1 Samuel 17

1Sa 17:1-3.

THE

ISRAELITES AND

PHILISTINES

BEING

READY TO

BATTLE.

1. the Philistines gathered together their armies--twenty-seven years

after their overthrow at Michmash. Having now recovered their spirits

and strength, they sought an opportunity of wiping out the infamy of

that national disaster, as well as to regain their lost ascendency over

Israel.

Shocoh--now Shuweikeh, a town in the western plains of Judah

(Jos 15:35),

nine Roman miles from Eleutheropolis, toward Jerusalem

[ROBINSON].

Azekah--a small place in the neighborhood.

Ephes-dammim--or, "Pas-dammim"

(1Ch 11:13),

"the portion" or "effusion of blood," situated between the other

two.

2. valley of Elah--that is, "the Terebinth," now Wady Er-Sumt

[ROBINSON].

Another valley somewhat to the north, now called Wady Beit

Hanina, has been fixed on by the tradition of ages.

1Sa 17:4-11.

GOLIATH

CHALLENGES A

COMBAT.

4-11. a champion--Hebrew, a "man between two"; that is, a

person who, on the part of his own people, undertook to determine the

national quarrel by engaging in single combat with a chosen warrior in

the hostile army.

5. 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 material, for the defense of the neck and the sides

of the face [OSBORN].

a coat of mail--a kind of corslet, quilted with leather or plates of

metal, reaching only to the chest, and supported by shoulder straps,

leaving the shoulders and arms at full liberty.

6. greaves of brass--boots, terminating at the ankle, made in one

plate of metal, but round to the shape of the leg, and often lined with

felt or sponge. They were useful in guarding the legs, not only against

the spikes of the enemy, but in making way among thorns and briers.

a target of brass--a circular frame, carried at the back, suspended

loins.

7. staff of his spear--rather under five feet long, and capable of

being used as a javelin

(1Sa 19:10).

It had an iron head.

one bearing a shield--In consequence of their great size and weight,

the Oriental warrior had a trusty and skilful friend, whose office it

was to bear the large shield behind which he avoided the missile

weapons of the enemy. He was covered, cap-a-pie, with defensive armor,

while he had only two offensive weapons--a sword by his side and a

spear in his hand.

8-11. 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 towards the opposite ranks,

challenge someone to fight with him. If his formidable appearance, or

great reputation for physical strength and heroism, deterred any from

accepting the challenge, he used to parade himself within hearing of

the enemy's lines, specify in a loud, boastful, bravado style, defying

them, and pouring out torrents of abuse and insolence to provoke their

resentment.

1Sa 17:12-58.

DAVID

ACCEPTS THE

CHALLENGE, AND

SLAYS

HIM.

17. Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these

ten loaves--In those times campaigns seldom lasted above a few days

at a time. The soldiers were volunteers or militia, who were supplied

with provisions from time to time by their friends at home.

18. carry these ten cheeses to the captain--to enlist his kind

attention. Oriental cheeses are very small; and although they are

frequently made of so soft a consistence as to resemble curds, those

which David carried seem to have been fully formed, pressed, and

sufficiently dried to admit of their being carried.

take their pledge--Tokens of the soldiers' health and safety were

sent home in the convenient form of a lock of their hair, or piece of

their nail, or such like.

20. David left the sheep with a keeper--This is the only instance in

which the hired shepherd is distinguished from the master or one of his

family.

trench--some feeble attempt at a rampart. It appears (see Margin)

to have been formed by a line of carts or chariots, which, from the

earliest times, was the practice of nomad people.

22. left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage--to

make his way to the standard of Judah.

25. make his father's house free in Israel--His family should be

exempted from the impositions and services to which the general body of

the Israelites were subjected.

34-36. a lion, and a bear--There were two different rencontres, for

those animals prowl alone. The bear must have been a Syrian bear, which

is believed to be a distinct species, or perhaps a variety, of the

brown bear. The beard applies to the lion alone. Those feats seem to

have been performed with no weapons more effective than the rude staves

and stones of the field, or his shepherd's crook.

37. The Lord that delivered me--It would have been natural for a

youth, and especially an Oriental youth, to make a parade of his

gallantry. But David's piety sank all consideration of his own prowess

and ascribed the success of those achievements to the divine aid, which

he felt assured would not be withheld from him in a cause which so

intimately concerned the safety and honor of His people.

Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee--The pious language

of the modest but valiant youth impressed the monarch's heart. He felt

that it indicated the true military confidence for Israel, and,

therefore, made up his mind, without any demur, to sanction a combat on

which the fate of his kingdom depended, and with a champion supporting

his interests apparently so unequal to the task.

38, 39. 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 his own defensive

accoutrements, which would be of the best style. It is probable that

Saul's coat of mail, or corslet, was a loose shirt, otherwise it could

not have fitted both a stripling and a man of the colossal stature of

the king.

40. brook--wady.

bag--or scrip for containing his daily food.

sling--The sling consisted of a double rope with a thong, probably of

leather, to receive the stone. The slinger held a second stone in his

left hand. David chose five stones, as a reserve, in case the first

should fail. Shepherds in the East carry a sling and stones still, for

the purpose of driving away, or killing, the enemies that prowl about

the flock.

42-47. the Philistine said . . . said David to the Philistine--When

the two champions met, they generally made each of them a speech, and

sometimes recited some verses, filled with allusions and epithets of

the most opprobrious kind, hurling contempt and defiance at one

another. This kind of abusive dialogue is common among the Arab

combatants still. David's speech, however, presents a striking contrast

to the usual strain of these invectives. It was full of pious trust,

and to God he ascribed all the glory of the triumph he anticipated.

49. smote the Philistine in his forehead--At the opening for the

eyes--that was the only exposed part of his body.

51. cut off his head--not as an evidence of the giant's death, for

his slaughter had been effected in presence of the whole army, but as a

trophy to be borne to Saul. The heads of slain enemies are always

regarded in the East as the most welcome tokens of victory.

52. Shaaraim--(See

Jos 15:36).

54. tent--the sacred tabernacle. David dedicated the sword of Goliath

as a votive offering to the Lord.

55-58. Saul . . . said unto Abner . . . whose son is this youth?--A

young man is more spoken of in many Eastern countries by his father's

name than his own. The growth of the beard, and other changes on a now

full-grown youth, prevented the king from recognizing his former

favorite minstrel

[1Sa 16:23].