1 Chronicles 20:5: Why does this text say Elhanan killed Goliath’s brother, whereas 2 Samuel 21:19 seems to conflict about who killed Goliath? Historical and Textual Context Both 1 Chronicles 20:5 and 2 Samuel 21:19 describe events related to battles against the Philistines, specifically referencing Goliath the Gittite and his kin. In the Berean Standard Bible, 1 Chronicles 20:5 states: “And there was another battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.” Meanwhile, 2 Samuel 21:19 reads: “Once again there was war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.” At a quick glance, 1 Chronicles mentions that the victim was Goliath’s brother, Lahmi. However, 2 Samuel 21:19 appears to say Elhanan killed Goliath himself, even though 1 Samuel 17 records that David killed Goliath. This seeming discrepancy has led to questions about who actually died at Elhanan’s hand. Comparison of the Passages 1 Chronicles 20:5 explicitly identifies the slain warrior as “Lahmi, the brother of Goliath.” By contrast, 2 Samuel 21:19, as preserved in many manuscript traditions, omits the phrase “the brother of” and simply reads “Elhanan … killed Goliath the Gittite.” This discrepancy raises the possibility of a small but significant omission or scribal variation in 2 Samuel 21:19. In the larger context of Scripture, 1 Chronicles and 2 Samuel often contain parallel accounts of the same events. One such parallel account in 1 Chronicles 11 compares closely with 2 Samuel 23 regarding David’s mighty men. The normal assumption is that both records align in their historical details. Thus, when a difference arises, it prompts scholars to investigate possible textual transmission issues or scribal copying details. Scribal Transmission and Copying Variations Ancient scribes, though meticulous, sometimes introduced minor errors. These could include dropped words or letters, especially when the text was copied repeatedly over centuries. Several factors point to the likelihood of a scribal slip in 2 Samuel 21:19: • The phrase “the brother of” (אֶת־אֲחִי / ’et-’ăḥî in Hebrew) could have been omitted accidentally. • The name “Lahmi” may have been inadvertently merged with preceding or following words. • The parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 20:5 preserves the correct reading, clarifying that Elhanan killed Goliath’s brother, rather than Goliath himself. In some Hebrew manuscripts and in translations like the King James Version (KJV), translators and scribes harmonized 2 Samuel 21:19 with the text of 1 Chronicles 20:5 by ensuring the phrase “the brother of Goliath” was included. This alignment suggests that the more complete Hebrew text behind 1 Chronicles 20:5 clarifies the original reading. Name Details: Lahmi vs. Goliath In 1 Chronicles 20:5, the victim’s name is Lahmi, which quite literally connects him to Goliath by referencing “the brother of Goliath.” Goliath himself was the famed giant whom David defeated in 1 Samuel 17. This means the Chronicles text is consistent with David having already slain Goliath. Moreover, it maintains historical coherence: David’s feat in slaying Goliath (1 Samuel 17:49–50) is not supplanted by another figure’s achievement. Thus, 2 Samuel 21:19 is more logically read and understood as referencing this same event but lacking the explicit mention of “the brother of.” The context—multiple encounters in which other warriors killed Goliath’s kinsmen—remains intact throughout these passages. Archaeological, Manuscript, and Linguistic Support Outside evidence can help illuminate textual variants: • Early Versions and Targums: Some early Aramaic Targums (paraphrases of Hebrew Scripture) include the mention that Elhanan killed the “brother of Goliath,” supporting the Chronicles reading. • Dead Sea Scrolls Fragments: While 2 Samuel is less comprehensively preserved in the Dead Sea Scrolls compared to other books, where fragments do exist they frequently show minor semantic or orthographic differences that underline the scribes’ human limitations, though not altering doctrines. • Masoretic Tradition: In the Masoretic Text—the authoritative Hebrew text lineage—1 Chronicles 20:5 is clear, and many later Hebrew manuscripts aligned 2 Samuel 21:19 with the Chronicles text, indicating that copyists recognized a probable omission in the earlier transmissions of 2 Samuel. All these bits of evidence, while not always perfectly complete, collectively affirm that the reading in 1 Chronicles 20:5 preserves the original wording and context more precisely. Resolving the Apparent Conflict From the flow of events recorded in Scripture: 1. David killed Goliath as recorded in 1 Samuel 17. 2. Future battles against the Philistines involved Goliath’s relatives, who were part of a lineage of large fighters. 3. In one such battle, Elhanan slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath. Chronicles explicitly states this, while the 2 Samuel passage most likely experienced a copying omission of “the brother of.” No contradiction emerges once it is understood that 2 Samuel 21:19 originally intended to mirror the detail found in 1 Chronicles 20:5. Interpreters harmonize these verses by recognizing how parallel accounts were handled and how minor accidental omissions could occur in ancient Hebrew copying. Theological and Practical Implications The theological integrity of Scripture remains firm. Since 1 Chronicles and 2 Samuel are complementary accounts rather than contradictory ones, readers understand that David’s victory over Goliath stands unique and that Elhanan’s victory was over Goliath’s brother Lahmi. This demonstrates: • The consistency of the biblical narrative when all relevant passages and reliable texts are considered. • Scripture’s principle of multiple witnesses confirming significant events. • God’s continued deliverance of His people through various faithful warriors. Far from undermining the historicity of the Bible, such clarifications reinforce that the text itself can be examined and shown to be reliable when aligned with manuscripts, parallel accounts, and evidence from textual tradition. Conclusion 1 Chronicles 20:5 clearly records Elhanan killing Lahmi, the brother of Goliath. The shorter reading in 2 Samuel 21:19 likely reflects a minor omission in scribal transmission, which is resolved by comparing the Chronicles account and other manuscript traditions. David’s well-attested defeat of Goliath remains pivotal in Israel’s history, and no genuine conflict arises when both passages are taken in context with accurate textual study. |
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