1Sa 17:1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.
Now the Philistines gathered together – One scholar thinks the narrative reverts to the Philistine wars 1Sa_14:52; the other introductory details concerning Saul’s rejection, and David’s introduction upon the stage of the history, having been disposed of in the intermediate chapters. Another scholar thinks that this war happened eight years after the anointing of David, and ten or twelve years after the war with the Amalekites.
Now the Philistines gathered together – Josephus says this was not long after the things related in the preceding chapter were transacted; and very probably they had heard of the melancholy and distraction of Saul, and thought it a proper opportunity of avenging themselves on Israel for their last slaughter of them, and for that purpose gathered together their dispersed troops:
Now the Philistines gathered together – Probably they had heard, that Samuel had forsaken Saul, and that Saul himself was unfit for business. The enemies of the church are watchful to take all advantages, and they never have greater advantage, than when her protectors have provoked God's Spirit and prophets to leave them.
the Philistines gathered together their armies--twenty-seven years after their overthrow at Michmash. Having now recovered their spirits and strength, they sought an opportunity of wiping out the infamy of that national disaster, as well as to regain their lost ascendency over Israel .
the Philistines gathered together their armies--Some time after David first came to Saul for the purpose of playing, and when he had gone back to his father to Bethlehem , probably because Saul's condition had improved, the Philistines made a fresh attempt to subjugate the Israelites.
Shochoh and Azekah - Places which lay to the south of Jerusalem and to the west of Bethlehem ; Ephes-dammim was somewhere in the vicinity.
were gathered at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah - a city of the tribe of Judah, Jos_15:35, which shows that, notwithstanding their last defeat, they had great footing in the land of Israel , or however had penetrated far into it in this march of theirs:
A war between the Philistines and the Israelites furnished David with the opportunity of displaying before Saul and all Israel, and greatly to the terror of the enemies of his people, that heroic power which was firmly based upon his bold and pious trust in the omnipotence of the faithful covenant God (1Sa_17:1-3).
1Sa 17:2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.
The valley of Elah - of the terebinth, Some translate this the turpentine valley, or the valley of the terebinth trees; and others, the valley of oaks.
Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together - He being cured, at least being better of his disorder, through the music of David, and alarmed and aroused by the invasion of the Philistines, which might serve to dissipate any remains of it, or prevent its return, got together his forces:
1Sa 17:3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
1Sa 17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
A champion - literally, “a man between the two camps:” one who did not fight in the ranks like an ordinary soldier, but came forth into the space between the hostile camps to challenge the mightiest man of his enemies to come and fight him.
a champion--Hebrew, a "man between two"; that is, a person who, on the part of his own people, undertook to determine the national quarrel by engaging in single combat with a chosen warrior in the hostile army.
Goliath of Gath - One of the places mentioned in Jos_11:22 There were none of the giants left in the land of the sons of Israel; only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod there remained some. as still retaining a remnant of the sons of Anak; Gaza and Ashdod being the others. The race of giants (the Rephaim) is mentioned again in the account of David’s Philistine wars 2Sa_21:15-22; 1Ch_20:4-8. It appears from these passages that Goliath had a brother Lahmi. Four are named as being “born to the giant in Gath .” Deu_2:10-11, Deu_2:20-21; Deu_3:11-13.
Six cubits - If the cubit, the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, is about 1 12 feet; and the span, the distance from the thumb to the middle or little finger, when stretched apart to the full length, be half a cubit, six cubits and a span would equal about nine feet nine inches. The bed of Og king of Bashan was nine cubits long Deu_3:11.
1Sa 17:5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
Coat of mail - Or “breastplate of scales.” A kind of metal shirt, protecting the back as well as the breast, and made of scales like those of a fish. A coat of mail formed of plates of brass overlapping each other, like the scales of a fish, or tiles of a house, so close together that no dart or arrow could pierce between. The terms, helmet, coat, and clothed are the same as those used in Isa_59:17.
Five thousand shekels - Probably about 125 pounds.
1Sa 17:6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
A target of brass - Rather, “a javelin.” as in 1Sa_17:45, and placed between the shoulders, as the quiver was. When not actually engaged, soldiers threw their shields behind their back, so that they appeared to rest or hang between the shoulders. However, it is clear from other verses that 1) his armor bearer carried his shield and 2) he had a javelin that he carried. 1Sa_17:41 And the Philistine came on and drew near David. And the man who bore the shield was before him. 1Sa_17:45 And David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of Jehovah of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
Greaves of brass upon his legs - This species of armor may be seen on many ancient monuments. It was a plate of brass which covered the shin or fore part of the leg, from the knee down to the instep, and was buckled with straps behind the leg.
