INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 17 This chapter relates how the armies of Israel, and of the Philistines, prepared for battle, and where, 1 Samuel 17:1, describes a champion of the Philistines, who defied the armies of Israel, 1 Samuel 17:4, and while he was so doing, it informs us that David came int... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE PHILISTINES GATHERED TOGETHER THEIR ARMIES TO BATTLE,.... Josephus s says this was not long after the things related in the preceding chapter were transacted; and very probably they had heard of the melancholy and distraction of Saul, and thought it a proper opportunity of avenging themselve... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAUL AND THE MEN OF ISRAEL WERE GATHERED TOGETHER,.... He being cured, at least being better of his disorder, through the music of David, and alarmed and aroused by the invasion of the Philistines, which might serve to dissipate any remains of it, or prevent its return, got together his forces:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PHILISTINES STOOD ON A MOUNTAIN ON THE ONE SIDE, AND ISRAEL STOOD ON A MOUNTAIN ON THE OTHER SIDE, e.] Before the Israelites are said to encamp in or by the valley but here they are said to take the higher ground, and face the Philistines, who were on a mountain or hill on the other side ove... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WENT OUT A CHAMPION OUT OF THE CAMP OF THE PHILISTINES,.... Or a "middle person", or a man "between two" y; meaning either one that went and stood between the two armies of Israel and the Philistines, as the Jewish writers generally interpret it: or a "dueller" z, as others, with which our... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HAD AN HELMET OF BRASS UPON HIS HEAD,.... This was a piece of armour, which covered the head in the day of battle; these were usually made of the skins of beasts, of leather, and which were covered with plates of iron, or brass; and sometimes made of all iron, or of brass g; as this seems to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HAD GREAVES OF BRASS UPON HIS LEGS,.... Which were a sort of boots, or leg harnesses, which covered the thighs and legs down to the heels; such as Iolaus k and the Grecians usually wore, as described by Homer; which are supposed to be double the weight of the helmet, reckoned at fifteen pound... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE STAFF OF HIS SPEAR WAS LIKE A WEAVER'S BEAM,.... The wooden part of it, held in the hand; this for thickness was like the beam in the weaver's loom, about which the warp, or else the web, is rolled; and it is conjectured that, in proportion to the stature of Goliath, his spear must be twenty... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE STOOD AND CRIED UNTO THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL,.... He stood in the valley between the two armies, and cried with a loud voice that he might be heard; and as he was of such a monstrous stature, no doubt his voice was very strong and sonorous; and as the battalions of Israel designed by armies were... [ Continue Reading ]
IF HE BE ABLE TO FIGHT WITH ME, AND TO KILL ME, THEN WILL WE BE YOUR SERVANTS,.... For which it does not appear he had any commission or authority to say; nor did the Philistines think themselves obliged to abide by what he said, since, when he was slain, they did not yield themselves servants to th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PHILISTINE SAID, I DEFY THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL THIS DAY,.... Or "reproach" s them; that is, should they not accept his challenge, and send down a man to fight with them, he should then upbraid them with cowardice; and now he disdained them, as if there was not a man among them that dared to en... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN SAUL AND ALL ISRAEL HEARD THESE WORDS OF THE PHILISTINE,.... For they were delivered with such a tone and strength of voice, as to be heard very generally, at least by many, and which soon was reported through the whole army: THEY WERE DISMAYED, AND GREATLY AFRAID; which may seem strange, when... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW DAVID WAS THE SON OF THAT EPHRATHITE OF BETHLEHEMJUDAH, whose name was Jesse,.... Before made mention of, 1 Chronicles 16:1 AND HE HAD EIGHT SONS; seven only are mentioned, 1 Chronicles 2:13 one of them being, as is thought by some, a grandson, perhaps Jonadab the son of Shammah; or was a son b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE THREE ELDEST SONS OF JESSE WENT AND FOLLOWED SAUL TO THE BATTLE,.... Either of their own accord, or rather at their father's motion, or however with his knowledge and consent, who because he could not go himself, willed them to go; and these were forward, and some of the foremost that follow... