, it may be thought that this man fell by his hand; seeing it is clear that all the rest fell by the hands of his servants:

then the men of David sware unto him; after they had observed the danger he was exposed unto, and how narrowly he escaped with his life:

saying, thou shalt go no more with us to battle; they had persuaded him not to go to the battle with Absalom; they had suffered him to go with them now, he being, no doubt, forward and pressing to it; but now they were resolute, and determined he should never go more:

that thou quench not the light of Israel; signifying that their glory and prosperity depended on his life, and that, should he be taken away, they should be in affliction and adversity, their honour and their happiness would be at an end; the Targum is,

"thou mayest not extinguish the kingdom of Israel,''

the light and glory of it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 21:17. That 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: -

Ουδε τι Πατροκλῳ γενομην φαος, αυδ ' ἑταροισιπ

Τοις αλλοις, οἱ δη πολεες δαμεν Ἑκτορι διῳ.

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."