Greaves of brass upon his legs - Which were a sort of boots, or leg harnesses, which covered the thighs and legs down to the heels; such as Iolaus and the Grecians usually wore, as described by Homer;
1Sa 17:7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
Six hundred shekels of iron – 15 pounds of iron.
The staff on his spear was like a weaver’s beam - Either like that on which the warp is rolled, or that on which the cloth is rolled. We know not how thick this was, because there were several sorts of looms, and the sizes of the beams very dissimilar.
1Sa 17:8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
Am I not a Philistine - The Targum adds much to this speech. This is the substance: “I am Goliath the Philistine of Gath, who killed the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas the priests; and led into captivity the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and placed it in the temple of Dagon my god; and it remained in the cities of the Philistines seven months. Also, in all our battles I have gone at the head of the army, and we conquered and cut down men, and laid them as low as the dust of the earth; and to this day the Philistines have not granted me the honor of being chief of a thousand men. And ye, men of Israel , what noble exploit has Saul, the son of Kish , of Gibeah, done, that ye should have made him king over you? If he be a hero, let him come down himself and fight with me; but if he be a weak or cowardly man, then choose you out a man that he may come down to me.” Some of these claims are notoriously false; for in every battle after the taking of the ark the Philistines had been beaten.
am not I a Philistine - a common Philistine, according tto one scholar, not a captain of a hundred, or of a thousand; and yet would fight anyone of them, their general officers, or be they who they would. Another scholar claims he was a prince among the Philistines, and king of Gath ; and though it was usual with great persons to engage with their equals, yet he did not insist on that; but would engage with any man, though of an inferior rank, even with any of Saul's servants;
he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel - He stood in the valley between the two armies, and cried with a loud voice that he might be heard; and as he was of such a monstrous stature, no doubt his voice was very strong and sonorous; and as the battalions of Israel designed by armies were posted on the mountain or hill, his voice would ascend, and be the more easily heard:
why are ye come out to set your battle in array - either as wondering at their boldness, to set themselves in battle array against the Philistines; or rather suggesting that it was needless, since the dispute between them might be issued by a single combat:
choose you a man for you - the challenge first respects Saul their king; that if he was a man of fortitude and courage, let him come and engage with him; if not, choose another, and send him down into the valley to fight with him.
1Sa 17:9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
Then will we be your servants - It does not appear he had any commission or authority to say; nor did the Philistines think themselves obliged to abide by what he said, since, when he was slain, they did not yield themselves servants to the Israelites: Of this stipulation we hear nothing farther.
then shall ye be our servants - to which terms also the Israelites did not consent; nor did David, who engaged with him, enter the fray on such conditions.
1Sa 17:10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
I defy the armies of Israel -- In cases of single combat, a warrior used to go out in front of his party, and advancing towards the opposite ranks, challenge someone to fight with him. If his formidable appearance, or great reputation for physical strength and heroism, deterred any from accepting the challenge, he used to parade himself within hearing of the enemy's lines, specify in a loud, boastful, bravado style, defying them, and pouring out torrents of abuse and insolence to provoke their resentment.
I defy the armies of Israel -- Or "reproach" them; that is, should they not accept his challenge, and send down a man to fight with them, he should then upbraid them with cowardice; and now he disdained them, as if there was not a man among them that dared to encounter with him:
1Sa 17:11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
they were dismayed, and greatly afraid - which may seem strange, when there were so many valiant men among them, as Saul himself, who had behaved with so much courage against the Ammonites, Philistines, and Amalekites; but now the Spirit of God was departed from him, and he was become timorous and fearful; and though he was much better than he had been, yet still he was not the man of spirit and resolution as before: there was also Abner, the general of his army, a very valiant man, a great man in Israel, and yet appears not on this occasion; and, what is more wonderful, Jonathan the son of Saul was present, as appears from 1Sa_18:1 who had not only smitten a garrison of the Philistines, but with one man more only had attacked another garrison, and routed the whole army of the Philistines, and yet now shows not his head against a single man: so it is when God cuts off the spirits of princes, or takes away their courage; victory over this man, and the glory of it, were reserved for David; and all this fear and dread throughout the armies of Israel were suffered, that he might appear the more glorious.
When Saul and all Israel heard these words - For they were delivered with such a tone and strength of voice, as to be heard very generally, at least by many, and which soon was reported through the whole army:
1Sa 17:12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
The 12th verse, to the 31st inclusive, are wanting in the Septuagint; as also the 41st verse; and from the 54th to the end; with the first five verses of 1 Samuel 18, and the 9th, 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, and 19th of the same.
he had eight sons - seven only are mentioned, 1Ch_2:13
the man went among men - the phrase, "among men", either signifies that he was ranked among old men, infirm and unfit for war, and so excused, and his sons went in his stead; or he was reckoned among men of the first rank, men of esteem, credit, and reputation, with which agrees the Targum; or whenever he went abroad, he was attended by many men, had a large retinue; most manuscript versions read "stricken in years", which seems most agreeable.
