16 and Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred (shekels) of brass in weight, he being armed with a new (sword), thought to have slain David.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Ishbi-benob - A corrupt reading. The whole passage should perhaps run thus: "And David waxed faint. So they halted in Gob (as in 2-Samuel 21:18-19). And there was a man (in Gob) which was of the sons of the giant, etc."
Sons of the giant - The "giant" here 2-Samuel 21:18, 2-Samuel 21:20, 2-Samuel 21:22 is "ha-Raphah," whence, the "Rephaim" Genesis 14:5; Deuteronomy 2:11. The sons of Ha-raphah, or Rephaim, are different from the "Nephilim," or Giants Genesis 6:4; Numbers 13:33. The sons of Anak were not strictly Rephaim, but Nephilim.
Three hundred shekels of brass - About eight pounds. Goliath's spear's head weighed "six hundred shekels of iron."
Being girded with a new sword - As the word sword is not in the original, we may apply the term new to his armor in general; he had got new arms, a new coat of mail, or something that defended him well, and rendered him very formidable: or it may mean a strong or sharp sword.
And Ishbibenob, which [was] of the sons of (l) the giant, the weight of whose spear [weighed] three hundred (m) [shekels] of brass in weight, he being girded with a new [sword], thought to have slain David.
(l) Or, of Haraphah, the race of giants.
(m) Which amounts to 9 3/4 pounds.
And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant,.... Of Goliath, or of a giant, of the race of them:
the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight; which must be understood either of the wood of it, or of the head of it, the flaming point of it, as many interpret it; and if so, it was but half the weight of Goliath's spear, unless there was any difference of the weight of iron and of brass, see 1-Samuel 17:7,
he being girded with a new sword; or rather with a new girdle, as the Targum; and so Jarchi, which might be given him as a mark of honour, or as a token of his having a commission in the army:
thought to have slain David; his aim was at him, and perceiving him faint and feeble, thought to take the advantage of it, and dispatch him.
*More commentary available at chapter level.