15 There was war again between the Philistines and Israel, and David went down together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines. And David grew weary. 16 And Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was armed with a new sword, thought to kill David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid and attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You shall no longer go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.”
18 After this there was again war with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giants. 19 And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended from the giants. 21 And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, struck him down. 22 These four were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
Comment: David was growing old. I presume because David was not now the warrior that he had been, and, no doubt in memory of David having had victory over Goliath and his brothers, Ishbi-benob a descendant of Goliath set out to kill David. David was in the midst of the battle but someone else, Abishai, had to protect David. David’s retirement as a warrior was decided for him by his men. Another three wars with the Philistines (not related to the Palestinians) are described here. Victory is ascribed to the retired David but it was the army, his servants who won the battle. Goliath’s descendants were big boys and good fighters but all were killed.
Prayer: As we all grow older help us to do it graciously and faithfully.
As I read it! 