Old man - Therefore he went not himself to the camp.
David's arrival in the camp, and wish to fight with Goliath - This first heroic deed was of the greatest importance to David and all Israel , for it was David's first step on the way to the throne, to which Jehovah had resolved to raise him. The intention of this narrative is to set forth most distinctly the marvellous overruling of all the circumstances by God himself. The form of the narrative, abounds in repetitions, that appear to us tautological in many instances, but which belong to the characteristic peculiarities of the early Hebrew style of historical composition.
1Sa 17:13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
1Sa 17:14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.
the three eldest followed Saul – repeated here in this next verse, that it might be observed that they only of Jesse's sons followed Saul; not David particularly, but who was providentially sent to the army at the time the Philistine was defying it.
1Sa 17:15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
David went and returned - From Saul's court: where having relieved Saul, he was permitted to go to his father's house, to be sent for again upon occasion.
1Sa 17:16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
And the Philistine drew near - Twice a day he came near the camp, within the hearing of it. The Jews say, he took those seasons on purpose to disturb them in reading their "Shema", or "hear, O Israel", &c. and saying their prayers morning and evening:
presented himself forty days - Successively, before the armies of Israel , daring them to send down a man to fight with him, and reproaching them for their cowardice in not doing it. Whilst the Philistine was coming out every day for forty days long with his challenge to single combat, Jesse sent his son David into the camp.
1Sa 17:17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;
And Jesse said unto David - His youngest son, that was at home with him keeping sheep; he had three more at home, and who were elder than David, and yet he is directed by the providence of God to pick and send him on the following errand, there being work for him to do that Jesse knew nothing of:
an ephah of this parched corn - this was wheat or barley dried in a furnace or oven, and ground into meal, and being mixed with water, or milk, or butter, or honey, or oil, was eaten, and reckoned very delicious; Now an "ephah" was as much as ten men could eat in a day, it consisted of ten omers.
Take now for thy brethren --In those times campaigns seldom lasted above a few days at a time. The soldiers were volunteers or militia, who were supplied with provisions from time to time by their friends at home.
1Sa 17:18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
Carry these ten cheeses - They do not make what we call cheese: they press the milk but slightly, and carry it in rush baskets. It is highly salted, and little different from curds.
the captain of their thousand - Their chiliarch or colonel, who had the command of 1000 men, and under whom Jesse's sons fought; these cheeses were sent by Jesse to the captain, to be distributed among his men, or a present to himself, that he might use his sons well who were under his command:
look how thy brethren fare - whether in good health, in good spirits, and in safety:
take their pledge--Tokens of the soldiers' health and safety were sent home in the convenient form of a lock of their hair, or piece of their nail, or such like.
1Sa 17:19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
fighting with the Philistines - not actually engaged in battle, but drawn up for it; prepared and in readiness to engage whenever it was necessary, or they were obliged to it; and perhaps there might be now and then some skirmishes in the outer parts of the camp.
1Sa 17:20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
he came to the trench - Rather, “the wagons,” which were all put together in the camp so as to form a kind of bulwark or fortification. Here David left his “carriage” 1Sa_17:22, the things which he had carried, or baggage. There seems to have been an officer (“the keeper,” 1Sa_17:22) in the Hebrew army whose charge it was to guard the baggage.
David rose up early in the morning - Being very ready and eager to obey his father's orders, and visit his brethren:
as the host was going forth to the fight - preparing and getting every thing ready to the battle, and in motion, and upon the march to meet the enemy:
shouted for the battle - which was usually done when about to make the onset, to animate the soldiers, and strike the greater terror into the enemy.
1Sa 17:21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
For Israel and all the Philistines had put the battle in array - Both sides prepared for it, and drew up in line of battle:
1Sa 17:22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
And David left his carriage - That is, he left load of provisions he brought with him in the hand of the keeper of the bag and baggage of the army, their clothes, and such like things; not having an opportunity to deliver them to his brethren, who were just going to engage in battle:
and ran into the army - which showed the valor and courage of David, who chose rather to expose himself in battle, than to abide with the keeper of the carriages:
saluted his brethren - asked them of their welfare, in his father's name and his own.
