1 Samuel 17:1-3. The Philistine invasion 1. _at Shochoh_ The scene of David's memorable combat is fixed with great exactness. The Philistine army marched up the wide valley of Elah to their rendezvous at SOCHOH, and pitched their camp in Ephes-dammim (cp. 1 Chronicles 11:13). The valley of Elah is a... [ Continue Reading ]
_by the valley of Elah_ Rather, " IN the valley of Elah.... [ Continue Reading ]
_on a mountain_, &c. Rather, UPON THE MOUNTAIN … UPON THE MOUNTAIN … AND THE RAVINE WAS BETWEEN THEM. The E. V. obliterates the features of the scene. The _ravine_(Heb. _gâî_) was the stream-bed at the bottom of the _valley_(Heb. _êmek_). The Israelites encamped on the eastern, the Philistines on th... [ Continue Reading ]
Goliath's Challenge 4. _a champion_ Lit. " THE (well-known) man of the interspaces," or "interval between two camps" (Gr. μεταίχμιον : see Eur. _Phoen_. 1361, in the account of the combat between Eteocles and Polynices), in which single combats took place: so E. V. rightly "champion." _Goliath of... [ Continue Reading ]
_a coat of mail_ " A CORSELET OF SCALES," made of overlapping plates of metal, and protecting the body almost down to the knees. Armour of this kind is represented in the Assyrian sculptures. See Layard's _Nineveh_II. 335. Cp. Virg. _Aen_. XI. 487, "Turnus … thoraca indutus aenis Horrebat _squamis_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_greaves_ Armour for the legs and feet: from Fr. _grève_, -the shin." "Greaves" from the Assyrian monuments are figured in Layard's _Nineveh_II. 337. The following passage from Philemon Holland's translation of Pliny's _Nat. Hist_. VII. 20, quoted in the _Bible Word-Book_, illustrates both the matte... [ Continue Reading ]
_the staff of his spear_, &c. THE SHAFT of Goliath's spear, short, but extraordinarily stout and heavy, is compared to the "beam" to which the web is fastened in a loom (cp. 2 Samuel 21:19). The iron spear head weighed nearly nineteen pounds avoirdupois. _one bearing a shield_ A large shield to pro... [ Continue Reading ]
_am not I a Philistine_ Rather, THE PHILISTINE; the representative of the nation. The Targum puts a long speech into Goliath's month. "l am Goliath the Philistine of Gath, who slew the two sons of Eli the priest, Hophni and Phinehas, and carried away captive the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_then will we be your servants_ Compare the agreement between the Romans and Albans about the combat of the Horatii and Curiatii, "that the nation whose citizens conquered in the combat should rule the other in peace" (Livy I. 24). Paris challenged Menelaus to decide the Trojan war by single combat... [ Continue Reading ]
_that Ephrathite_ "That" signifies "who has been mentioned before," and is inserted to connect the narrative with ch. 16 "Ephrathite" = "_of Ephrath_," the old name of Bethlehem, which is here called in full _Beth-lehem-judah_, i.e. Bethlehem in Judah. _the man went among men_, &c. By the introduct... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
_David went and returned from Saul_ From 1 Samuel 16:21-23 it might have been supposed that David was already permanently resident at Saul's court. This verse however states that he returned home when his services were not required at court, and at the time of the Philistine war was with his father... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Philistine_, &c. This remark resumes the narrative of _vv_, 4 11, with the additional information that Goliath's defiance was repeated for a considerable time, and so prepares the way for what follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
_parched corn_ Still a common article of food in Palestine. "In the season of harvest the grains of wheat, not yet dry and hard, are roasted in a pan or an iron plate, and constitute a very palatable article of food; this is eaten along with bread or instead of it." Robinson, _Bibl. Res_. II. 50. Cp... [ Continue Reading ]
_look how thy brethren fare_ Visit thy brethren and enquire after their welfare. Cp. Genesis 37:14. _take their pledge_ Bring home some token from them that they are well: the equivalent of a letter.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now Saul_, &c. Probably, "Now Saul and they … ARE," &c., i.e. it is Jesse's direction to David where to find his brothers, not a remark of the historian.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the trench_ The word may mean either, (_a_) the circular rampart round the camp; or (_b_) a barrier formed by the baggage waggons round the camp; or (_c_) the place where the baggage waggons of the army were kept. It occurs again in 1 Samuel 26:5; 1 Samuel 26:7. _shouted for the battle_ Raised the... [ Continue Reading ]
_For Israel … had put_ AND ISRAEL … PUT, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
_his carriage … the keeper of the carriage_ "Carriage" in the E. V. always signifies "that which is carried," "baggage." See Judges 18:21; Isaiah 10:28; Acts 21:15. The Heb. word is the same as that translated "stuff" in 1 Samuel 10:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
_will give him his daughter_ Compare Caleb's offer, Joshua 15:16. Saul procrastinated about fulfilling the promise, and imposed further conditions (1 Samuel 18:17 ff.). _make his father's house free_ Probably exemption from taxes and personal services to the king is meant. Cp. 1 Samuel 8:11 ff.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the living God_ Jehovah as the one "living and true God" is contrasted with the idols of the heathen "which have no breath in their mouths." Cp. Deuteronomy 5:26, and esp. 2 Kings 19:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the wilderness_ The Heb. word for "wilderness" does not necessarily mean a _barren_district; but a wide open tract used for pasture, as distinguished from arable land. Cp. Psalms 65:12; Joel 1:19-20; Joel 2:22. _naughtiness_ i.e. wickedness. David's advancement seems to have roused Eliab's jealous... [ Continue Reading ]
