1 Samuel 17:4-51

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:1-11

It was not long ago that the Philistines were soundly beaten, and put to the worse, before Israel, and they would have been totally routed if Saul's rashness had not prevented; but here we have them making head again. Observe, I. How they defied Israel with their armies, 1 Sam. 17:1. They made a descent upon the Israelites? country, and possessed themselves, as it should seem, of some part of it, for they encamped in a place which belonged to Judah. Israel's ground would never have been... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:12-30

Forty days the two armies lay encamped facing one another, each advantageously posted, but neither forward to engage. Either they were parleying and treating of an accommodation or they were waiting for recruits; and perhaps there were frequent skirmishes between small detached parties. All this while, twice a day, morning and evening, did the insulting champion appear in the field and repeat his challenge, his own heart growing more and more proud for his not being answered and the people of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:31-39

David is at length presented to Saul for his champion (1 Sam. 17:31) and he bravely undertakes to fight the Philistine (1 Sam. 17:32): Let no man's heart fail because of him. It would have reflected too much upon the valour of his prince if he had said, Let not thy heart fail; therefore he speaks generally: 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, and encourages them. Thus does God often send good... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:40-47

We are now coming near this famous combat, and have in these verses the preparations and remonstrances made on both sides. I. The preparations made on both sides for the encounter. The Philistine was already fixed, as he had been daily for the last forty days. Well might he go with his armour, for he had sufficiently proved it. Only we are told (1 Sam. 17:41) that he came on and drew near, a signal, it is likely, being given that his challenge was accepted, and, as if he distrusted his helmet... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:48-58

Here is 1. The engagement between the two champions, 1 Sam. 17:48. To this engagement the Philistine advanced with a great deal of state and gravity; if he must encounter a pigmy, yet it shall be with the magnificence of a giant and a grandee. This is intimated in the manner of expression: He arose, and came, and drew nigh, like a stalking mountain, overlaid with brass and iron, to meet David. David advanced with no less activity and cheerfulness, as one that aimed more to do execution than to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:4

And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines ,.... Or a "middle person", or a man "between two" F25 איש הבינים "vir intermedius", Montanus; "inter duo", Vatablus; "vir medietatum", Noldius, p. 194. No. 283. ; meaning either one that went and stood between the two armies of Israel and the Philistines, as the Jewish writers generally interpret it: or a "dueller" F26 "Quidam duellator", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. , as others, with which our version... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:5

And he had an helmet of brass upon his head ,.... This was a piece of armour, which covered the head in the day of battle; these were usually made of the skins of beasts, of leather, and which were covered with plates of iron, or brass; and sometimes made of all iron, or of brass F7 Vid. Lydium "de re militari": l. 3. c. 5. p. 63. ; as this seems to have been: and he was armed with a coat of mail ; which reached from the neck to the middle, and consisted of various plates of brass... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:6

And he had greaves of brass upon his legs ,.... Which were a sort of boots, or leg harnesses, which covered the thighs and legs down to the heels; such as Iolaus F11 Hesiod. Scutum Herc. ver. 122. and the Grecians usually wore, as described by Homer; which are supposed to be double the weight of the helmet, reckoned at fifteen pounds, so that these must weigh thirty pounds of avoirdupois weight: and a target of brass between his shoulders ; the Targum is,"a spear or shield of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:7

And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam ,.... The wooden part of it, held in the hand; this for thickness was like the beam in the weaver's loom, about which the warp, or else the web, is rolled; and it is conjectured that, in proportion to the stature of Goliath, his spear must be twenty six feet long, since Hector's in Homer F13 Iliad. 18. was eleven cubits, or sixteen feet and a half: and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron ; the iron part of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:8

And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel ,.... He stood in the valley between the two armies, and cried with a loud voice that he might be heard; and as he was of such a monstrous stature, no doubt his voice was very strong and sonorous; and as the battalions of Israel designed by armies were posted on the mountain or hill, his voice would ascend, and be the more easily heard: and said unto them, why are ye come out to set your battle in array ? either as wondering at their... read more

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