1Sa 17:23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
And as he talked with them - About their health, and the errand he came upon, and the message of his father to them, and how it was with him, who sent them his best wishes:
out of the armies of the Philistines - from where they were encamped; or from the ranks of the Philistines; he came out of one of the battalions that were set in array:
spake according to the same words - which he had spoken time after time forty days successively, namely, what is expressed 1Sa_17:8,
1Sa 17:24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
And all the men of Israel - Even as it should seem before they heard him; knowing who he was, and what he was about to say, having seen and heard him forty days running fled from him:
were sore afraid - it is pretty much a whole army should be afraid of one man, and flee from him; they must be greatly forsaken of God, and given up by him. One Philistine could never have thus put ten thousand Israelites to flight, unless their rock, being forsaken by them, had justly sold them and shut them up. Deut 32: 30 How shall one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them and the LORD had shut them up?
1Sa 17:25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
make his father's house free in Israel - from all tributes, taxes, levies, impositions, king's service, and duty; or, as the Targum,"make his father's house freemen, nobles;''raise it to the rank of nobility.
make his father's house free in Israel--His family should be exempted from the impositions and services to which the general body of the Israelites were subjected.
Free in Israel - In all the other passages (fifteen) where this word occurs, it means free, as opposed to being a slave (Deu_15:12-13, Deu_15:18, etc.) Here it may imply a freedom from all such services and burdens as are spoken of in 1Sa_8:11-17
11 And he said, This will be the privilege of the king who shall reign over you. He shall take your sons and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and his horsemen. And they shall run before his chariots.
12 And he will appoint commanders over thousands, and commanders over fifties, and some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and weapons for his chariots.
13 And he will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.
14 And he will take your fields and your vineyards and your olive-yards, the best, and give them to his servants.
15 And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his eunuchs and to his servants.
16 And he will take your male slaves and your slave girls, and your finest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
17 He will take the tenth of your sheep, and you shall be his servants.
and will give him his daughter to be his wife - in like manner as Caleb promised to give his daughter in marriage to the person that should take Kirjathsepher, Jdg_1:12,
1Sa 17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
The living God - This fine expression occurs first in Deuteronomy, and next in Jos_3:10, and 2Ki_19:4. We find it twice in the Psalms of David Psa_42:2; Psa_84:2, four times in the prophets, and frequently in the New Testament. It is generally in contrast to false gods (1Th_1:9, etc.).
taketh away the reproach from Israel - which he asked not for the sake of the reward, but to observe the necessity there was of some man's engaging with him, and killing him, or otherwise it would be a reproach to Israel, and to signify that he had an inclination to attempt it:
for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God - there were two things which provoked David, and raised indignation in him against this man; the one was, the character of the person that reproached, a Philistine, an uncircumcised person, a profane man, that had no true religion in him, an alien from the commonwealth of Israel, and a stranger to the covenants of promise; and the other was the persons whom he reproached, the armies of the living God, of the King of kings, and Lord of lords; and which in effect was reproaching the Lord himself, and which David, filled with zeal for God, and for his people, could not bear; and the consideration of these things animated him to engage with him, not doubting of success.
1Sa 17:27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
so shall it be done to the man that killeth him - as before related, that he should be enriched, marry the king's daughter, and his family be ennobled, 1Sa_17:25.
1Sa 17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
Why camest thou down - From the heights of Bethlehem to the valley of Elah . David had talked with his brethren, or had begun to talk with them, yet he had not sufficiently explained the reasons of his coming:
Eliab's anger was kindled against David - because what he had said carried in it a tacit reproach of him, and others, that they had not the courage, and did not attempt to encounter with the Philistine; or rather out of envy to him, lest succeeding in so bold an action, he should gain superior glory to him, and the rest of his brethren, who yet was the youngest of them:
with whom hast thou left those few sheep - the wilderness of Judea, or some wilderness near Bethlehem; by this he would not only insinuate a charge of unfaithfulness, in not taking care of his father's flock committed to him; but his view was to make him look little and mean in the eyes of the people, that in the family he belonged to he was thought to be fit for nothing but to keep sheep, and in doing this was negligent and careless:
I know thy pride - that he was too proud to keep sheep, and wanted to advance himself in the army, and make a figure there, and thereby gratify his vanity and ambition, which was the reverse of David's character; for, such was his humility, that, though he was anointed king, and had been preferred in Saul's court, yet condescended with all readiness to keep his father's sheep; and what he now proposed was not from any bad principle in his heart, but purely for the glory of God, and the honor of the people of Israel, who were both reproached:
thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle - out of curiosity, and to take every advantage and opportunity of signalizing and making himself famous.
