1 Samuel 17:39

assayed i.e. endeavoured. The word is derived from Old Fr. asaier, "to try, put to the proof," and this from Lat. exigere, "to weigh."

for he had not proved it He made the effort in ignorance, because he had never tried a suit of armour, and did not know what an encumbrance it would be to one unaccustomed to the use of it.

David put them off him "Expeditissimus ille ad prœlium procedere cupiebat; fortis non in se sed in Domino; armatus non tam ferro quam fide." "He desired to go forth to the battle in the lightest possible armour: strong in the Lord not in himself: armed not with steel but with faith." Augustine, Serm. XXXII. God would show, as in the case of Gideon (Judges 7:2), that the victory was His alone. Compare Maurice, Prophets and Kings, p. 46.