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID WAS THE YOUNGEST,.... For the sake of whom this account is given of Jesse and his family, and who after this makes a considerable figure in the camp and court of Saul: AND THE THREE ELDEST FOLLOWED SAUL; as before related, and which is repeated, that it might be observed that they only of... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT DAVID WENT, AND RETURNED FROM SAUL,.... Or "from above Saul"; Josephus u says, the physicians of Saul advised to get a man to stand υπερ κεφαλνς, "over his head", and sing psalms and hymns to him; and Saul being recovered from his frenzy and melancholy, by means of David's music, he was dismisse... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PHILISTINE DREW NEAR MORNING AND EVENING,.... Twice a day he came near the camp, within the hearing of it. The Jews w say, he took those seasons on purpose to disturb them in reading their "Shema", or "hear, O Israel", c. and saying their prayers morning and evening: AND PRESENTED HIMSELF F... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESSE SAID UNTO DAVID HIS SON,.... His youngest son, that was at home with him keeping sheep; he had three more at home, and who were elder than David, and yet he is directed by the providence of God to pick and send him on the following errand, there being work for him to do Jesse knew nothing... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CARRY THESE TEN CHEESES UNTO THE CAPTAIN OF THEIR THOUSAND,.... Their chiliarch or colonel, who had the command of 1000 men, and under whom Jesse's sons fought; Jarchi thinks this was Jonathan, who had 1000 men with him at Gibeah, and so now, 1 Samuel 13:2, these cheeses were sent by Jesse to th... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW SAUL, AND THEY,.... That is, the sons of Jesse, and brethren of David: AND ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL; the soldiers in the army: WERE IN THE VALLEY ELAH; or "by" it, near unto it; for they were set in array on the mountain on the side of it: FIGHTING WITH THE PHILISTINES; not actually engaged in b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID ROSE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING,.... Being very ready and eager to obey his father's orders, and visit his brethren: AND LEFT THE SHEEP WITH A KEEPER; which showed his care and faithfulness in the discharge of his office; he was not unmindful of his father's sheep, any more than of his comma... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ISRAEL AND ALL THE PHILISTINES HAD PUT THE BATTLE IN ARRAY,.... Both sides prepared for it, and drew up in line of battle: ARMY AGAINST ARMY; rank against rank, battalion against battalion, the right wing of the one against the left of the other, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID LEFT HIS CARRIAGE IN THE HAND THE KEEPER OF THE CARRIAGE,.... That is, he left load of provisions he brought with him in the hand of the keeper of the bag and baggage of the army, their clothes, and such like things; not having an opportunity to deliver them to his brethren, who were just... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS HE TALKED WITH THEM,.... About their health, and the errand he came upon, and the message of his father to them, and how it was with him, who sent them his best wishes: BEHOLD, THERE CAME UP THE CHAMPION, THE PHILISTINE OF GATH, GOLIATH BY NAME: of whom see 1 Samuel 17:4; he came out of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL, WHEN THEY SAW THE MAN,.... Even as it should seem before they heard him; knowing who he was, and what he was about to say, having seen and heard him forty days running: FLED FROM HIM, AND WERE SORE AFRAID; it is pretty much a whole army should be afraid of one man, and fl... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE MEN OF ISRAEL SAID,.... To one another: HAVE YE SEEN THIS MAN THAT IS COME UP? taken notice of him, and observed him? SURELY TO DEFY ISRAEL IS HE COME UP; to challenge them to fight with him, and upbraid them with cowardice that they did not: AND IT SHALL BE [THAT] THE MAN WHO KILLETH HIM... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID SPAKE TO THE MEN THAT STOOD BY HIM,.... Who were next to him, looking upon the Philistine, and hearing what he said, SAYING, WHAT SHALL BE DONE TO THE MAN THAT KILLETH THIS PHILISTINE, AND TAKETH AWAY THE REPROACH FROM ISRAEL? which he asked not for the sake of the reward, but to observe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEOPLE ANSWERED HIM AFTER THIS MANNER,.... Told him what was proposed to be done in honour to the man that should attempt to kill him, and succeed: SAYING, SO SHALL IT BE DONE TO THE MAN THAT KILLETH HIM; as before related, that he should be enriched, marry the king's daughter, and his fami... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELIAB HIS ELDEST BROTHER HEARD WHEN HE SPAKE UNTO THE MEN,.... Heard the questions he put to them, by which he perceived his inclination: AND ELIAB'S ANGER WAS KINDLED AGAINST DAVID; because what he had said carried in it a tacit reproach of him, and others, that they had not the courage, and d... [ Continue Reading ]