1Sa 17:29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
what have I now done - In times of general formality and lukewarmness, every degree of zeal which implies readiness to go further, or to venture more in the cause of God than others, will be blamed as pride and ambition, and by none more than by near relations, like Eliab, or negligent superiors. It was a trial of David's meekness, patience, and constancy. He had right and reason on his side, and did not render railing for railing; with a soft answer he turned away his brother's wrath. This conquest of his own passion was more honorable than that of Goliath. Those who undertake great and public services, must not think it strange if they are spoken ill of, and opposed by those from whom they expect support and assistance. They must humbly go on with their work, in the face not only of enemies' threats, but of friends' slights and suspicions.
what have I now done - That is criminal and blameworthy; as if he should say, I have only expressed an indignation against this uncircumcised Philistine, and a concern for the glory of God, and the honor of the people of Israel :
Is there not a cause - is not Saul’s promise, and the insolence of Goliath, a sufficent cause for what I am about to do?
Is there not a cause - I have spoken but a word. And should a man be made an offender for a word?
Is there not a cause - either for his coming to the camp, being sent by his father; or of his expressing himself with indignation at the Philistine's defiance of the armies of Israel . Some take the sense to be, that he had done nothing, he had not committed any fact; it was mere words what he had said, he had attempted nothing, and therefore there was no reason to bear so hard upon him;
1Sa 17:30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
he turned from him towards another - From his brother Eliab, to another person right against him, and directed his discourse to him:
spake after the same manner - as in 1Sa_17:26; inquiring what encouragement would he given to a man that should attempt to kill the Philistine, and expressing his concern to hear the armies of the living God defied by such a wretch:
the people answered him again - telling him what gratuities and honors would be conferred on such a person, as in 1Sa_17:25; Perhaps the design of his talking to one, and to another, was, that what he had said might spread and reach to the ears of Saul, to whom in modesty he did not choose to apply himself.
1Sa 17:31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
they rehearsed them before Saul - coming to the ears of some of his courtiers and counsellors, or officers about him, they told him what such an one had said:
1Sa 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
1Sa 17:33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
Thou art but a youth - Supposed to be about twenty to twenty-three years of age and a novice, a raw and unexperienced soldier.
thou art not able to go against this Philistine - Had neither strength of body, nor skill in military affairs, to encounter with a man of his stature, and warlike genius and practice:
he a man of war from his youth - a gigantic man, trained up in, and expert in the affairs of war; so that David could not, on any account, be a competitor with him, and a match for him.
1Sa 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
There came a bear and a lion - The narrative does not make it certain whether the lion and the bear came on one and the same, or on two different occasions. If it was on one occasion, the probability would be that the bear, having seized a lamb and carrying it off, a lion appeared to dispute the prize with the bear, or with David after he had taken it from the bear, and that David killed first one and then the other.
a lion, and a bear--There were two different events, for those animals prowl alone. The bear must have been a Syrian bear, which is believed to be a distinct species, or perhaps a variety, of the brown bear. The beard applies to the lion alone. Those feats seem to have been performed with no weapons more effective than the rude staves and stones of the field, or his shepherd's crook.
And David said unto Saul - In answer to his objection of inability to encounter with one so superior to him; and this answer is founded on experience and facts, and shows that he was not so weak and inexpert as Saul took him to be: He found it necessary to give Saul the reasons why he undertook this combat; and why he expected to be victorious.
thy servant kept his father's sheep - which he was not ashamed to own, and especially as it furnished him with an stance of his courage, bravery, and success, and which would be convincing to Saul:
1Sa 17:35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
I caught him by his beard – Put here for his throat, or under jaw; neither lion nor bear has a beard properly speaking.
I caught him by his beard – a mane such as lions have;
and smote him - with his fist, or rather with his shepherd's staff:
delivered it out of his mouth - snatched it out from thence, or obliged him to drop it, by beating him:
1Sa 17:36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear - At different times, perhaps several of them at one time or another; whenever any of them came into the flock. The Jews suppose this phrase denotes many of them.
this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them - as he was like them in nature, savage, cruel and unclean, so he would be in his end, killed as they; of this David was fully persuaded and assured in mind having an impulse from the Spirit of God.
he hath defied the armies of the living God - so that as he justly deserved to die. David's courage rested, therefore, upon his confident belief that the living God would not let His people be defied by the heathen with impunity.
1Sa 17:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
Go, and the Lord be with thee - Saul saw that these were reasonable grounds of confidence, and therefore wished him success.
And David said moreover - For the further confirmation of it, and as more strongly expressing his faith of it; not as owing to any natural strength or skill of his, but to the power of God, of whose assistance he made no question:
the Lord that delivered me - for to him he ascribes his deliverance from those savage creatures, and his victory over them, and on him he relied for help and salvation in the present case:
he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine - David did not go forth in his own name and strength, but in the name and strength of the Lord of hosts:
Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee--The pious language of the modest but valiant youth impressed the monarch's heart. He felt that it indicated the true military confidence for Israel , and, therefore, made up his mind, without any demur, to sanction a combat on which the fate of his kingdom depended, and with a champion supporting his interests apparently so unequal to the task.
