1 Samuel 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._ He assayed to go, х_ WAYO'EL_ (H422) _ LAALEKET_ (H1980)] - and he tried (began) to go away, to walk. [The Septuagint renders it, graphically, kai ekopiase peripateesas hapax kai dis, and he made one or two efforts to walk.] FOR BE HAD NOT PROVED IT. The Septuagint omits this clause, and it does appear superfluous. I CANNOT GO WITH THESE (literally, in these); FOR I HAVE NOT PROVED THEM, х_ KIY_ (H3588) _ LO'_ (H3808) _ NICAAH_ (H5254)] - for I have not yet tried them; i:e., I hav

31-39 A shepherd lad, come the same morning from keeping sheep, had more courage than all the mighty men of Israel. Thus God often sends good words to his Israel, and does great things for them, by the weak and foolish things of the world. As he had answered his brother's passion with meekness, so David answered Saul's fear with faith. When David kept sheep, he proved himself very careful and tender of his flock. This reminds us of Christ, the good Shepherd, who not only ventured, but laid down his life for the sheep. Our experience ought to encourage us to trust in God, and be bold in the way of duty. He that has delivered, does and will continue to do so. David gained leave to fight the Philistine. Not being used to such armour as Saul put upon him, he was not satisfied to go in that manner; this was from the Lord, that it might more plainly appear he fought and conquered in faith, an...

Verse 39. _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 armour; armour 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 armour and it would be an encumbrance to me....

EXPOSITION 1 SAMUEL 17:20-9 HE CAME TO THE TRENCH. More probably the barricade, or outer circle of defence for their camp, made of their wagons (see on 1 Samuel 10:22). Strictly the word means a _wagon track, _but the primary meaning of the verb is _to be round. _This was the shape of camps in old time, and they were protected against surprise by having the wagons and baggage placed round them. The word occurs again in 1 Samuel 26:5, 1 Samuel 26:7. The latter part of the verse is literally, "And he came to the circle of the wagons, and to the host that was goi

AND DAVID GIRDED HIS, SWORD UPON HIS ARMOUR,.... Which Saul also perhaps furnished him with: AND HE ASSAYED TO GO; made an attempt, and had a mind to go thus accoutred; he at first showed an inclination to go in such an habit, but afterwards would not: FOR HE HAD NOT PROVED [IT]; as warriors were wont to do; so Achilles did i; he never made trial of such armour before, he had not been used to it, and knew not how to behave in it, or walk with it on him; it was an encumbrance to him: Abarbinel renders it, "but he had not proved [it]"; he would have gone with it but for that reason; the Targum is, "because there was no miracle in them;'' because if he had made use of this, there would have been no appearance of a miracle in getting the victory over the Philistine, as was by using only a sling and stones: AND DAVID SAID UNTO SAUL, I CANNOT GO WITH THESE, FOR I HAVE NOT PROVED [THEM]; h...

2. DAVID AND GOLIATH CHAPTER 17 _ 1. Goliath of Gath, the Philistine (1 Samuel 17:1)_ 2. David's errand and inquiry (1 Samuel 17:12) 3. David's offer to fight Goliath (1 Samuel 17:31) 4. David's victory (1 Samuel 17:41) 5. Saul's inquiry (1 Samuel 17:55) Modern critics are practically unanimous in regarding the story of this chapter as unhistorical. One of the leading arguments they advance is the statement found in...

1 SAMUEL 17:1 TO 1 SAMUEL 18:5. DAVID AND GOLIATH (E, with additione by R). In this section two narratives seem to have been interwoven. For the sake of convenience, we may denote one set of passages by (A), and the other by (B), thus: (A) 1 Samuel 17:1; 1 Samuel 17:32. (B) 1 Samuel 17:12; 1 Samuel 17:55 to 1 Samuel 18:5. The (B) passages, together w

ASSAYED. tried, or, was content to start: assay French _essayer._...

David volunteers to fight Goliath 32. _And David said unto Saul_ According to the Sept. text this stands in close and appropriate connexion with 1 Samuel 17:11: in the Heb. text David's offer certainly follows very abruptly on his introduction to Saul....

AND HE ASSAYED TO GO— _But David marched with difficulty, as not accustomed to these; therefore he said to Saul, I cannot go with these arms, for I am not accustomed to them: and David put them off._ Houb. REFLECTIONS.—1st, When David had succeeded as Saul's musician, and no relapse for some time made his stay no longer necessary, he returned to his father's house at Bethlehem; probably not relishing the dissolute manners of a court, and infinitely happier in retirement and communion with God, whilst he kept his father's flock. Here he seems to have been almost, if not altogether, forgotten, till a new incident calls him once more into the presence and family of the king. 1. The Philistines recover from their late defeat, and, encouraged, no doubt, by the accounts they had received of Saul's quarrel with Samuel, and his distracted state of mind, again invade Israel. But Saul, now restor...