LESSON 1, VERSE 15:

"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."

The Philistines were perennial enemies of the Israelites.

The name "pelishtiy" means something like "immigrants." The root of the word means "to roll." See its migratory nature?

Whereas God's people are not transient! Once in the Land, they could have stayed there eternally had it not been for their rebellion and ungodliness. God wanted them "planted" in Israel! "Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God." Psalm 92:13

The noun for "war" is interesting. "Milchamah" is derived ultimately from "lacham," meaning "to feed upon!" The Hebrew noun for bread is in there too! That's a word picture for war, eating people alive!

The adverb "again" is spelled "od." It means something repeated or duplicated with continuance.

David the King accompanies his army, "going down" (in Hebrew "yarad") from mountainous Jerusalem to the battlefield.

David one time did not go with his army! The result of that little lapse is well known, adultery and murder and a lifetime of reaping!

The noun "servants" is "ebed" and literally means slaves. But these can include anyone from one's field workers to one's trusted advisers. Here in our context fellow-soldiers are obviously in view.

To "fight" (in Hebrew "lacham" again) is again the word that means "to feed on" or "to consume." The Israelites' intentions are clear! They intend to inflict some damage!

But something happened.

David "waxed faint." It's "uph" in Hebrew and actually means "to cover with wings." The word at times is used to depict flight! But here in the sense of the darkness that comes when one is literally covered with wings, a darkness that symbolizes the haziness and stupor when one faints, David is weak and about to lose consciousness.

Here's "uph" in Scripture. I'll underline the specific translation.

First occurrence in the Bible: "And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint." Genesis 25:29

Judges 4:21 says: "Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died."

Yes, even leaders get tired and weak!

When the Man of God is that way, help him!

That's where this story is headed, standing by the Preacher!

Yes sir!

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 2, VERSE 16:

King David is sickly, faint in body.

About to "pass out" apparently.

On the battlefield, David, while now older in age, is still the King!

And as such, being undisguised, he is a prime "target" for an enemy arrow.

So we are told, "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." 2nd Samuel 21:16

Here's a giant and he's trying to kill David!

The noun "giant" is "rapha" and means "to mend, to cure, to reinvigorate." This creature, huge as he is, will pump new life into an army! Talk about encouragement! The Philistines were rather brave when Goliath was in the forefront of any battle!

And the Philistines were well-known for such big warriors. So much so that an area between their country and Jerusalem was called "the valley of Rephaim." That is, the valley of the giants! Notice the King James Bible just transliterates the plural form of "rapha" here. Otherwise we would simply have "the valley of the giants."

This giant sees King David, faint and all, and intends to "slay" him! "Nakah" means "to kill." It's a pretty violent word, too. Beating one to death or thrusting him through with a sword" is the idea here.

The verb "thought" as in "thought to have slain" David means "having spoken" his intentions. "Amar" is "to say or utter or answer." He said it more than once too, perhaps such a feat being his life-long goal!

This giant is heavily armed too, carrying two weapons of offense!

His "spear" (in Hebrew, "qayin,") is unique! I mean grammatically so, being used only this one time in all the Bible! With slightly different spellings, these radicals or consonants can mean other things, such as the name of Adam's son "Cain" or the "Kenite" people of Scripture. The root verb here means "to strike a musical note," then "to chant or wail" as when at a funeral! The object of this tool is death, to send someone to the grave!

It weighed "three hundred" somethings in brass. The word "shekels" is italicized as you can see. The noun "weight" helps. It's "mishqal" and means "that which is suspended" in the air! Picture an old-fashioned fulcrum, a set of scales with two pans and you get the picture. Set your object in one of the pans and put a predetermined amount of weight in the other, both being poised in the air. You can then estimate the heaviness of your item.

A "skekel" in Israel then would have weighed about an ounce, a little less in fact. But three hundred ounces equals about nineteen pounds! That might not sound like a lot at first, but a flying sharp shaft hitting you in the heart with that kind of weight and force would be deadly! That thing hitting one anywhere would not exactly be pleasant!