1Sa 17:38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
Saul armed David - He knew that although the battle was the Lord’s, yet prudent means should be used to secure success. It was not likely that it was the armor he wore himself; for it cannot be thought he would strip himself of his armor in the field of battle, and when just going to it; and besides what suited the one would not be fit for the other, their bulk and stature being different i but this was some armor Saul had brought with him, besides what he himself wore, to furnish any with that might want it:
he put an helmet of brass upon his head - such an one, though not so large as Goliath had, these being usually made of brass;
1Sa 17:39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
I cannot go with these - In ancient times it required considerable exercise and training to make a man expert in the use of such heavy armor; armor which in the present day scarcely a man is to be found who is able to carry; and so it must have been then, until that practice which arises from frequent use had made the proprietor perfect. I have not proved them says David: I am wholly unaccustomed to such armor and it would be an encumbrance to me. He thought fit to acquaint Saul with it, lest he should be offended with him:
he assayed to go - made an attempt, and had a mind to go thus armed; he at first showed an inclination to go in such an habit, but afterwards would not:
1Sa 17:40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
A shepherd’s bag - That in which he generally carried his provisions while keeping the sheep in the open country.
And his sling - It is composed of two strings and a leathern strap; the strap is in the middle, and is the place where the stone lies. The string on the right end of the strap is firmly fastened to the hand; that on the left is held between the thumb and middle joint of the fore finger. It is then whirled two or three times round the head; and when discharged, the finger and thumb let go their hold of the left end string. The velocity and force of the sling are in proportion to the distance of the strap, where the stone lies, from the shoulder joint. In the use of the sling it requires much practice to hit the mark; but when once this dexterity is acquired, the sling is quite fatal. David was evidently an expert marksman; and his sling gave him greatly the advantage over Goliath; an advantage of which the giant does not seem to have been aware. He could hit him within any speaking distance, if he missed once, he had as many chances as he had stones.
his sling was in his hand - In the exercise of his shepherd's calling he may have become so skilled in the use of the sling, that, like the Benjaminites, his neighbors, mentioned in Jdg_20:16, he could sling at a hair's-breadth, and not miss.
And he took his staff in his hand - His shepherd's staff, which he used in keeping his father's sheep, and chose rather to appear in the habit of a shepherd than of a soldier:
he drew near to the Philistine - marched towards him, thereby signifying that he accepted his challenge, and would enter the list with him.
1Sa 17:41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
And the Philistine came on – Possibly by slow paces, because of the weight of his armor, and bulk of his body, yet with a haughty air, and a proud gait:
1Sa 17:42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
He disdained him - He held him in contempt; he saw that he was young, and from his ruddy complexion supposed him to be effeminate. He looked about for his antagonist, to take a view of him, what sort of a man he was, expecting to see one much like himself; but observing a puny young man, he despised him in his heart, and perhaps looked upon it as an affront to him to send such a man to fight with him:
and ruddy, and of a fair countenance - looked effeminate, had not the appearance of a soldier, of a weather beaten veteran, exposed to heat and cold, and inured to hardships.
1Sa 17:43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves - It is very likely that Goliath did not perceive the sling, which David might have kept coiled up within his hand.
Cursed David by his gods - Prayed his gods to curse him. This long parley between David and Goliath is quite in the style of those times. When the two champions met, they generally made each of them a speech, and sometimes recited some verses, filled with allusions and epithets of the most opprobrious kind, hurling contempt and defiance at one another. David's speech, however, presents a striking contrast to the usual strain of these invectives. It was full of pious trust, and to God he ascribed all the glory of the triumph he anticipated.
1Sa 17:44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
Come to me - He seems to have stood still, disdaining: to take another step towards such a pitiful combatant, and therefore bids him come up to him, and he would soon dispatch him;
1Sa 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
Then said David to the Philistine - In answer to the contempt he held him in, and to the threatening words he gave him: What Goliath expected from his arms, David expected from the ineffable name.
I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, whom thou hast defied - David was come, by a commission from this great Jehovah, to vindicate his honor, and to avenge his people on him: Goliath had asked for a man, and now the Lord of hosts comes forth as a man of war, for the battle was his, as in 1Sa_17:47; and David was his messenger, and came in his name, and was the man into whose hands he should be given.
