1 Samuel 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._ CURSED DAVID BY HIS GODS, х_ BEE'ªLOHAAYW_ (H430)] - by his god (Dagon), as the word is used, Ezra 1:3. The Chaldee paraphrast, as quoted by Dean Stanley, represents this braggadocio as vaunting that he was the slayer of Hophni and Phinehas....

40-47 The security and presumption of fools destroy them. Nothing can excel the humility, faith, and piety which appear in David's words. He expressed his assured expectation of success; he gloried in his mean appearance and arms, that the victory might be ascribed to the Lord alone....

Verse 43. _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. A Hindoo sometimes in a fit of anger says to his enemy, _The goddess Kalee shall devour thee! May Doorga destroy_ _thee_! Homer's heroes have generally an altercation before they engage; and sometimes enter into geographical and genealogical discussions, and vaunt and scold most contemptibly....

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 THE PHILISTINE SAID UNTO DAVID, [AM] I A DOG?.... Truly David did not think him much better, because of his impudence, impurity, and barking blasphemy against God, and the armies of Israel; the Targum is, "am I a despised dog?'' verily he was by David: THAT THOU COMEST TO ME WITH STAVES? or with a staff, the plural for the singular, to beat him with it as a dog is beaten, and as David used to beat his dog with, while keeping his father's sheep, when the dog he had with him did not do his business as he should; he says nothing of his sling and stones, they being out of sight: AND THE PHILISTINE CURSED DAVID BY HIS GODS: by Dagon and others; he made an imprecation by them, and wished the greatest evils might befall him from them; he devoted him to them, and doubted not to make a sacrifice of him....

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

The victory of faith. The flight of the Philistines 41. This verse is not found in the Sept. (B)....

AM I A DOG— See Exodus 22:31. As nothing can be more insolent and impious than the words of Goliath, so nothing can afford us a fairer idea of firm faith and heroic confidence in God, than David's reply to him. We see the arm of God in this whole event. He it was who guided the hand; He it was who gave force to the arm of David: and who can resist the force of a stroke inflicted by this divine hand, though the hand of a David were not the instrument? _WITH STAVES_— Or, _with a staff._...

_David Slays Goliath._ 1 Samuel 17:38-54 38 And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword upon his armor, 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. 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. 41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield _went_ before him. 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....