1 Sam. 17 The armies of the Israelites and Philistines ready for battle: Goliath terrifieth the Israelites with his stature, armour, and challenge, 1 Sam. 17:1–11. David sent by his father to visit his brethren; is willing to encounter with him, 1 Sam.

To revenge their former great and shameful defeat, 1 Sam. 14:0.

On a mountain on the other side, where they had disposed and fortified their cams, that if the one should assault the other, the assailant should have the disadvantage, and be obliged to fight from a lower place.

A champion, Heb. a man between two, either because he used to come forth, and stand between the two armies; or because he moved that the business should be decided between two, whereof he would be one.

The common shekel contained only a fourth part of an ounce; and so 5000 shekels made 1250 ounces, which make exactly 78 pounds; which weight is not unsuitable to a man of such vast greatness and strength, as his height speaks him to be.

A weaver’s beam, on which the weavers fasten their web. It was like this for thickness; and for length, that he omits, as easy to be collected by proportion to the rest.

That the battle may be decided by us two alone. Such offers were frequent in those times. And possibly he thought the valiant Jonathan, who had assaulted a whole army, would never have refused this challenge.

Which may seem strange, considering the glorious promises, and their late experiences of Divine assistance. But the truth is, all men do so entirely depend upon God in all things, that when he withdraws his help, the most valiant and resolute persons cannot find their hearts nor hands, as daily…

The son of that Ephrathite, i.e. of the man of Ephratah, or Beth-lehem, Gen. 35:19. He had eight sons: see on 1 Sam. 16:10.

From Saul; either, 1. From Saul’s court; where having been entertained by Saul, to relieve him in his melancholy fits, he was permitted to go to his father’s house, to be sent for again upon occasion. Or, 2. From Saul’s camp, whither he used to come to visit his brethren; as appears from 1 Sam.

Parched corn; a food then much in use, which they used to mix with water, or milk, or oil, &c.

Unto the captain of their thousand; in whose power it was in a great measure, either to preserve them, or to expose them to utmost hazards. Take their pledge, i.e. bring me some token of their welfare from them.

i.e. In a posture and readiness to fight with them; as it is explained, 1 Sam. 17:20–21. Men are oft said in Scripture to do what they intend and are prepared to do, as hath been showed formerly by instances.

To the trench, i.e. to the camp or army which was there intrenched. Shouted for the battle; as the manner was, both to animate themselves, and to terrify their enemies.

His carriage; the provisions which he had brought to his brethren.

It is observable, that Saul in his great distress doth not encourage himself in God, nor seek his counsel or favour by prayers and sacrifices, but expects relief from men only. This was one effect and sign of the departure of God’s Spirit from him.

Why should you all be thus dismayed at him? he is but a man, and that of an accursed race, a stranger and enemy to God, and no way able to stand before them who have the living and almighty God for their strength and refuge.

Eliab’s anger was kindled, either because he thought him guilty of intolerable folly, and pride, and presumption, in pretending to such an attempt; or because he feared and concluded he would be certainly ruined in the enterprise; or rather, because he envied him the glory of so great an…

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 him?

For being secretly moved by God’s Spirit to undertake the combat, he speaks with divers persons about it, that so it might come to the king’s ear.

But a youth; either, 1. For age, to wit, comparatively to Goliath, being now not much above twenty years old, as is supposed. Or rather, 2. For military skill, as the words following explain it; as if he should say, Thou art but a novice, a raw and unexperienced soldier, and therefore unable to…

There came a lion, and a bear; not both together, but one after another, at several times.

Smote him, to wit, the lion, as appears by his beard; which having particularly mentioned, it was easily understood and believed, that he did the same to the bear; which therefore it was needless to express.

Slew both the lion and the bear: this he is probably thought to have done after he was anointed; when he was endowed with singular gifts of God’s Spirit; and, among others, with extraordinary courage of heart and strength of body.

He will deliver me; his good will is the same to me that it then was, and his power is not diminished. It is not strange that Saul consents to the combat, considering David’s pious and convincing discourse, grounded upon sensible experience; and withal, the dangerous condition of the Israelitish…

With his armour; either, 1. With Saul’s own armour which he used to wear in battle; which seems not to agree with the extraordinary height of Saul’s stature, 1 Sam. 10:23; nor is it like that Saul would disarm himself, when he was going forth to the battle, 1 Sam. 17:20–21. Or, 2.

I have not proved them; I have no skill nor experience in the management of this kind of arms.

His staff; his shepherd’s staff. These arms were in themselves contemptible, yet chosen by David; partly, because he had no skill to use other arms; partly, because he had inward assurance of the victory, even by these weapons; and partly, because such a conquest would be most honourable to God,…

Not having so much as the countenance of a martial person.

With staves, i.e. with a staff; the plural number for the singular; as Gen. 21:7, Gen. 46:7. The Philistine cursed David; he prayed that his god Dagon, and Ashtaroth, &c., would destroy him.

In the name of the Lord of hosts, i.e. by a commission from him, with confidence in him, and assurance of his help, and for the vindication of his honour. Whom thou hast defied, in defying that army and people whereof he is the Lord and Protector.

Heb. that God, the only true God, is for Israel; or on Israel’s side, and against you. Or, that Israel hath a God, a God indeed, one who is able to help them, and not such an impotent idol as you serve.

That the Lord saveth not with sword and spear, i.e. that he can save without these arms, and with the most contemptible weapons, such as mine seem to thee. The battle is the Lord’s, i.e. the events of war are wholly in his power, to give success to whom and by what means he pleaseth.

Either, 1. The stone pierced through his helmet; which such stones being slung would not seldom do; as even Diodorus Siculus relates. Or, 2. The stone might get in through one of those holes which are left in helmets, that he that wears it may see his way, and how to direct his blows. Or rather, 3.

David took his sword; hence it appears that David was not a little man, as many fancy; but a man of considerable bulk and strength, because he was able to manage a giant’s sword; which also he did, both here and below, 1 Sam. 21:9. Slew him. Quest.

Heb. their camps, i.e. their camp; but he speaks of it in the plural number, because of the great extent and various quarters of their camp.

Brought it to Jerusalem; either to terrify the Jebusites, who yet held the fort of Zion, 2 Sam. 5:7; or for some other reason not recorded, nor now known. In his tent, i.e. in the tent which was erected for him in the camp, upon this occasion.

Whose son is this youth? Quest. How could David be unknown to Saul, with whom he had lived? 1 Sam. 16:21. Answ. That might well be, for divers reasons, because David was not constantly with him, nor, as it seems, used by him, but upon extraordinary occasions, and desperate fits of melancholy; from…