1 Chronicles 20:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

Complete Jewish Bible:

These were sons of the giant in Gat; they fell at the hands of David and his servants.

Berean Standard Bible:

So these descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants.

American Standard Version:

These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

These^{H411} were born^{H3205} unto the giant^{H7497} in Gath^{H1661}; and they fell^{H5307} by the hand^{H3027} of David^{H1732}, and by the hand^{H3027} of his servants^{H5650}.

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Commentary for 1 Chronicles 20:8

1 Chronicles 20:8 is a verse that continues the narrative of David's military exploits, particularly focusing on his battles against the Philistines. The verse itself is succinct but carries significant historical and thematic weight within the context of the Old Testament.

Historically, the verse refers to a period when David was king of Israel, and his reign was marked by successful military campaigns that expanded and secured the nation's borders. The "giant in Gath" likely alludes to the descendants or relatives of Goliath, the Philistine champion famously defeated by David in 1 Samuel 17. Gath was one of the five principal cities of the Philistines, and it was known for its formidable warriors.

Thematically, 1 Chronicles 20:8 underscores the ongoing conflict between the Israelites and their neighbors, emphasizing David's role as a warrior-king who not only personally engages in battle but also leads his "servants" or soldiers to victory. This reinforces the image of David as a mighty warrior and leader, a theme that is recurrent in the accounts of his life. The verse also highlights the significance of divine favor in David's successes, as the repeated mention of victories "by the hand of David" suggests that his military prowess is aided by the Lord, which is a common motif in the biblical narratives about Israel's kings and heroes.

Furthermore, the reference to the giants being born in Gath and their subsequent fall at the hands of David and his men serves to demonstrate the might of Israel under God's anointed king. It symbolizes the triumph of God's people over their adversaries, despite the odds, and reinforces the idea that with God's backing, even the most daunting enemies can be overcome. This victory is not just attributed to David as an individual but also to the collective effort of his army, indicating the importance of unity and cooperation among the Israelites in their military endeavors.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H411
   There are 110 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵל
   Transliteration: ʼêl
   Pronunciation: ale
   Description: a demonstrative particle (but only in a plural sense); these or those; these, those. Compare אֵלֶּה.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3205
   There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַד
   Transliteration: yâlad
   Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
   Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
   
3. Strong's Number: H7497
   There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָפָא
   Transliteration: râphâʼ
   Pronunciation: raw-faw'
   Description: or רָפָה; from רָפָא in the sense of invigorating; a giant; giant, Rapha, Rephaim(-s). See also בֵּית רָפָא.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1661
   There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גַּת
   Transliteration: Gath
   Pronunciation: gath
   Description: the same as גַּת; Gath, a Philistine city; Gath.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5307
   There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָפַל
   Transliteration: nâphal
   Pronunciation: naw-fal'
   Description: a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative); be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for פָּלַל), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
7. Strong's Number: H1732
   There are 911 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּוִד
   Transliteration: Dâvid
   Pronunciation: daw-veed'
   Description: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David.
   
8. Strong's Number: H5650
   There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֶבֶד
   Transliteration: ʻebed
   Pronunciation: eh'-bed
   Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.