_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?... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
_thou art but a youth_ Compared with the giant David was but a youth, though he had already shown sufficient promise to be called "a man of war" by Saul's servant (1 Samuel 16:18).... [ Continue Reading ]
_and there came a lion_, &c. AND WHEN A LION CAME OR EVEN A BEAR (or, AND THAT TOO WITH A BEAR) … I WENT OUT AFTER HIM, &c. "In those early days, when the forests of Southern Palestine had not been cleared, it was the habit of the wild animals which usually frequented the heights of Lebanon or the t... [ Continue Reading ]
_by his bard_ Cp. the Homeric epithet of the lion, "well-bearded;" (λὶς ἠϋγένειος : _Il._XV. 275); and the Latin proverb "to pluck the beard of a dead lion" (barbam vellere mortuo leoni).... [ Continue Reading ]
_seeing he hath defied_, &c. "The trusting heart of God's servant could see no ground for fearing one who came forth to defy Jehovah." Wilberforce's _Heroes_, p. 242. The Sept. reads: "Shall I not go and smite him, and take away the reproach from Israel this day? for who is this uncircumcised, who... [ Continue Reading ]
_the paw_ Lit. "the hand," i.e. the power: the very same word as he uses in reference to the Philistine. _the Lord be with thee_ JEHOVAH SHALL BE WITH THEE: an assurance, not a prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]
_armed David with his armour_ CLOTHED DAVID WITH HIS DRESS: probably a special military dress adapted to be worn with armour. The sword was fastened to it (1 Samuel 17:39). Cp. 1 Samuel 18:4 (E. V. _garments_). _a coat of mail_ A CORSELET. The fact that he could wear Saul's armour at all shews that... [ Continue Reading ]
_assayed_ i.e. endeavoured. The word is derived from Old Fr. _asaier_, "to try, put to the proof," and this from Lat. _exigere_, "to weigh." _for he had not proved it_ He made the effort in ignorance, because he had never tried a suit of armour, and did not know what an encumbrance it would be to o... [ Continue Reading ]
_five smooth stones out of the brook_ "The sides and bed of this trench [see above on 1 Samuel 17:3] are strewn with rounded and water-worn pebbles, which would have been well fitted for David's sling." Conder, II. 161. _scrip_ A small bag, especially a traveller's wallet. Cp. Matthew 10:10; and Mi... [ Continue Reading ]
The victory of faith. The flight of the Philistines 41. This verse is not found in the Sept. (B).... [ Continue Reading ]
_he disdained him_ See Proverbs 16:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Am I a dog_ The Sept. (B) reads: "Am I a dog that thou comest to me with a staff and stones? And David said, Nay but worse than a dog.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will give thy flesh_, &c. Compare Hector's defiance of Ajax in Hom. _Il._XIII. 831: "The flesh Shall glut the dogs and carrion birds of Troy.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a shield_ A JAVELIN, as in 1 Samuel 17:6. Clearly an _offensive_weapon is meant. _in the name of the Lord of hosts_ Resting absolutely upon Him Who has revealed Himself as the Covenant-God of Israel, and the Almighty Ruler of heaven and earth, Whom thou defiest when thou defiest the armies of His... [ Continue Reading ]
_deliver thee into mine hand_ Lit. "shut thee up." Cp. Psalms 31:8. "David did not rashly and vainly boast beforehand of the victory, as Goliath had done; but being full of faith praised the divine omnipotence and prophesied of an assured victory." Patrick. _that there is a God in Israel_ THAT ISRA... [ Continue Reading ]
_the Lord saveth not with sword and spear_, &c. A lesson which is needed at all times, when men are tempted to fall down and worship brute force. It is a leading thought in Hannah's song (1 Samuel 2:1-10); cp. also 1 Samuel 14:6; Psalms 44:6-7; Hosea 1:7; Zechariah 4:6; 1 Corinthians 1:27-28.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ran toward the army_ THE BATTLE ARRAY of the Philistines. He showed his courage by not waiting for Goliath to approach. The Sept. however has simply: "And the Philistine arose and went to meet David.... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is not found in the Sept. (B).... [ Continue Reading ]
_their champion_ THEIR MIGHTY MAN: a different word from that in 1 Samuel 17:4_; 1 Samuel 17:23_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_until thou come to the valley_ Heb. _gai_, "the ravine," as in 1 Samuel 17:3. But the ravine which separated the armies could not tie the terminus of the Philistine flight, and it seems most probable that _gai_is a copyist's error for _Gath_, which is the reading of the Sept. (B). _Shaaraim_is ment... [ Continue Reading ]
_to Jerusalem_ There are no indications that Jerusalem had yet attained any importance either as a political or religious centre. The citadel still remained in the hands of the Jebusites, though the lower city had been captured (Joshua 15:63). It seems best therefore to suppose that David deposited... [ Continue Reading ]
Saul's inquiry concerning David's parentage 55. _he said unto Abner_ This section is not found in the Septuagint (B). On the difficulty of reconciling it with ch. 16 see Note VI. P. 241.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the stripling_ This word is the diminutive of _strip_, and like _slip, scion_, &c. means _a youth_, as it were a strip from the parent stem. The Heb. word, which is found again only in 1 Samuel 20:22, signifies "a full grown youth.... [ Continue Reading ]