And Ishbinenob was also "girded" with something. "Chagar" means "to wear" or "to wrap around" or even to be "on every side." His girdle held in place a weapon, a "sword" one would logically presume.

A "new" one too! "Chadash" means "fresh" as well as new. Likely recently sharpened, maybe with David's name in mind as it was polished and sheathed!

An arms race!

Seeking to kill the Man of God!

The position this big man held, that of a "son" is interesting. Instead of "ben," used over three thousand times in Scripture, the Holy Spirit opts for "yaliyd," a born one! This is no adopted kid! Nor a mere relative! "Yalad" means "to give birth" This character is a genuine giant's boy!

David is about to meet the real thing ... again! Remember Goliath.

But this time David is sick!

Not one-hundred percent!

Oh yes, the giant's name is "Ishbibenob." That means "to dwell" or "to sit down" (in Hebrew, "yashab") in "Nob" (just, "nob"), a place near Jerusalem!

Unbelievably, the city of Nob is mentioned six times in Scripture, most associating it with a company of priests! 1st Samuel 22:11 adds: "And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword." Saul was a murderer!

Literally "Nob" means "a high place."

This deadly giant could have been so named for two reasons.

He might have been very "high," in other words ... very tall!

Or he might, more dangerously, have been associated somehow with the Men of God who lived in the area.

Sadly, on occasion preachers attack preachers!

Religious battles abound!

Spiritual bullies, like Diotrephes of 3rd John fame, are warmongers! "I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God." 3rd John Verses 9-11 introduce us to this man whose name means "nourished by Jove!" He's a heathen! The Church "boss!" I've met several of his relatives through the years too!

David is indeed in one dangerous situation!

Can anyone help?

                                                                                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3, VERSE 17:

I love this Text!

This Sermon is entitled "Caring for the Man of God."

When King David was threatened, both by physical weakness and military prowess, someone sprang into action!

"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." 2nd Samuel 21:17

To "succour" someone, "azar" in Hebrew, is "to help or support" him. Its root idea is that of surrounding a person, protecting him or her any way possible!

Here's the first time "azar" is used in Scripture. "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." Genesis 2:18

The name "Abishai" contains the words "father" and "gift." They are combined in different ways by different commentators. This boy is a relative of David, the oldest son of David's Sister Zeruiah. This also makes him the brother of Joab and Asahel, all being mighty warriors in the Israelite army! His Mom's name means "balm," a healing ointment that flows from a wounded plant or tree.

The verb "smote" is "nakah" again and means "to strike, to beat, to hit," often resulting in death.

Then is added "killed," in Hebrew "muth," meaning "put to death." The on-going or incomplete action of this verb may suggest that it took a while to do the job! This giant died slowly!

Abishai eradicated the enemy, the one threatening harm to his King!

The verb "sware" is "shaba" in Hebrew and literally means "to seven" something! To "sware" carried the same weight as saying something seven times, promising it sincerely!

Then, next ... the caring men around the King have decided that their leader will go to battle no more.

He's getting onward in years and his very life is worth more than anyone could tell. Once the people of Israel said to David: "But now thou art worth ten thousand of us." They meant this in a respectful way too! 2nd Samuel 18:3

They call David here "the light of Israel."

"Light," in Hebrew "niyr," means lamp or candle as well as light. Jesus once called us Believers "light" too, in Matthew 5:14.

King, you are our leader, our guide, our Man of God.

We will not be careless with you!

This is just the kind of concern and respect that the Corinthians were NOT willing to give the Apostle Paul, breaking his heart!

To "quench" is "to extinguish, to put out," as one does with a flickering oil lamp late at night.

Doing all one can to preserve and extend the life and ministry of God's Man is both admirable and commendable!

Friend, some day a "giant" of some sort will "attack" your Preacher! When that occurs, what will you do?

Sit idly by ... watching like a coward?

Or go into attack mode?

"Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm," says the Lord in 1st Chronciles 16:22.

And, oh yes, let me also give you Psalm105:15. "Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm."

Amen!

                                                                             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4, VERSE 18:

The Israelites had war with the Philistines almost constantly!

