Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines; but David became exhausted.
Parallel translations
- WEB The Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. David grew faint;
- KJV 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.
- NKJV When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint.
- NASB Now when the Philistines were at war with Israel again, David went down, and his servants with him; and when they fought against the Philistines, David became weary.
- NLT Once again the Philistines were at war with Israel. And when David and his men were in the thick of battle, David became weak and exhausted.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
War with the Philistines breaks out again, and the aging David grows weary in battle. His weakness sets the stage for God's deliverance through others.
Overview
The narrative shifts to renewed Philistine conflict, where David, once the giant-slayer, now becomes faint and vulnerable. His mortality reminds us that even the greatest king has limits and must be rescued. It quietly points beyond David to a greater King whose strength never fails.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Josh 14:10–11Now behold, as the LORD promised, He has kept me alive these forty-five years since He spoke this word to Moses, while Israel wandered in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old,
- 2 Sam 5:22Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
- Ps 71:9Do not discard me in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.
- Eccl 12:3on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,
- 2 Sam 5:17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.
- 2 Sam 5:25So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
- Jer 9:23–24This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.
- 1 Chr 20:4Some time later, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued.
- 1 Pet 1:24–25For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
- Isa 40:28–30Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.
- Ps 73:26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
- Ps 71:18Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 21:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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