1Sa 17:46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand - This was a direct and circumstantial prophecy of what did take place. Of which he was assured by divine inspiration, by the impulse of the Spirit of God upon him; or otherwise he could not have expressed himself with such certainty, and have given the particulars of what he should do.
take thine head from thee - as yet he had no weapon in his hand to do it with, 1Sa_17:50, but it was revealed to him that he should do it, and he believed it.
that all the earth may know there is a God in Israel - not only the land of Canaan or Palestine, but the whole earth, and all the inhabitants of it; the report of which no doubt was spread far, and near. Israel hath a God, a God indeed, one who is able to help them; and not such an impotent idol as the Philistines served.
1Sa 17:47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.
The Lord saveth not with sword - Observe the consistent teaching of such passages as 1Sa_14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised ones. It may be that the LORD will work for us. For there is no restraint to the LORD, to save by many or by few. Exo_14:13 And Moses said to the people, Do not fear. Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will prepare for you this day. For the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them anymore. Jdg_7:2 And the LORD said to Gideon, The people with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel boast themselves against Me, saying, My own hand has saved me. Jdg_7:7 And the LORD said to Gideon, I will save you by the three hundred men who lapped, and will deliver the Midianites into your hand. And let all the other people go, each man to his place. Psa_44:5-7 Through You we will push our enemies; through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, and have put them to shame, those who hated us.
For the battle is the Lord’s - It is the Lord’s war: you are fighting against him and his religion, as the champion of your party; I am fighting for God, as the champion of his cause.
1Sa 17:48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
The Philistine arose - This was an end of the parley; the Philistine came forward to meet David, and David on his part ran forward to meet the Philistine. Goliath was in all probability in great wrath and fury at hearing what David said, and which hastened him to it:
1Sa 17:49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
Smote the Philistine in his forehead - Except his face, Goliath was covered over with strong armor. Perhaps he had no forehead covering to his helmet, or it was lifted up so as to expose his forehead. The Septuagint however supposes that the stone passed through the helmet, and sank into his forehead: 1 Samuel 17:49 And David stretched out his hand to his scrip, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine on his forehead, and the stone penetrated through the helmet into his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the ground. (Septuagint) The stone slung by David was under a divine direction, so as to hit a person in motion, it came with a divine power, which nothing could resist; and supposing this, of which there need no doubt, it could as easily pass through the helmet of brass, as pierce into his forehead and sink there;
1Sa 17:50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
So David prevailed over the Philistine - with a sling and a stone only, without any other warlike weapon:
1Sa 17:51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
When the Philistines saw their champion - Quite a different word from that so rendered in 1Sa_17:4, 1Sa_17:23; better “warrior.”
they fled - They were panic-struck; and not being willing to fulfill the condition which was stipulated by Goliath, they precipitately left the field. The Israelites took a proper advantage of these circumstances, and totally routed their enemies.
David ran and stood upon the Philistine - Upon his carcass, as it lay prostrate on the ground, in just contempt of him who had defied, reproached, and despised the armies of Israel :
and slew him - for it seems that by the blow of the stone he was only stunned, and fell to the ground, but still had life in him, which David soon put an end to by his own sword:
David took out his sword - Hence it appears, that David was not a little man; but a man of considerable bulk and strength, because he was able to manage a giant's sword. The stone threw him down to the earth, and bereaved him of sense and motion; but there remained some life in him, which the sword took away, and so completed the work. God is greatly glorified, when his proud enemies are cut off with their own sword.
cut off his head--not as an evidence of the giant's death, for his slaughter had been effected in presence of the whole army, but as a trophy to be borne to Saul. The heads of slain enemies are often regarded as the most welcome tokens of victory.
1Sa 17:52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
Shaaraim - A town of Judah in the Shephelah, at this time probably in the possession of the Philistines. It seems to be the same with Sharaim
the men of Israel and of Judah arose - From their encampment and entrenchment, or they prepared for a pursuit:
to the gates of Ekron - which was one of the five principalities of the Philistines; so that they pursued them to their own cities, and to the very gates of them:
even unto Gath, and unto Ekron - two other principalities of the Philistines.
1Sa 17:53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
they spoiled their tents - which they left in their camp, all their armor, goods, money, and provisions, they found there, they seized upon as their prey and booty; these they did not stay to meddle with as soon as the Philistines fled, but first pursued them, and slew as many of them as they could, and then returned to the spoil; which was wisely done.
