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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMatthew Poole Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:19 - 21:19
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Elhanan. The brother of Goliath the Gittite: the relative word brother is not in the Hebrew text, but is fitly supplied out of the parallel place, 1Ch_20:5, where it is expressed. And such defects of relatives are not unusual in Scripture. Thus the word wife is understood, Mat_1:6 Joh_19:25; and father or mother, Mar_15:40,47, compared with Mar_16:1 Luk_24:10; and son, Mat_4:21 Mar_2:14 Joh_21:15; and brother, Luk_6:16, compared with Jud_1:1. And such ellipses do also frequently occur in profane authors. Although the place may be and is otherwise rendered, Elhanan, the son of Jaare-oregiro, slew Beth-halachmi, or Lahmi, (as he is called by way of abbreviation, 1Ch_20:5, which is very frequent in the Hebrew tongue,) who was (which words are frequently understood in the Hebrew text) with (so eth is oft rendered, as hath been noted before) Goliath the Gittite, i.e. in his company, bred up with him to the war, and related to him as his brother. Or, he slew Beth-halachmi, a Goliath (or another Goliath) of Gath, or the Gittite. So the name of the giant was Beth-halachmi, who may be here called Goliath, not only for his near relation to him, being his brother, but for his exact resemblance of him in feature, or in stature and strength, or in courage and military skill; as John the Baptist was called Elias for the like reason. Peradventure also, after the death of the first and famous Goliath the Gittite, 1Sa 17, that name was either given to him by others, or taken by himself.
Like a weaver’s beam, in thickness. See 1Sa_17:7.