Here's an example: "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." 2nd Samuel 21:18 here occurs sometime after David's "fainting" spell. "After this," an adverbial time marker, translates "achar," which means "the hind part" of something, "afterwards."

"Again, or "od," means an iteration, a going around, a second edition!

"Battle" again just means "war," using "milchamah," the usual noun for such conflict.

"Gob," which means "cistern" in Hebrew is thought by many to be another name for Gath! "Gath" means "winepress" in Hebrew and was a major Philistine city. In the parallel Passage to our Text, 1st Chronicles 20:4, "Gob" is named "Gezer." Gezer means "portion."

This is obviously a historical confrontation.

Another giant appears!

He too, if given time and opportunity, would have harmed King David!

The enemy always shoots for the leader!

This giant's name, "Saph," means "tall." That's appropriate!

But again in the Chronicles account he's "Sippai," meaning "threshold."

If the enemy is not stopped, he will have allies who attack with him ... next time!  Be sure of that!

One fight with the Philistines is just an indicator that another is on the way!

But kill Saph or Sippai ... and that threshold may be diminished!

Eliminate the one who is trying to slay the Man of God ... and you will at least retard the progress of rebellion!

And just who killed Saph?

"Sibbechai" is his name. It means the "weaver!" He's not a trained fighter necessarily. Just a brave "layman!" Lake many a man in the Church! But one who loved His leader, his Preacher!

A "Hushathite" is a person from that city, Hushah. The name means "haste." Some things  just must be done swiftly!

Giant killing is one of them!

What a lesson this is in combating the "big" giants that come our way!

God blessed this Sibbechai for his bravery too! "The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand." 1st Chronicles 27:11

Take care of the Man of God ... and God will take care of you!

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 5, VERSE 19:

The Philistine campaign continues!

"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." 2nd Samuel 21:19

In fact, this Text describes four different battles!

The same dreaded enemy!

The same Jewish army!

The same King, David!

And her comes the third giant!

"When it rains, it pours," the old-timers used to say.

Job's trials came in clusters.

The devil's temptations to Jesus did also, three during those forty days!

So with Eve in the Garden!

Often so with us!

This time though the giant is not named, not here!

It's not Ishbibenob or Saph, but "the brother of Goliath!"

The name Goliath means "splendor."

Surely he named himself!

However, in the parallel Text, 1st Chronicles 20:5, this giant is named, "Lahmi." The name means "my bread." That's an affront to God Himself! Jesus is The Bread That cometh down from Heaven! The Manna of old is a Picture of Jesus as such too! John 6:50-51

Too much ego, too much power, too much self in this giant!

A "weaver's beam" is heavy! There's no way now to know its exact weight. Such a beam is also long!

An effective weapon!

But, thank God, there's another giant-killer on the scene!

"Elhanan" means "God is gracious!"

Grace not only saves! It fights! And labors! And teaches and cleanses!

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me," wrote Paul of God's Grace!

Now watch this, Elhanan's background! Talk about being prepared for a fight!

"Jaareoregim," Elhanan's Daddy, means "forests of the weaver" or the "woods of the weaver!"

That matches and overcomes the "weaver's beam "sword! Elhanan perhaps knew how one of those things behaved!

And these men being from Bethlehem is no accident either!

That city's name means "House of Bread," spoiling the luster of teh Giant's name, Lahmi!

"More than conquerors!"

And, as before, to "slay" an enemy is to kill him, "nakah" being a graphic word nearly conveying the idea of beating the giant to death!

By now David seems not to be present on the battlefield.

These men have kept their word of honor and respect to their leader! "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." Here's verse 17.

But the giant's ultimately have David in their "sights!" He is the taget! The King must die!

So every giant slain is negated "for the king's sake!"

The wolves must be driven from the flock!

And that's why this Series of Bible Studies is entitled "Caring for the Man of God!"

Pass the ammunition, please!

                                                                        --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 6, VERSES 20-21:

Next, "And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him." 2nd Samuel 21:20-21

This is the fourth consecutive "war" with the Philistines!

Persistent little enemies, weren't they?

Here comes another giant!

The noun "stature" means "size," not just height. The Hebrew word is "madon."

