_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._
The Philistines gathered together their armies - twenty-seven years
after their overthrow at Michmash. Having now... [ 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._
Saul and the men of Israel ... pitched by the valley of Elah х_
Bª`EEMEQ_ (H6010)] - a long, broad, depressed plain, lying between
two parallel ranges of... [ 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._
And there was a valley between them, х_ WªHAGAYª'_ (H1516), the
ravine]. 'A close examination of the locality would show, what,
indeed, a closer inspecti... [ 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._
There went out a champion - Hebrew, a man between two; i:e., a person
who, on the part of his own people, undertook to determine the
national quarrel by engaging in si... [ 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._
Helmet of brass. The Philistine helmet had the appearance of a row of
feathers set in a tiara, or metal band, to which were attached scales
of the same... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND HE HAD GREAVES OF BRASS UPON HIS LEGS, AND A TARGET OF BRASS
BETWEEN HIS SHOULDERS._
Greaves of brass - boots for the defence of the leg, rising to nearly
the knee, and without feet, terminating at the ankle, made of bull's
hide leather, wood, or in one plate of metal, but rounded to the shape... [ 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._
Staff of his spear - rather under five feet long, and capable of being
used as as javelin (1 Samuel 19:10). It had an iron head.
ONE BEARING A... [ 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._
No JFB commentary on these verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THE PHILISTINE SAID, I DEFY THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL THIS DAY; GIVE
ME A MAN, THAT WE MAY FIGHT TOGETHER._
I defy the armies of Israel ... give me a man, that we may fight
together. In cases of single combat, a warrior used to go out in front
of his party, and, advancing toward the opposite ranks,... [ Continue Reading ]
_WHEN SAUL AND ALL ISRAEL HEARD THOSE WORDS OF THE PHILISTINE, THEY
WERE DISMAYED, AND GREATLY AFRAID._
No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ 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._
Compare the notes at 1 Samuel 16:14. The Vatican manuscript of the
Septuagint omits the whole passage (1 Samuel 17:12); and Kenni... [ 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;_
Take now for thy brethren. In those times campaigns seldom lasted
above a few days. The soldiers were volunteers or militia, who were
supplied wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND CARRY THESE TEN CHEESES UNTO THE CAPTAIN OF THEIR THOUSAND, AND
LOOK HOW THY BRETHREN FARE, AND TAKE THEIR PLEDGE._
Carry these ten cheeses unto the captain - to enlist his kind
attention. х_ `ASERET_ (H6235) _ CHARITSEEY _ (H2757) _ HECHAALAAB_
(H2461), ten cuttings (slices of curdled milk -... [ Continue Reading ]
_NOW SAUL, AND THEY, AND ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL, WERE IN THE VALLEY OF
ELAH, FIGHTING WITH THE PHILISTINES._
No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ 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._
David ... left the sheep with a keeper, х_ SHOMEER_ (H8104)] - a
watchman, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR ISRAEL AND THE PHILISTINES HAD PUT THE BATTLE IN ARRAY, ARMY
AGAINST ARMY._
No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ 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._
David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage -
literally, left the vessels (stores) from upon him (with which he was
charged) in the hand of the ke... [ 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._
And as he talked ... Goliath ... spake according to the same words -
i:e., repeated the chall... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL, WHEN THEY SAW THE MAN, FLED FROM HIM, AND
WERE SORE AFRAID._
No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ 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._
The men of Israel said Hav... [ 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?_
No JFB commentary on these verses.... [ 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 THO... [ Continue Reading ]
_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
country so desperate that there is no hope of an Israelite being able,
with the help or God, to encoun... [ 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._
And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same
manner. His eager inquires were addressed to various persons, until,
in the directing providence of Go... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND WHEN THE WORDS WERE HEARD WHICH DAVID SPAKE, THEY REHEARSED THEM
BEFORE SAUL: AND HE SENT FOR HIM._ NO JFB COMMENTARY ON THESE VERSES.... [ 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._
Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to
fight with him. The king judged from appearances, which led him to
conclu... [ 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:_
David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep. The purport
of the reply was that, though a raw and undisciplined youth, he was
not untried in deeds of va... [ 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._
I went out after him, and smote him. The deeds relate to two
different rencontres; for those animals, like all beasts of prey,
prowl al... [ 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._
No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ 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._
The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, х_ MIYAD_
(H3027)] - f... [ 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._
Saul armed David with his armour. The ancient Hebrews were
particularly attentive to the personal safety of their warriors; and
hence, Saul equipped the youthful champion with... [ 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._
He assayed to go, х_ WAYO'EL_ (H422) _ LAALEKET_ (H1980)] - and he
tried (began) to go away, to wal... [ 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._
He took his staff in his hand, х_ MAQLOW_ (H4731)] - his shoot, rod,
staff (cf.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THE PHILISTINE CAME ON AND DREW NEAR UNTO DAVID; AND THE MAN THAT
BARE THE SHIELD WENT BEFORE HIM._
No JFB commentary on these verses.... [ 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._ CURSED
DAVID BY HIS GODS, х_ BEE'ªLOHAAYW_ (H430)] - by his god (Dagon), as
the word is used, Ezra 1:3. The Chaldee paraphrast, as quoted by Dean
Stanley, represents thi... [ 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._
The Philistine said ...... [ 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._
Said David to the Philistine. When two champions met, they generally
made each of th... [ 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._... [ 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._
Smote the Philistine in his forehead - at the opening for the eyes.
That was the only exposed part of... [ 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._
No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ 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._
Cut off his head - not as an evidence of the giant's death, for his
slaught... [ 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._
Shaaraim (see Joshua 15:36 ), even unto Gath, and u... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL RETURNED FROM CHASING AFTER THE
PHILISTINES, AND THEY SPOILED THEIR TENTS._
No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND DAVID TOOK THE HEAD OF THE PHILISTINE, AND BROUGHT IT TO
JERUSALEM; BUT HE PUT HIS ARMOUR IN HIS TENT._
David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem.
This must have been at some future period, because the Jebusites still
held the fort (2 Samuel 5:7).
BUT HE PUT HIS ARMO... [ 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._
Saul ... said unto Abner ... whose son is this youth? A young man is
more spoken of in many Eastern coun... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THE KING SAID, INQUIRE THOU WHOSE SON THE STRIPLING IS._
Enquire thou whose son the stripling is, х_ HAA`AALEM_ (H5958), a
youth of marriageable age; Septuagint, ho neaniskos]. The Vatican copy
of the Septuagint omits the four concluding verses of this chapter, as
well as the entire paragraph... [ Continue Reading ]