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 of God, and the honour of the people of Israel: [IS THERE] NOT A CAUSE? either for his coming to t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE TURNED FROM HIM TOWARDS ANOTHER,.... From his brother Eliab, to another person right against him, and directed his discourse to him: AND SPAKE AFTER THE SAME MANNER: as in 1 Samuel 17:26; inquiring what encouragement would he given to a man that should attempt to kill the Philistine, and exp... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE WORDS WERE HEARD WHICH DAVID SPAKE,.... To one, and to another, and these reported to other persons, and so they went from one to another through many hands: THEY REHEARSED [THEM] BEFORE SAUL; coming to the ears of some of his courtiers and counsellors, or officers about him, they told... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID SAID TO SAUL, LET NO MAN'S HEART FAIL BECAUSE OF HIM,.... The Philistine, though so gigantic, mighty, and blustering: this he said within himself, so Kimchi; as David perceived the hearts of most, if not all, did, since none dared to go out and fight him, but on the contrary fled from him:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAUL SAID TO DAVID, THOU ART NOT ABLE TO GO AGAINST THIS PHILISTINE TO FIGHT WITH HIM,.... Had neither strength of body, nor skill in military affairs, to encounter with a man of his stature, and warlike genius and practice: FOR THOU [ART BUT] A YOUTH; some say about fourteen or sixteen years o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID SAID UNTO SAUL,.... In answer to his objection of inability to encounter with one so superior to him; and this answer is founded on experience and facts, and shows that he was not so weak and inexpert as Saul took him to be: THY SERVANT KEPT HIS FATHER'S SHEEP; which he was not ashamed to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WENT OUT AFTER HIM,.... Whether a lion or a bear; but mention after being made of his beard, a lion rather is meant: AND SMOTE HIM; with his fist, or rather with his shepherd's staff: AND DELIVERED [IT] OUT OF HIS MOUTH; snatched it out from thence, or obliged him to drop it, by beating him:... [ Continue Reading ]
THY SERVANT SLEW BOTH THE LION AND THE BEAR,.... At different times, and several of them at one time or another; whenever any of them came into the flock, he used to lay hold on them and kill them, with all the ease imaginable. The Jews suppose this phrase denotes many of them h. AND THIS UNCIRCUMC... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID SAID MOREOVER,.... For the further confirmation of it, and as more strongly expressing his faith of it; not as owing to any natural strength or skill of his, but to the power of God, of whose assistance he made no question: THE LORD THAT DELIVERED ME OUT OF THE PAW OF THE LION, AND OUT OF... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAUL ARMED DAVID WITH HIS ARMOUR,.... Not with what he wore himself; for it cannot be thought he would strip himself of his armour in the field of battle, and when just going to it; and besides what suited the one would not be fit for the other, their bulk and stature being different i but this... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE TOOK HIS STAFF IN HIS HAND,.... His shepherd's staff, which he used in keeping his father's sheep, and chose rather to appear in the habit of a shepherd than of a soldier: AND CHOSE HIM FIVE SMOOTH STONES OUT OF THE BROOK; which ran in the valley, which became smooth by lying in the water ru... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PHILISTINE CAME ON, AND DREW NEAR UNTO DAVID,.... By slow paces, because of the weight of his armour, and bulk of his body, yet with a haughty air, and a proud gait: AND THE MAN THAT BARE THE SHIELD [WENT] BEFORE HIM; 1 Samuel 17:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE PHILISTINE LOOKED ABOUT, AND SAW DAVID, HE DISDAINED HIM,.... He looked about for his antagonist, to take a view of him, what sort of a man he was, expecting to see one much like himself; but observing a puny young man, he despised him in his heart, and perhaps looked upon it as an affr... [ Continue Reading ]
