_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._ Ver. 1. _Now the Philistines gathered together._] They hearing of the breach between Saul and Samuel, whose piet... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _By the valley of Elah._] So called from the store of oaks that grew there. _Ad convallem querceti._ _a_ a Tremel.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 3. _And the Philistines stood on a mountain, &c._] Thus the two armies stood long facing one another; expecting who should begin, and waiting for ad... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 4. _And there went out a champion._] _a_ _Intermedius, sequester, duellio._ The Vulgate calleth him a bastard: and it is held by some that those old giants were t... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 5. And he had an helmet of brass (or steel) upon his head.] Which yet could not save his head. No armour is of proof against the Almighty. If... [ Continue Reading ]
And [he had] greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. Ver. 6. And he had greaves (or leg-harness) of brass.] So that he was substantially armed _cap-a-pie,_ _head to foot_ as they say, and might seem to be a walking armory.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 7. _And one bearing a shield._] For state's sake. He came into the field like thunder and lightning, but went out like a snuff.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 8. _Am not I a Philistine?_] _Palesthinas ille; _ that famous Philis... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 9. If he be able, … then will we be your servants.] Thus of old the Romans and Albans put the trial of the common cause upon t... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. Ver. 10. _I defy the armies of Israel._] This man's insolence and self-confidence do plainly prove his heart to be nothing else but a piece of proud flesh. But God will shortly cut off those ar... [ Continue Reading ]
When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid. Ver. 11. _They were dismayed, and greatly afraid._] Even valiant Jonathan also, who both knew the promises, and had lately found the performance in that glorious conquest he had over these Philisti... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 12. _And he had eight sons._] See on 1 Samuel 16:10 . _ And the man went among men for an old man._] Not fit to bear ar... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 13. _And the three eldest sons of Jesse went._] These were sent by their old father,... [ Continue Reading ]
And David [was] the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. Ver. 14. _And David was the youngest._] Yet second to none of them in valour; which yet he is not too forward to put forth, till fairly called to it. One would have thought that Jesse, who knew of David's anointing, should have sent... [ Continue Reading ]
But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. Ver. 15. _But David went and returned from Saul._] Who had given him a dismiss, either as having now no further use of him, or as tendering the comfort of his aged father, to whom he had sent for him at his need, and who... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. Ver. 16. _And presented himself forty days._] Braving and daring any one of them to a duel, which none durst adventure on till David came, whose victory is hereby made the more famous.... [ Continue Reading ]
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; Ver. 17. _And run to the camp._] This some think David did often, interpreting that going and returning from Saul, 1Sa 17:15 of his going to and f... [ Continue Reading ]
And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of [their] thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. Ver. 18. _Look how thy brethren fare._] Great is a parent's care. “ _Omnis in Ascanio churi stat cura parentis._ ” _And take their pledge._] Redeem what they have pawned, and b... [ Continue Reading ]
Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, [were] in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. Ver. 19. _Fighting,_] _i.e., _ Skirmishing, and ready to join battle.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 20. _And left the sheep with a keeper._] A commendable care: neither was th... [ Continue Reading ]
For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. Ver. 21. _For Israel and the Philistines._] See on 1 Samuel 17:3 .... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 22. _And David left his carriage._] Bags and such like things, wherein he brought their supplies.... [ Continue Reading ]
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]. Ver. 23. _The Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name._] Which signifieth Captivity; a terrible n... [ Continue Reading ]
_And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid._ Ver. 24. _Fled from him._] As from a bugbear. This was their want of faith in God's power and promises; the property whereof is, to quell and kill distrustful fears.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 25. _And it shall be,... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 26. _What shall be done to the man?_] This h... [ Continue Reading ]
And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him. Ver. 27. _And the people._] Ever better at talking than at fighting, as Philip said of the Athenians.... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
And David said, What have I now done? [Is there] not a cause? Ver. 29. _What have I now done?_] _sc., _ Worthy of so great blame: thus he answereth his elder brother with "meekness of wisdom," and giving place to wrath, whilst he defendeth his own wronged innocency. _ Is there not a cause?_] Or, H... [ Continue Reading ]
And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner. Ver. 30. _And he turned from him toward another._] When a man is provoked to wrath, and beginneth to kindle, it is wisdom to divert to some other company, place, and bu... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed [them] before Saul: and he sent for him. Ver. 31. _They rehearsed them before Saul._] This was according to David's desire: and for this it was that he so busied himself in all companies, by making those inquiries: for his fingers even... [ Continue Reading ]
And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. Ver. 32. Let no man's heart fail, &c.] This David spake with so much courage and confidence, as if he had already set his feet on the neck of that heathenish miscreant.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 33. _For thou art but a youth._] And therefore _impar congressus Achilli,_ no fit match for this monster.... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 34. _There came a lion, and a bear._] Individually, and at various times.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 35. _And delivered it out of his mouth._] So did Christ his darling, the Church, out of the mouth of the lion of hell. If the de... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 36. _This uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them._] Death sweepeth, and hell swalloweth all such as are out of the covenant: and... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 37. _The Lord that delivered me, &c._] He who hath found God present in on... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 38. _And Saul armed David with his armour._] Not the same that himself used to wear, for there would have been no proportionableness; but with armour taken out of Saul's ar... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 39. _I cannot go with these._] If Saul's coat be never so rich, and his armour never so stro... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 40. _And he took his staff in his hand._] His _pedum pastorale sive agolum:... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield [went] before him. Ver. 41. _And the Philistine came on and drew near._] When he saw David, that τυτθος ανηρ, presuming to make his approach: he considered not that “ _A cane non magno saepe tenetur aper._ ”... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 42. _For hewas but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance._] No son of Mars, _a_ hardened and habituated in feats of chivalry, but some effeminate Adoni... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 43. _Am I a dog?_] _a_ No, not so good as a dog, said David, very stoutly and sternly, if Josephus may be believed; and this so maddened the Philistine, that he cu... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 44. _I will give thy flesh._] This was to triumph before the victory, to sell the hide before he had taken the beast. The Goliath of Rome hath dealt no better by t... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 45. _In the name of the Lord of hosts,_] _i.e., _ For his sake and service, in co... [ Continue Reading ]
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. V... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 47. _That the Lord sayeth not with sword and spear._] Is not tied to means, but crosseth oft the likeliest projects. See Zechariah 4:6. _See Trap... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 48. _David hasted._] That he might sling at Goliath before he came too near him, saith Lyra, because a distance is necessary in slinging of a... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 49. _And smote the Philistine in his forehead._] That seat of pride and impudency; there being no... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 50. _So David prevailed over the Philistine._] By the help of his God, and by the force of his faith. Heb 11:32 “ _Traiectamque cavo ter... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 51. _And cut off his head therewith._] _Propriis pennis configimur,_ sai... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 52. _And the wounded of the Philistines fell down._... [ Continue Reading ]
And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. Ver. 53. _They spoiled their tents._] They plundered not till they had completed their victory.... [ Continue Reading ]
And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent. Ver. 54. _And brought it to Jerusalem._] Setting it up for a trophy of his victory, and for a terror to those sturdy Jebusites there, which still held the fort. _ But he put his armour in his... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 55. _Whose son is this?_] Saul being of a weak brain by reason of his frantic fits, and withal fu... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling [is]. Ver. 56. _Enquire thou._] It was fit that such a stripling should be noted and noticed, as durst grapple with such a daring giant.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 57. _With the head of the Philistine in his hand._] This, among other things, knit Jonathan's: heart to him; the Philistine's head being a far be... [ Continue Reading ]