2 Samuel 21:19 Who Killed Goliath?

2 Samuel 21:19 “Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite.”

Italics are important!

They tell the reader that there isn’t a Greek or Hebrew word represented in the text, but it has to be there in order for us to understand.

What do the New Versions say?

NIV Elhanan killed Goliath [Whaat]

ESV Elhanan … struck down Goliath [Uh oh]

NASV Elhanan … killed Goliath [whoops]

New World Translation El·haʹnan struck down Go·liʹath. No real suprise there.

We all know that David killed Goliath.

Removing italics causes confusion by stating that Elhanan killed Goliath.

But wait, there’s more! The same story is retold in 1 Chronicles 20:5

NIV Elhanan slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath [Whaat]

ESV Elhanan struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath [That’s not what it said earlier]

NASV Elhanan killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath [Another contradiction]

New World Translation El·haʹnan the brother of Go·liʹathi [Same as the others.]

So who killed Goliath?

David or Elhanan?

Did Elhanan kill Goliath, Lahmi or both?

[Aren’t you glad Goliath didn’t have a sister?]

Imagine being a person who has never heard of Jesus and the Bible.

They are told that the Bible does not contradict.

They read that David killed Goliath and then they read that Elhanan killed Goliath.

How could they trust the Bible?

Study to shew thyself approved unto God!