Gathered, &c. — Probably they had heard, that Samuel had forsaken
Saul, and that Saul himself was unfit for business. The enemies of the
church are watchful to take all advantages, and they never have
greater advantage, than when her protectors have provoked God's Spirit
and prophets to leave them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Six cubits — At least, nine feet, nine inches high. And this is not
strange; for besides the giants mentioned in Scripture, Herodotus,
Diodorus Siculus, and Pliny, make mention of persons seven cubits
high.... [ Continue Reading ]
Coat of mail — Made of brass plates laid over one another, like the
scales of a fish. The weight, &c. — The common shekel contained a
fourth part of an ounce; and so five thousand shekels made one
thousand two hundred and fifty ounces, or seventy — eight pounds:
which weight is not unsuitable to a m... [ Continue Reading ]
Greaves — Boots.... [ Continue Reading ]
Beam — On which the weavers fasten their web. It was like this for
thickness. 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 whom Pliny relates, That he saw him come into the theatre with arms
weighing twelve thousand... [ Continue Reading ]
Come down — That the battle may be decided by us two alone.... [ Continue Reading ]
Afraid — This may seem strange, considering the glorious promises,
and their late experience of divine assistance. And where was
Jonathan, who in the last war had so bravely engaged an whole army of
the Philistines? Doubtless he did not feel himself so stirred up of
God as he did at that time. As th... [ Continue Reading ]
Old man — Therefore he went not himself to the camp.... [ Continue Reading ]
Went — From Saul's court: where having relieved Saul, he was
permitted to go to his father's house, to be sent for again upon
occasion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Pledge — That is, bring me some token of their welfare.... [ Continue Reading ]
Fighting — That is, in a posture and readiness to fight with them;
as it is explained, 1 Samuel 17:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
Went, &c. — Jesse little thought of sending his son to the camp,
just at that critical juncture. But the wise God orders the time and
all the circumstances of affairs, so as to serve the designs of his
own glory.... [ Continue Reading ]
Fled — One Philistine could never have thus put ten thousand
Israelites to flight, unless their rock, being forsaken by them, had
justly sold them and shut them up.... [ Continue Reading ]
Free — Free from all those tributes and charges which either the
court or the camp required.... [ Continue Reading ]
Naughtiness — Thy false — confidence, and vain gloried curiosity.
See the folly and wickedness of envy! How groundless its jealousies
are, how unjust its censures, how unfair it representations? God
preserve us from such a spirit!... [ Continue Reading ]
A cause — Of my thus speaking? Is this giant invincible? Is our God
unable to oppose him, and subdue him? However David is not deterred
from his undertaking, by the hard words of Eliab. They that undertake
public services must not think it strange, if they be opposed by those
from whom they had reas... [ Continue Reading ]
He tarried — For being secretly moved by God's spirit to undertake
the combat. He speaks with divers persons about it, that it might come
to the king's ear.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let no man's heart, &c. — It would have reflected upon his prince to
say, Let not thy heart fail: therefore he speaks in general terms, Let
no man's heart fail. A little shepherd, come but this morning from
keeping sheep, has more courage than all the mighty men of Israel!
Thus doth God often do gre... [ Continue Reading ]
A youth — Not above 20 years old; and a novice, a raw and
unexperienced soldier.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord, &c. — The lion and the bear were only enemies to me and my
sheep, and it was in defence of them I attacked them. But this
Philistine is an enemy to my God and his people, and it is for their
honour that I attack him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Armour — With armour taken out of his armoury. He seems to speak of
some military vestments which were then used in war, and were
contrived for defence; such as buff — coats are now.... [ Continue Reading ]
Proved them — I have no skill or experience in the managements of
this kind of arms.... [ Continue Reading ]
Staff — His shepherd's staff. These arms in themselves were
contemptible, yet chosen by David; because he had no skill to use
other arms; because he had inward assurance of the victory, even by
these weapons; and because such a conquest would be more honourable to
God, and most shameful, and discour... [ Continue Reading ]
Drew near — Probably a signal was made, that his challenge was
accepted.... [ Continue Reading ]
Fair — Not having so much as the countenance of a martial person.... [ Continue Reading ]
Dog — Dost thou think to beat me as easily as thou wouldst thy dog?... [ Continue Reading ]
A God — 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 ]
Saveth — That is, that he can save without these arms, and with the
most contemptible weapons. The battle — That is, the events of war
are wholly in his power. He will — David speaks thus confidently,
because he was assured of it by a particular inspiration.... [ Continue Reading ]
Drew nigh — Like a stalking mountain. Ran — So far was he from
fear!... [ Continue Reading ]
Forehead — Probably the proud giant had lift up that part of his
helmet which covered his fore — head; in contempt of David and his
weapons, and by the singular direction of providence.... [ Continue Reading ]
David took — 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. The stone threw him down to the
earth, and bereaved him of sense and motion; but there remained some
life in him, which the sword... [ Continue Reading ]
Whose son — David had been some considerable time dismissed from
Saul's court, and was returned home. And therefore it is not strange,
if Saul for the present had forgot David. Besides the distemper of
Saul's mind might make him forgetful; and that David might be now much
changed, both in his counte... [ Continue Reading ]