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Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

1 Samuel 17

1 Samuel 17:1

1 SAMUEL CHAPTER 17 The armies of the Israelites and Philistines ready for battle: Goliath terrifieth the Israelites with his stature, armour, and challenge, 1 SAMUEL 17:1. David sent by his father to visit his brethren; is willing to encounter with him, 1 SAMUEL 17:12; for which Eliab chideth him:... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:3

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.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:4

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. WHOSE HEIGHT WAS SIX CUBITS AND A SPAN; which is not strange, for besides the giants mentioned i... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:5

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.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:7

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. And though the whole weight of Goliath's armour may seem prodigious, yet it is not so much by far as one Athanatus did manage; of... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:8

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. But God so ordered the matter, that none should accept it, because he would reserve this ho... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:11

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 expe... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:12

THE SON OF THAT EPHRATHITE, i.e. of _the man of Ephratah_, or _Beth-lehem_, GENESIS 35:19. HE HAD EIGHT SONS: see on 1 SAMUEL 16:10.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:15

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 SAMUEL... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:18

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.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:19

i.e. In a posture and readiness to fight with them; as it is explained, 1 SAMUEL 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.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:20

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.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:25

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. MAKE HIS FATHER'S HOUSE FREE; free from all those t... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:26

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.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:28

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 undertaking... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:29

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?... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:30

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.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:33

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 fi... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:35

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.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:36

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.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:37

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 aff... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:38

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 SAMUEL 10:23; nor is it like that Saul would disarm himself, when he was going forth to the battle, 1 SAMUEL 17:20,21. Or, 2. With armour... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:40

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, and... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:43

WITH STAVES, i.e. with a staff; the plural number for the singular; as GENESIS 21:7, GENESIS 46:7. THE PHILISTINE CURSED DAVID; he prayed that his god Dagon, and Ashtaroth, &c., would destroy him.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:45

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.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:46

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.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:47

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. HE WILL GIVE YO... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:49

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,... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:51

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 SAMUEL 21:9. SLEW HIM. QUEST. How could this be, when he slew him before with t... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:53

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.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:54

BROUGHT IT TO JERUSALEM; either to terrify the Jebusites, who yet held the fort of Zion, 2 SAMUEL 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. There it was kept for the present, though afterwards i... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 17:55

WHOSE SON IS THIS YOUTH? QUEST. How could David be unknown to Saul, with whom he had lived? 1 SAMUEL 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... [ Continue Reading ]

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