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The supposed contradiction between 2 Samuel 21:19 and 1 Chronicles 20:5 has been the subject of much discussion among Bible scholars. Both passages describe a person named Elhanan who struck down a significant Philistine warrior, but the specific details vary between the two accounts.

The Variance in Names: Jaare-oregim vs. Jair

The name “Jaare-oregim” appears only in the 2 Samuel account, while 1 Chronicles mentions “Jair.” Given the Hebrew manuscripts’ intricacies, it is not unreasonable to think that a scribal error may have contributed to this discrepancy. In Hebrew, the names “Jaare” and “Jair” are quite similar. The term “oregim,” which means “weavers” or “loom workers,” appears to describe the spear’s shaft in both accounts. This term could have been copied inadvertently from another line, possibly leading to the term “Jaare-oregim.”

Lahmi vs. Goliath

The difference in the names of the Philistine warriors—Lahmi in 1 Chronicles and Goliath in 2 Samuel—is also noteworthy. A possibility here is that a scribal error led to “Lahmi” (ʼeth-lach·miʹ) being misread as “Bethlehemite” (behth hal·lach·miʹ) in the 2 Samuel account.

However, an alternative explanation considers the possibility of two distinct Philistine warriors. The term “Goliath” could have been a title or designation for a champion in the Philistine army, similar to how “Pharaoh” was a title for Egyptian rulers. Therefore, David could have slain one Goliath, while Elhanan struck down another individual, possibly his brother, known as Lahmi. This approach doesn’t necessarily contradict the Hebrew text but rather provides a way to harmonize the accounts.

Methodological Considerations

Given the conservative, historical-grammatical method of interpretation, it is essential to focus on the text as it stands and consider its original language, culture, and context. While scribal errors might account for some differences, it’s also possible that the ancient audience understood these titles and descriptions differently than we do.

Thus, the discrepancies between the accounts could be attributed to either a scribal error or the existence of two distinct Philistine warriors. In either case, these accounts do not necessarily contradict each other but may provide complementary details about Israel’s military history against the Philistines.

Taking Another Look

The biblical narrative presents an intriguing discrepancy between two verses that recount a similar event. In 2 Samuel 21:19, the text claims, “Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.” The counterpart in 1 Chronicles 20:5 reads, “Elhanan the son of Jair struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath of Gath, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.” This divergence has spurred diverse interpretations and theories.

Interpretative Possibilities

Some have sought to resolve the issue by suggesting that Elhanan is simply another name for David. This view is supported by the Targum. Others, such as the Soncino Books of the Bible, argue that the term “Goliath” may be a title—akin to “Pharaoh” or “Sultan”—rather than a personal name. This perspective allows for the possibility of multiple individuals bearing the title of “Goliath.”

Manuscript Discrepancies: Jaare-oregim and Jair, Bethlehemite and Lahmi

The most prevalent view attributes the difference to a copyist’s error. The Hebrew term in 2 Samuel 21:19 is “Jaare-oregim,” while in 1 Chronicles 20:5, it’s “Jair.” Additionally, “Bethlehemite” is present only in the Samuel account, whereas “Lahmi” appears exclusively in Chronicles.

Harmonizing the Texts: A Case for Copyist Error

Upon a meticulous examination of the Hebrew terms, a compelling argument can be made that the term “Lahmi” was likely misconstrued as “Bethlehemite” by a scribe. This theory posits that the original text in 2 Samuel probably read “struck down Lahmi,” just as it does in 1 Chronicles 20:5. This clarification would bring coherency between the two accounts, allowing for the interpretation that Elhanan actually defeated Lahmi, who was Goliath’s brother.

Alternative Possibility: Multiple Goliaths

Again, it should also be considered that there might have been more than one Goliath, a suggestion that provides another plausible explanation for the textual discrepancy.

Conclusion: Affirming the Text’s Historical Veracity

In summary, whether we attribute the discrepancy to a scribe’s error or entertain the possibility of multiple Goliaths, we find that the texts can be harmonized without compromising their historical accuracy. Thus, the account of David and Goliath—as well as Elhanan and Lahmi or Goliath—stands as a credible historical narrative.

Apologist Dr. Norman L. Geisler

2 SAMUEL 21:19 -This verse says “Elhanan … killed Goliath” but 1 Samuel 17 declares that David did.

PROBLEM: First Samuel 17 records the dramatic story of how David the son of Jesse killed the giant Goliath. However, 2 Samuel 21:19 says clearly: “Elhanan … killed Goliath the Gittite.” But both texts cannot be right.

SOLUTION: The 2 Samuel text is probably a scribal error in copying the manuscript and should read “Elhanan … slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite.” This conclusion is supported by a parallel report of the story in 1 Chronicles 20:5 which has the missing highlighted phrase “Lahmi the brother of,” thus showing it was the brother of Goliath that Elhanan killed and not Goliath, whom David slew just as 1 Samuel 17 reports. — Thomas Howe; Norman L. Geisler. The Big Book of Bible Difficulties, Clear and Concise Answers from Genesis to Revelation.

Old Testament Bible Scholar Dr. Glean L. Archer

Who killed Goliath—David or Elhanan?

1 Samuel 17:50 states that David cut off Goliath’s head with the giant’s own sword, after he had first felled him with a sling and a stone. Because of this amazing victory over the Philistine, David became the foremost battle-champion among the Israelite troops, even though he was still a mere teenager. But 2 Samuel 21:19 in the Hebrew Masoretic text states that “Elhanan the son of Yaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.” As this verse stands in the Masoretic text, it certainly contradicts 1 Samuel 17. But fortunately we have a parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 20:5, which words the episode this way: “And Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite.” It is quite apparent that this was the true reading, not only for the Chronicles passage but also for 2 Samuel 21:19.

The earlier manuscript from which the copyist was reading must have been blurred or damaged at this particular verse, and hence he made two or three mistakes. What apparently happened was the following:

The sign of the direct object, which in Chronicles comes just before “Lahmi,” was ʾ-t; the copyist mistook it for b-ṯ or b-y-ṯ (“Beth”) and thus got Bét hal-Laḥmí (“the Bethlehemite”) out of it.
He misread the word for “brother” (ʾ-ḥ) as the sign of the direct object (ʾ-ṯ) right before g-l-y-ṯ- (“Goliath”). Thus he made “Goliath” the object of “killed” (wayyak), instead of the “brother” of Goliath (as the Chron. passage does).
The copyist misplaced the word for “weavers” (ʾ-r-g-ym) so as to put it right after “Elhanan” as his patronymic (ben Y-ʿ-r-yʾ-r–g-ym, or ben yaʿ^arēy ʾōr^e-gím—“the son of the forests of weavers”—a most unlikely name for anyone’s father!). In Chronicles the ʾōr^egím (“weavers”) comes right after m^enór (“a beam of”)—thus making perfectly good sense.

In other words, the 2 Samuel 21 passage is a perfectly traceable corruption of the original wording, which fortunately has been correctly preserved in 1 Chronicles 20:5.—Gleason L. Archer, New International Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, Zondervan’s Understand the Bible Reference Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1982), 178–179.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).