The Reign of David

Some time later at Gob, there was another battle with the Philistines. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.

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

And there was still another 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,

and when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of David’s brother Shimei killed him.

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

And David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

He said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. My stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence.

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

For the waves of death engulfed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.

The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.

In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried out to my God. And from His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help reached His ears.

Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.

Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth.

He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet.

He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.

He made darkness a canopy around Him, a gathering of water and thick clouds.

From the brightness of His presence coals of fire blazed forth.

The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.

He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.

The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the world were exposed at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from foes too mighty for me.

They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the LORD was my support.

He brought me out into the open; He rescued me because He delighted in me.