שמואל ב, פרק כ״א, פסוק ט״ו

Toward the end of King David's life, after enduring a series of internal crises, the aging king was forced into yet another military campaign. The primary approach among commentators [אברבנאל, מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד] is that this new conflict followed directly on the heels of the severe domestic turmoil that had recently shaken the Israelites, such as Absalom's rebellion and the events involving the Gibeonites. Now, a fresh external war erupted against the Philistines. This campaign marked a significant turning point, as it was the very last time David personally marched onto the battlefield alongside his men, occurring just before the end of his wars and the dawn of a peaceful era [מלבי״ם].

During the battle, David experienced a profound physical collapse. His stamina faltered, leaving him deeply exhausted and weak [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This sudden loss of strength was the culmination of his advanced age and the heavy toll taken by a lifetime of relentless troubles [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. The dramatic consequence of this exhaustion was that David fell behind and became separated from the rest of his troops [רלב״ג]. Left isolated and vulnerable, he became the perfect target for the Philistine giant, Ishbi-benob, who sought to strike him down. The situation would have ended in tragedy, but God orchestrated events so that Abishai the son of Zeruiah rushed in at the crucial moment to rescue the king [רלב״ג].