Single lesson
David's Men Face the Philistine Giants
2 Samuel 21:15–22; 1 Chronicles 20:4–8
In repeated battles with the Philistines, David’s men struck down several giant warriors and protected their king.
Before you teach
War broke out again between Israel and the Philistines. David went down with his servants to fight, but during the battle he grew faint. A giant warrior named Ishbibenob, armed with a heavy bronze spear and a new sword, thought he could kill David. Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s help. He struck the Philistine and killed him. After that, David’s men made David swear that he would not go out to battle with them any more, because they did not want the lamp of Israel to be put…
Describe the central teaching of David's Men Face the Philistine Giants, using two details from the reading. In repeated battles with the Philistines, David’s men struck down several giant warriors and protected their king.
Welcome: David's Men Face the Philistine Giants
4 minIntroduce “David's Men Face the Philistine Giants” and locate 2 Samuel 21:15–22; 1 Chronicles 20:4–8. In repeated battles with the Philistines, David’s men struck down several giant warriors and protected their king. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
2 Samuel 21:15, 2 Samuel 21:21, 1 Chronicles 20:8
Read and explain the passage
8 minWar broke out again between Israel and the Philistines. David went down with his servants to fight, but during the battle he grew faint. A giant warrior named Ishbibenob, armed with a heavy bronze spear and a new sword, thought he could kill David.
There were more battles with the Philistines after this. In one battle at Gob, called Gezer in Chronicles, Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, called Sippai in Chronicles, one of the giant’s descendants. In another battle, Elhanan killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam.
There was another battle at Gath. A very large man there had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all, and he too was born to the giant. When he defied Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. Altogether, four men born to the giant in Gath fell by the hand of David and his servants.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “David's Men Face the Philistine Giants”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
2 Samuel 21:16, 2 Samuel 21:15, 2 Samuel 21:17, 1 Chronicles 20:5, 2 Samuel 21:19, 2 Samuel 21:18, 1 Chronicles 20:6, 2 Samuel 21:20, 1 Chronicles 20:7
Discuss the details and their meaning
6 minUse the three questions below. Begin with ““Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s help.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. In repeated battles with the Philistines, David’s men struck down several giant warriors and protected their king. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
2 Samuel 21:17, 2 Samuel 21:21, 1 Chronicles 20:7, 1 Chronicles 20:5, 2 Samuel 21:19, 2 Samuel 21:18, 1 Chronicles 20:6, 2 Samuel 21:20
Make and respond: Story sequence booklet
9 minWork on “David's Men Face the Philistine Giants: Story sequence booklet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “David's Men Face the Philistine Giants” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
2 Samuel 21:15, 2 Samuel 21:21, 1 Chronicles 20:8
Closing: return to David's Men Face the Philistine Giants
3 minRevisit 2 Samuel 21:15–22; 1 Chronicles 20:4–8. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about David's Men Face the Philistine Giants and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
2 Samuel 21:15, 2 Samuel 21:21, 1 Chronicles 20:8
Questions to explore
“Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s help.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?
Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s help. He struck the Philistine and killed him. After that, David’s men made David swear that he would not go out to battle with them any more, because they did not want the lamp of Israel to be put out.
2 Samuel 21:17, 2 Samuel 21:21, 1 Chronicles 20:7
How does this moment affect the rest of the account: “There were more battles with the Philistines after this.”?
There were more battles with the Philistines after this. In one battle at Gob, called Gezer in Chronicles, Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, called Sippai in Chronicles, one of the giant’s descendants. In another battle, Elhanan killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam.
1 Chronicles 20:5, 2 Samuel 21:19, 2 Samuel 21:18
“There was another battle at Gath.” How does this ending connect with the beginning?
There was another battle at Gath. A very large man there had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all, and he too was born to the giant. When he defied Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. Altogether, four men born to the giant in Gath fell by the hand of David and his servants.
1 Chronicles 20:6, 2 Samuel 21:20, 1 Chronicles 20:7
Make, think or respond
David's Men Face the Philistine Giants: Story sequence booklet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or crayons
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Beginning”, “What changes?”, “How it ends”.
- Read 2 Samuel 21:15–22; 1 Chronicles 20:4–8. Use “David's Men Face the Philistine Giants” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Talk through your notes with an adult. Add a word, drawing or short quotation that helps you remember each part.
- Retell the account using your three panels, checking the order against the passage.
The finished sheet keeps the details of David's Men Face the Philistine Giants connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, read the selected verses aloud, prepare the three panels and let them respond with drawings or a few words. Use David's Men Face the Philistine Giants as the retelling prompt.
- For older children, add verse references to the response sheet and explain a connection between David's Men Face the Philistine Giants and the final part of the reading.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read 2 Samuel 21:15–22; 1 Chronicles 20:4–8. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Samuel 21
15 The Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. David grew faint;
16 and Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, he being armed with a new sword, thought he would kill David.
17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “Don’t go out with us to battle any more, so that you don’t quench the lamp of Israel.”
18 After this, there was again war with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was of the sons of the giant.
19 There was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite’s brother, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
20 There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on every hand and six toes on every foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was born to the giant.
21 When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, killed him.
22 These four were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
1 Chronicles 20
4 After this, war arose at Gezer with the Philistines. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, of the sons of the giant; and they were subdued.
5 Again there was war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
6 There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six on each hand and six on each foot; and he also was born to the giant.
7 When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.
8 These were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.