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 w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PHILISTINE SAID TO DAVID, COME TO ME,.... He seems to have stood still, disdaining: to take another step towards such a pitiful combatant, and therefore bids him come up to him, and he would soon dispatch him; unless he said this, because David was light and nimble, and he heavy and unwieldy... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID DAVID TO THE PHILISTINE,.... In answer to the contempt he held him in, and to the threatening words he gave him: THOU COMEST TO ME WITH A SWORD, AND WITH A SPEAR, AND WITH A SHIELD; the word for "shield" is not the same with that so rendered, 1 Samuel 17:41; which his armourbearer carried... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS DAY WILL THE LORD DELIVER THEE INTO MINE HANDS,.... Of which he was assured by divine inspiration, by the impulse of the Spirit of God upon him; or otherwise he could not have expressed himself with such certainty, and have given the particulars of what he should do, as in the following clauses... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THIS ASSEMBLY SHALL KNOW,.... The congregation of Israel, and church of the living God, great part of which were now gathered together, and were spectators of this wonderful event: THAT THE LORD SAVETH NOT WITH SWORD AND SPEAR; that is, by outward means and instruments, by arms and armed me... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN THE PHILISTINE AROSE,.... Or prepared for the encounter, and was in all probability in great wrath and fury at hearing what David said, and which hastened him to it: AND CAME AND DREW NIGH TO MEET DAVID; as fast as his unwieldy body, and heavy load of armour on him, would... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID PUT HIS HAND IN HIS BAG,.... The shepherd's scrip, in which he had put the five stones he took out of the brook: AND TOOK THENCE A STONE; and put it into his sling he had in his hand: AND SLANG [IT], AND SMOTE THE PHILISTINE IN HIS FOREHEAD; it is made a difficulty of how he should smite... [ Continue Reading ]
SO DAVID PREVAILED OVER THE PHILISTINE WITH A SLING AND WITH A STONE,.... And with them only, without any other warlike weapon: AND SMOTE THE PHILISTINE, AND SLEW HIM; smote him with the stone, which brought him to the ground, and then slew him with his own sword, as afterwards related: BUT [THERE... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE DAVID RAN AND STOOD UPON THE PHILISTINE,.... Upon his carcass, as it lay prostrate on the ground, and trampled on him, in just contempt of him who had defied, reproached, and despised the armies of Israel: AND TOOK HIS SWORD, AND DREW IT OUT OF THE SHEATH THEREOF; which no doubt was a ver... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE MEN OF ISRAEL AND OF JUDAH AROSE,.... From their encampment and entrenchment, or they prepared for a pursuit: AND SHOUTED, AND PURSUED THE PHILISTINES; shouted when they first set out, and continued shouting as they pursued, to animate their own troops, and terrify the enemy: UNTIL THOU CO... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL RETURNED FROM CHASING AFTER THE PHILISTINES,.... The remainder that escaped having got into their fortified cities: AND THEY SPOILED THEIR TENTS; which they left in their camp, all their armour, goods, money, and provisions, they found there, they seized upon as their pre... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID TOOK THE HEAD OF THE PHILISTINE, AND BROUGHT IT TO JERUSALEM,.... After he had been introduced with it to Saul, and when he had passed through various cities in Israel, carrying the head in triumph; where he was congratulated by the women, who came out singing and dancing, and speaking hig... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN SAUL SAW DAVID GO FORTH AGAINST THE PHILISTINE,.... Set out to meet him, and engage with him, as he might from the side of the mountain, where he was encamped: HE SAID UNTO ABNER, THE CAPTAIN OF THE HOST; his own cousin, whom he had raised to this high post in the army, 1 Samuel 14:50; AB... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING SAID, INQUIRE THOU WHOSE SON THE STRIPLING [IS]. Still the question is the same, being very desirous of knowing of what family he was, for the reason before given, 1 Samuel 17:55.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS DAVID RETURNED FROM THE SLAUGHTER OF THE PHILISTINE,.... Carrying his head in triumph, and no doubt accompanied with the acclamations of the people: ABNER TOOK HIM AND BROUGHT HIM BEFORE SAUL, WITH THE HEAD OF THE PHILISTINE IN HIS HAND; to give an answer to the king's question concerning hi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAUL SAID UNTO HIM, WHOSE SON [ART] THOU, [THOU] YOUNG MAN?.... Still the question was such as did not necessarily imply ignorance of his person, but of his family: AND DAVID ANSWERED, I [AM] THE SON OF THY SERVANT JESSE THE BETHLEHEMITE; which doubtless refreshed the memory of Saul, and he qui... [ Continue Reading ]