Bible Figure

Elhanan son of Jair

Male
Biblical character, killer of Goliath according to 2 Samuel 21:19
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Elhanan son of Jair was a warrior in David's forces associated with the killing of a Philistine giant in a passage whose wording differs between Samuel and Chronicles.
Elhanan son of Jair

Biography

Second Samuel 21:19 says Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, whose spear shaft was like a weaver's beam. First Chronicles 20:5 gives the parallel event as Elhanan son of Jair killing Lahmi, the brother of Goliath. Because 1 Samuel 17 clearly identifies David as Goliath's killer, the Samuel-Chronicles wording presents a recognized textual issue. Many translations and commentators understand the Samuel text in light of the clearer Chronicles parallel rather than positing a second killing of the same Goliath.

Biblical Significance

Elhanan's record should preserve the textual evidence rather than conceal it. He was a warrior in the conflicts with Philistine giants, while David remains the named killer of Goliath in 1 Samuel 17.