1 Samuel 17 - Introduction
_GOLIATH THE PHILISTINE, A GIANT, CHALLENGES THE BRAVEST OF ISRAEL TO SINGLE COMBAT; DAVID, SENT BY HIS FATHER TO VISIT HIS BRETHREN, ACCEPTS THE CHALLENGE, AND KILLS GOLIATH._ _Before Christ 1063._... [ Continue Reading ]
_GOLIATH THE PHILISTINE, A GIANT, CHALLENGES THE BRAVEST OF ISRAEL TO SINGLE COMBAT; DAVID, SENT BY HIS FATHER TO VISIT HIS BRETHREN, ACCEPTS THE CHALLENGE, AND KILLS GOLIATH._ _Before Christ 1063._... [ Continue Reading ]
VALLEY OF ELAH— _Valley of oaks,_ (Hiller. Heroph. p. 358.)... [ Continue Reading ]
GOLIATH, OF GATH— When Joshua rooted the Anakims out of the land of Canaan, several of them fled to this city of Gath: See Joshua 11:22. We have undoubted evidence from the best writers, that there have been men of a gigantic size and make, in ancient times. See Genesis 6:4. M. Le Cat's Memoir on th... [ Continue Reading ]
FIVE THOUSAND SHEKELS— _Seventy-eight pounds and two ounces. 1 Samuel 17:7. The staff of his spear_] _The shaft,_ &c. (_leg._ חע Hiller. 103.) _Six hundred shekels_] _Nine pounds and six ounces._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE STOOD AND CRIED UNTO THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL— Antiquity furnishes us with many examples of single combats like this proposed by Goliath. Thus Paris and Menelaus in Homer, and the Horatii and Curiatii in Livy, are said to fight at the head of the army, upon condition that the party of the vanquis... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW DAVID WAS THE SON, &C.— From this 12th verse to the end of the 31st, the Roman edition of the LXX has omitted the whole. But the observations which we have taken from Bishop Warburton in the notes on the preceding chapter, seem sufficient to remove any difficulties which may arise from this pass... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID WENT, AND RETURNED FROM SAUL, &C.— This being when the Israelites were encamped in Elah, and after the relation of his going to court to soothe Saul's troubled spirit with his music, seems to fix the date of his standing before Saul in quality of musician, in the order of time in which it is r... [ Continue Reading ]
CARRY THESE TEN CHEESES— In the Hebrew החלב חריצי _charitsei hechalab, ten cheeses of milk;_ upon which the author of the _Observations_ remarks, that the word can hardly be imagined to signify _cheeses_ directly, since _milk_ is added in the original, and _cheeses of milk_ is so odd an expression,... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW SAUL, AND THEY—WERE IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH, FIGHTING— Or, _Now Saul, and they—were still by the valley of oaks, ready to fight._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MAKE HIS FATHER'S HOUSE FREE IN ISRAEL— This might be rendered, _will enoble his father's house._ The Chaldee paraphrase has it, _and will make his father's house free princes in Israel,_ enfranchising them from all charges and imposts, which was a royal privilege. See Selden de Jure Nat. et Gen... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT HAVE I NOW DONE? IS THERE NOT A CAUSE— _What have I done, I have only just spoken a word._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
THY SERVANT KEPT HIS FATHER'S SHEEP— The young hero builds his confidence upon four arguments: 1. Upon the courage and success with which he heretofore combated a _lion_ at one time, and a _bear_ at another; enemies full as terrible as Goliath. 2. Upon Goliath's being uncircumcised, an enemy of the... [ Continue Reading ]
SAUL ARMED DAVID WITH HIS ARMOUR— i.e. Not with his own armour, for Saul was of too great a size; but he ordered a _helmet and coat of mail_ to be brought out of his armoury for him.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE ASSAYED TO GO— _But David marched with difficulty, as not accustomed to these; therefore he said to Saul, I cannot go with these arms, for I am not accustomed to them: and David put them off._ Houb. REFLECTIONS.—1st, When David had succeeded as Saul's musician, and no relapse for some time m... [ Continue Reading ]
FIVE SMOOTH STONES— Bishop Patrick thinks that this should rather be rendered _five cleft_ or _rough stones;_ as he thinks such would have been most fit for his purpose. But _smooth stones_ would have entered more easily into the forehead, would have less obstacles in passing through the air, and we... [ Continue Reading ]
AM I A DOG— See Exodus 22:31. As nothing can be more insolent and impious than the words of Goliath, so nothing can afford us a fairer idea of firm faith and heroic confidence in God, than David's reply to him. We see the arm of God in this whole event. He it was who guided the hand; He it was who g... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID TOOK THE HEAD OF THE PHILISTINE— After having shewn the head to Saul, 1 Samuel 17:57 and exhibited it to all the people, chap. 1 Samuel 18:6 he deposited it at Jerusalem, that it might be an object of terror, perhaps, to the Jebusites, who still possessed the strong fortress of Sion. 2 Sam... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE SON IS THIS YOUTH? &C.— Saul probably knew David's person, but had forgotten the name of his father. He does not ask, therefore, who the youth is, but _whose son_ he is; a question of the more consequence to him, as he had promised his daughter in marriage to the conqueror of Goliath. Besides,... [ Continue Reading ]