1Sa 17:54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem - After he had been introduced with it to Saul, and when he had passed through various cities in Israel, carrying the head in triumph; where he was congratulated by the women, who came out singing and dancing, and speaking highly in his commendation and praise: why he carried it to Jerusalem is not easy to say, this not being a royal city, nor was it wholly in the hands of the Israelites; part of it indeed was in the possession of Judah and Benjamin, but the stronghold of Zion was possessed by the Jebusites; and it is generally thought that it was to the terror of them that the head of Goliath was carried there.
he put his armor in his tent - not where the army was encamped before the engagement; for David had not his tent there, and beside the camp broke up upon this victory obtained; but rather in his tent at Bethlehem, when he returned thither, and where he laid up the armor he took from Goliath; though some scholars think that by his tent is meant the tabernacle of the Lord, called David's, because of his attachment to it; and certain it is that the sword of Goliath was either now, or at least hereafter, laid up there, 1Sa_21:9 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, behold, it is wrapped in a cloth under the ephod, if you will take, take it for yourself, for there is no other here except that one. And David said, There is none like that. Give it to me; where all that went to sacrifice might see it, and call to mind this wonderful instance of the power and goodness of God, and praise him for it.
he put his armor in his tent --the sacred tabernacle. David dedicated the sword of Goliath as a votive offering to the Lord. It would be quite in accordance with David’s piety that he should immediately dedicate to God the arms taken from the Philistine, in acknowledgment that the victory was not his own but the Lord’s.
he put his armor in his tent - But David took the head of Goliath and brought it to Jerusalem , and put his armor in his tent. It is an antiquated term for a dwelling-place, as in 1Sa_4:10; 1Sa_13:2, etc. The reference is to David's house at Bethlehem , to which he returned with the booty after the defeat of Goliath, and that by the road which ran past Jerusalem , where he left the head of Goliath. There is no anachronism in these statements; for the assertion made by some, that Jerusalem was not yet in the possession of the Israelites, rests upon a confusion between the citadel of Jebus upon Zion , which was still in the hands of the Jebusites, and the city of Jerusalem , in which Israelites had dwelt for a long time. Nor is there any contradiction between this statement and 1Sa_21:9, where Goliath's sword is said to have been preserved in the tabernacle at Nob: for it is not affirmed that David kept Goliath's armour in his own home, but only that he took it thither; and the supposition that Goliath's sword was afterwards deposited by him in the sanctuary in honour of the Lord, is easily reconcilable with this. Again, the statement in 1Sa_18:2, to the effect that, after David's victory over Goliath, Saul did not allow him to return to his father's house any more, is by no means at variance with this explanation of the verse before us. For the statement in question must be understood in accordance with 1Sa_17:15, viz., as signifying that from that time forward Saul did not allow David to return to his father's house to keep the sheep as he had done before, and by no means precludes his paying brief visits to Bethlehem .
1Sa 17:55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
whose son is this youth - it is thought strange by many that Saul should not know who he was, when he had been often at his court, and served him as a musician, and had been very useful to him, and he loved him, and made him his armourbearer, and even had just now conversed with him about encountering with the Philistine, and had clothed him with his own armor: to get rid of the former part of the objection, David is said to return home from Saul, 1Sa_17:15; so that it is certain he had been at Saul's court, and in his presence before: but to remove this seeming difficulty it may be observed, that Saul, having labored under a disorder of body and mind, might easily forget David, and his serving him in the above capacity; and to which the multiplicity of business, and of persons in a court, might greatly contribute; and what with the distance of time, and the different habits in which David appeared, sometimes as a musician, and sometimes as a shepherd, and at other times as a soldier, and always as a servant, it is no wonder the king should not know him again; though after all it is not about his person that he inquires, but whose son he was, what was his father's name, and from what family he sprung; for though Saul was made acquainted with this in the time of his disorder, and therefore sent to his father Jesse for him, and afterwards desired leave for his continuance; yet this might slip out of his memory in a course of time, he having had no personal knowledge of Jesse, nor any correspondence with him, but just at that time; and it behoved him to know the pedigree of David, since, if he was victorious, he was not only to be enriched by him, but to have his daughter for wife, and his family ennobled:
whose son is this youth - David had been some considerable time dismissed from Saul's court, and was returned home. And therefore it is not strange, if Saul for the present had forgot David. Besides the distemper of Saul's mind might make him forgetful; and that David might be now much changed, both in his countenance and in his habit.
1Sa 17:56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.
1Sa 17:57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
Abner took him and brought him before Saul - to give an answer to the king's question concerning him, who could best do it himself; and that Saul might have the opportunity of rewarding him, according to his merit, for so great a piece of service he had done for Israel, of which the head in his hand was a sufficient proof.
1Sa 17:58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.
whose son art thou - Still the question was such as did not necessarily imply ignorance of his person, but of his family:
and David answered - which doubtless refreshed the memory of Saul, and he quickly called to mind who he was. This interview was very probably at Gibeah of Saul, which was the place of his birth and residence, 1Sa_10:26, and where he kept his court, and to which he returned after the above victory was obtained.