Notice the frequency of various numbers here also, six and six then twenty-four!

All are multiples of six; the number of man without God, fallen mankind, sinful as he is!

This giant typifies iniquity!

He's likely an emblem of the coming Man of Sin, anti-Christ, who is also associated with the number six.

Unnamed, this six-fingered and six-toed man hates Israel!

The verb "defied" translates "charaph," meaning to taunt, to blaspheme, to reproach, to upbraid and even to jeopardize! The "root" of this verb means "to strip, to expose" or even "to caused to surrender!" It's probably a term associated with the treatment of prisoners of war once they have been captured. They are humiliated, made naked, and marched away ... either to imprisonment or death.

But this giant has met his "match!"

"Jonathan," relative of David the original giant-killer, took care of him!

This name means "Jehovah has given!"

"Shimea" means "fame," typical of one of David's brothers!

While, as you know, "David" merely means "loved one," or just "beloved!"

But do note this.

Giant-slaying runs in that family!

David set the example, Nephew followed!

Oh, the power of personal influence!

By now, with at least five huge graves scattered over Israel, the army no doubt had its own "down with giants" program!

Practice makes perfect!

It all started with a reverence for God's Name ... so Goliath had to die!

Then it continued with a respect for God's Man, the Preacher, giant number two is gone!

But it all ended with a passion to protect God's people, good-bye to giants three and four and five!

One more is yet coming, of course!

Mr. 6-6-6 himself, ANTI-CHRIST John calls him!

He will also fall!

At the Hands of a Greater than David!

Aren't you glad that even the unnamed giants of life, the problems and difficulties that seem insurmountable, can be conquered too!

Through the awesome power of God!

                                                                                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7, VERSE 22:

The last verse of our Paragraph is a summary of the whole Text.

"These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants." 2nd Samuel 21:22

Four giants are now dead, slain by the Israelites as was their better known brother Goliath!

"Gath," the Philistine city, means "winepress," indicating a place of pressure and turmoil for the people of God!

But now each of these has been "felled."

"Naphal" the verb means "to be cast down, overthrown" or even "allowed to rot."

But look at who gets the credit for these defeats!

David, the King!

He slew the first giant!

He nurtured the warriors who are now slaying even more giants!

But, more than that, he is the leader of the people of God!

Look here at the linkage between God's Man, David, and the leaders under his authority!

"These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants." 2nd Samuel 21:22

Four mighty men, Abishai and Sibbechai and Elhanan and Jonathan, actually killed these four bruisers ... but David is acknowledged as the true General!

This association is maintained throughout the Scriptures!

A Pastor's spiritual well-being is closely identified with that of his people.

So much so that John in his Second Epistle implies that the spiritually careless lives of the people of God under his leadership ... can actually cause the Preacher to lose rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ! Watch: "Look to yourselves (the congregation), that we (the preachers) lose not those things which we (the preachers) have wrought, but that we (the preachers) receive a full reward." 2nd John 8

The Old Testament expresses such a unity as follows: "like people, like priest." See here: "And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings." Hosea 4:9

Even Jesus, offering his great High Priestly prayer in John 17, taught us these astounding words: "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." See the oneness here in John 17:19!

If you love the Preacher, notice when he is weak or discouraged!

Repel any giant or other enemy that comes his way!

Take up the preacher's cause, slaying each relative or sympathizer of the already downed giants!

Then, reap the benefits of peace and godliness!

Amen!

                                                                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

GIANT-KILLERS WELCOME HERE!

Goliath means "splendor!"

Ishibibenob means "one dwelling in Nob," a priestly city!

Saph means "tall" one!

The brother of Goliath, named Lahmi according to 1st Chronicles 20:5, means "bread!"

And the unnamed Giant, Mr. six fingers and six toes, surely represents the consummate Man of Sin, the anti-Christ!

Jesus is the One with splendor! Jesus is our High Priest! Jesus is the preeminent One, the big One in all our estimation! Then, Jesus is our Bread of Life! And of course Jesus is the Conqueror of the Man of Sin!

Glory to His Name!