1 Chronicles 20:4-8·~1 min

Battles against the Philistines

In battles at Gezer and elsewhere, Sibbecai kills Sippai and Elhanan kills Lahmi, the brother of Goliath. Each victory cuts down a renowned Philistine foe and presses their subjugation further.

S⁴ome 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. ⁵Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

At Gath, another giant descendant of Rapha taunts Israel, but Jonathan kills him. The section ends by gathering these victories together as the fall of Rapha’s descendants at the hands of David and his servants.

⁶And there was also a battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot— twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha, ⁷and when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of David’s brother Shimei killed him. ⁸So these descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants.

Section summaryA series of battles with the Philistines follows, each ending with another giant descendant falling to David’s warriors. The repeated notices show these old threats steadily reduced until they are subdued at the hands of David and his servants.

Role in the chapterThis section broadens the chapter from one captured city to a pattern of continuing victories. It highlights the strength of David’s kingdom through the courage of named warriors who bring down the Philistine champions.