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John Trapp Complete Commentary

1 Samuel 17:29

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, Have I not business here? and am I not equally concerned as another, in this common cause? "This day is a day of trouble, of rebuke, and of blasphemy," as Isaiah 37:3 .

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See also 1 Samuel 17:29 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 Samuel 17:29. _IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?_] הלוא דבר הוא _halo dabar hu_. I believe the meaning is what several of the versions express: _I_ _have spoken but a word_. And should a man be made an of...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    IS THERE NOT A CAUSE? - i. e., is not Saul’s promise, and the insolence of Goliath, a sufficent cause for what I am about to do?...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    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)

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    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...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    David's errand to the camp 12 31. This section is not found in the Vatican MS. of the Sept. On the difficulties it presents, and the question of its genuineness see Note VI. p. 241....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Is there not a cause_ A sufficient cause for his coming, namely, his father's command. But probably the words mean, "Is it not a [mere] word?" i.e. "May I not ask a harmless question?...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 301 DAVID’S VINDICATION OF HIMSELF 1 Samuel 17:29. _And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?_ IT is impossible for any man so to conduct himself in this world, as to _av...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    WHAT HAVE I NOW DONE? IS THERE NOT A CAUSE— _What have I done, I have only just spoken a word._ Houbigant....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _Saul Sends David to Meet Goliath._ 1 Samuel 17:28-37 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 h...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND DAVID SAID, WHAT HAVE I NOW DONE? IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?_ David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? - i:e., Is there not force and reason in what I have said? Is the state of our co...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    17:29 me? (b-14) Or, 'Is there not a cause?'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    DAVID SLAYS GOLIATH 1 Samuel 17:1 to 1 Samuel 18:5 is evidently taken from a different document from 1 Samuel 16:14. In 1 Samuel 16:

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISRAEL’S FIRST KING 1 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 17 DAVID AND GOLIATH V1 The *Philistines gathered their army ready for a battle. They met at Sucoh in the land of *Judah. They camped in the...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    IS THERE NOT A CAUSE? — David answers his jealous and over-bearing elder brother with all gentleness and forbearance, but he does not cease to make his inquiries of the soldiers respecting the giant,...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד מֶ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתִי עָ֑תָּה ה

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XXIV. _ DAVID'S CONFLICT WITH GOLIATH_ 1 Samuel 17:1. THESE irrepressible Philistines were never long recovering from their disasters. The victory of Jonathan had been impaired by the exhaus...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    DAVID UNAWED BY THE GIANT 1 Samuel 17:17 At this juncture David arrived in the camp, sent by Jesse to inquire after the welfare of his three elder sons, who had followed Saul to the war. He also brou...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The story contained in this chapter is one of the most familiar of the Old Testament narratives. It places Saul and David in sharp contrast as each stands out in clear relief. In the presence of the e...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And David said, What have I now done? [Is there] not a (i) cause? (i) For his father's sending was a just occasion, and also he felt himself inwardly moved by God's Spirit....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Sepak. Literally, "is it not a word" (Haydock) of no farther consequences? May I not speak my sentiments? (Calmet) as all others do. (Menochius) --- Is not the thing enough to excite the indignation e...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (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...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Now that we have heard the prophet's judgment of king Saul, there follows next the choice of Jehovah. The chapter gives us in a very striking manner the manifest sentence of death on all the thoughts...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The Philistines, that type of the enemy's power, present themselves again with their champion at their head, against whom no one dares to fight. David had returned home, and was living in the simplici...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND DAVID SAID, 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...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _David said, Is there not a cause?_ Of my thus speaking? Is this giant invincible? Is our God unable to oppose him, and subdue him? However, David is not deterred from his undertaking by the hard word...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 The armies of the Israelites, and Philistines beeing readie to battell, 4 Goliath commeth proudly forth, to chalenge a combate. 12 Dauid sent by his father to visit his brethren, taketh the chalen...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And David said, in a quiet, but very decided denial of the wrong charged to him, WHAT HAVE I NOW DONE? IS THERE NOT A CAUSE? He surely had a right to ask a simple question....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    DAVID SENT TO THE CAMP...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    The time comes when both Saul and David are to be publicly proven as regards their fitness to rule over Israel. The Philistines, though previously defeated through Jonathan's faith, return to challeng...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    12-30 Jesse little thought of sending his son to the army at that critical juncture; but the wise God orders actions and affairs, so as to serve his designs. In times of general formality and lukewar...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Either, 1. Of my coming; my father sent me on an errand. Or rather, 2. Of my thus speaking: is there not reason in what I say? Is this giant invincible? is our God unable to oppose him, and subdue h...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Samuel 17:29 David H1732 said H559 (H8799) done H6213 (H8804) cause H1697 Proverbs 15:

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    DAVID ARRIVES AT THE BATTLEFIELD AND IS APPALLED THAT ‘THIS UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE' DARES TO DEFY THE ARMIES OF THE LIVING GOD (1 SAMUEL 17:20). Central to the last passage was that Goliath defied ‘...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    1 Samuel 17 Notice: I. David was on God's side. This was a religious war. Goliath fought for Dagon and cursed David by his gods. David fought for Jehovah. Let every child know for certain that he is...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Defiance of Israel by Goliath and David's victory over him. CHARACTERS: God, David, Saul, Goliath, Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah. CONCLUSION: The battle is God's battle. If our confidence is pur...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Samuel 17:4. _There went out a champion, Goliath of Gath;_ a military character well known to the Hebrews. More than thirty years before he had scattered the army of Israel, slain the sons of Eli, a...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Is there not a cause._ THE GIANT SIN OF ENGLAND Surely there was a cause. David’s was not intemperate zeal, nor his anger causeless or unprovoked. It was time even for the holy shepherd to play the...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 17:1 David has been chosen by the Lord, anointed as king privately, and has been serving in Saul’s court. Now, he defeats Goliath and, as a result, becomes publicly known. Da...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITITCAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES— 1 Samuel 17:12. “The full account of the person and family of David tells what we already know from chap. 16, and yet reads as if nothing had been said of his origin. T...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    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 _wag...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn in our Bibles to the seventeenth chapter of first Samuel? In the seventeenth chapter of first Samuel, we read where, The Philistines had gathered their armies together [against the child...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 2:15; 1 Peter 3:9; Acts 11:2; Proverbs 15:1...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    A cause — Of my thus speaking? Is this giant invincible? Is our God unable to oppose him, and subdue him? However David is not deterred from his undertaking, by the hard words of Eliab. They that unde...

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