Elhanan was a brave warrior in King David's army, known for killing a Philistine giant. There are two references to an Elhanan in the Bible: one who killed Goliath from Gath (2 Samuel 21:19) and one who killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath (1 Chronicles 20:5). These references have been the subject of much discussion among biblical scholars regarding their relationship to David's battle with Goliath.
In a battle against the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim from Bethlehem killed a giant. This event is recorded in 2 Samuel 21:19 and has been widely discussed in relation to David's fight with Goliath.
19In yet another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite struck down Goliath the Gittite, whose spear shaft was like a weaver's beam.
In 1 Chronicles 20:5, Elhanan son of Jair is identified as the one who killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath from Gath. This version harmonizes the account with David's famous battle against Goliath.
5There was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan son of Jair struck down Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear shaft was like a weaver's beam.
Elhanan is mentioned as part of a series of battles between David's men and Philistine giants, where several of David's heroes defeated warriors from the Rephaim clan.
15Once again there was war between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his servants, and they fought the Philistines; and David grew weary.
16Then Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of the Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, intended to kill David.
17But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine down, and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, "Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished."
18Some time later there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, one of the descendants of the Rapha.
19In yet another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite struck down Goliath the Gittite, whose spear shaft was like a weaver's beam.
20And there was another battle, at Gath, where there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from the Rapha.
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem is also mentioned in the parallel list of David's heroes in 1 Chronicles, confirming his position as one of David's foremost warriors.