Did David or Elhanan kill Goliath?

Historical Context

The question of whether David or Elhanan killed Goliath arises from two distinct sections in Scripture. In one account, David is clearly portrayed as felling the giant named Goliath in the Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17). In another passage, 2 Samuel 21:19, many English translations appear to state that Elhanan killed Goliath, creating a seeming contradiction. A parallel verse in 1 Chronicles 20:5, however, indicates Elhanan killed “Lahmi the brother of Goliath,” pointing to a scribal or translational clarification. Understanding the original Hebrew texts, as well as considering the scriptural and historical context, helps reconcile these passages.

1. David’s Victory over Goliath

1 Samuel 17 records the iconic scene in which a young shepherd named David confronts a colossal Philistine warrior:

• “So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand, he struck down the Philistine and killed him.” (1 Samuel 17:50)

This event sets the stage for David’s renown in Israel. Immediately following the victory, Scripture reiterates:

• “David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath; and when he had killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.” (1 Samuel 17:51)

These verses explicitly identify David as the one who killed Goliath. Further references to David’s triumphant act are found later in 1 Samuel and in other biblical passages, where the defeat of Goliath becomes a defining moment in David’s rise.

2. The Elhanan Reference in 2 Samuel 21:19

The question arises from 2 Samuel 21:19 in many modern translations, which reads:

• “Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.” (2 Samuel 21:19)

This wording leads some readers to think Scripture states Elhanan, rather than David, killed Goliath. However, a parallel text in 1 Chronicles 20:5 offers crucial information:

• “And there was another battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.” (1 Chronicles 20:5)

The Chronicles passage clarifies that Elhanan killed Lahmi, who is identified as the brother of Goliath, not Goliath himself.

3. Harmonizing the Passages

Because Scripture elsewhere consistently attributes the death of Goliath to David, and because 1 Chronicles 20:5 explicitly names Lahmi as the giant Elhanan killed, the most coherent solution is that 2 Samuel 21:19 refers to “the brother of Goliath,” even if certain translations read only “Goliath.” Textual experts commonly note that a textual variant may have occurred in 2 Samuel 21:19, leading to confusion. As preserved in some manuscripts and in older English translations (like the KJV), the phrase “the brother of” is included. This aligns perfectly with 1 Chronicles 20:5.

The fact that these two references have caused confusion throughout history also underscores the importance of comparing parallel passages (such as the books of Samuel and Chronicles) to arrive at a cohesive understanding. Ancient Hebrew scribes often used abbreviations or faced complex copying challenges. When the Chronicler restated the event, he evidently preserved the details more explicitly, clarifying that Elhanan killed Goliath’s brother.

4. Consistency in Biblical Manuscripts

Early Hebrew texts and various manuscript traditions, such as the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls fragments, and later translations like the Septuagint, exhibit occasional scribal slips across vast textual corpuses, yet remain astoundingly consistent in conveying the same historical narrative. In the case of Goliath’s death, comparative study affirms David as Goliath’s slayer, with Elhanan being credited for defeating a close relative of Goliath.

In this instance, 1 Chronicles does much to reconcile the reading: the same man (Elhanan) who appears associated with “Goliath” in 2 Samuel is explicitly said to have slain Lahmi in 1 Chronicles. This strongly supports the conclusion that the 2 Samuel 21:19 passage either contains a scribal omission (dropping “the brother of”) or that the fuller ancestral detail is preserved only in Chronicles.

5. Archaeological and Historical Support

Archaeological studies in the region of ancient Gath (Tell es-Safi), traditionally identified as Goliath’s hometown, have uncovered inscriptions containing Philistine names strikingly similar to “Goliath.” While these do not specifically mention the battle between David and Goliath, they reinforce the historical reliability of Biblical references to Gath’s warriors and the use of names resembling “Goliath” in that culture.

Additionally, the consistent depiction of Goliath as an imposing Philistine champion associates well with external documentation of Philistine military might in the region during approximately the 11th century BC. Chronicles and Samuel, although composed at different times, collectively communicate a coherent historical narrative about conflicts with the Philistines, culminating in multiple skirmishes with large adversaries from their ranks.

6. Final Conclusion

Every clear reference in Scripture identifies David as the one who killed Goliath. The separate account in 2 Samuel 21:19 should be understood in light of 1 Chronicles 20:5, where Elhanan’s opponent is identified as Goliath’s brother, Lahmi. The net effect is that David slew Goliath, and Elhanan killed Goliath’s brother in a later conflict.

Despite slight variations within manuscript traditions, the biblical text—when read as a whole—presents a consistent account: David is forever remembered as the slayer of Goliath, and Elhanan’s victory pertained to another member of that same family of formidable warriors. This scriptural harmony points to the overall reliability and cohesion found throughout the biblical record.