1 Samuel 17

1 Samuel 17:40-47

We had David great in the court, now he appears greater in the camp. This to handle the fling as wisely as the harp. We have here, 1. The great figure Goliath makes, and his defiance of Israel, ver. 1—11. 2. David’s mean figure when providence brought him in the army, ver. 12—30. 3. His understanding to encounter this Philistine, ver. 31—39. 4. His refutation in attacking him, ver. 40—47. 5. The glorious victory he obtained over him with a fling and a flue, and the advantage which the Israelites thereby gained against the Philistines, ver. 48—54. 6. The notice taken of David at court, ver. 55—58.

VOL. I.

1. NOW the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belonged to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes-slamatim. 2. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in aray against the Philistines. 3. And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. 4. ¶ And there went out a 2 champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, ‘who height was six cubits and a span; 5. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail: and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. 6. And he had grooves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. 7. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and one bearing a shield went before him. 8. And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to let your battle in aray? am not I a Philistine, and you servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. 9. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. 10. And the Philistine said, ‘I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.’ 11. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

2. 1—11. When David had succeeded, and no relapse for some time made his they hunger excellery, he returned to his father’s house at Bethlehem; probably not relishing the absolute manners of a count, and infinitely happier in retirement and communion with God, whilst he kept his father’s flock. Here he seems to have been almost, if not altogether, forgotten, till a new incident calls him once more into the evidence and family of the king.

3. The Philistines recover from their late defeat, and encouraged, no doubt, by the accounts they had received of Saul’s quarrel with Samuel, and his disfarced state of mind, again invade Israel. But Saul, now recovered, is enabled to make head against them, and with his army encamps on the hill opposite his enemies. Note, The enemies of God’s people are always watching to take advantage, and especially to profit by their disputes and divisions.

4. A mighty champion went out of their camp, their boats and glory, and proudly defied the arms of Israel; his bright was prodigious, according to the best calculation somewhat more than eleven feet four inches; his armour was proportioned to his fear, his helmet brass, his coat of mail consisted of plates of brass, that his one over another like fifties scales, and weighed upwards of one hundred and fifty-six pounds, besides the grooves of brass on his legs, and corset of brass between his shoulders; all together a weight more than an ordinary man could well support. His spear soft and huge, the handle large as a weaver’s beam, the head of iron weighing six hundred shekels, near nineteen pounds; and his shield carried before him by his esquire, either for pump or to be used, if any during Israelite accepted his challenge. Forth he marches, proud in his strength and stature, and with a voice loud at thunder, challenges the armies of Israelites to send a man to fight with him, offers in bravado to have the fate of either kingdom decided by the issue of the combat, and vaunts his own consideration in thus submitting, though a prince in Philistia, to accept a man out of their army, who were no better than servants to Saul. Note, Pride will sooner or later have a fall.

5. The effect this produced on Saul and the Israelites. They were quite dispirited, and ready to fly before a single Philistine. Note, When we have provoked God to depart from us, fear will terrify us on every approach of danger.

6. ¶ Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. 13. And the three eldest sons of Jesse went, and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle, were Eliab the first-born, and next unto him, Abinadah, and the third Shammah. 14. And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. 15. But David went, and returned from Saul, to feed his father’s sheep at Beth-lehem. 16. And the Philistine drew near, morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. 17. Chap. viii.

4 K And

4. Saul, satisfied, confesses to his going, and prays the Lord to be with him, and give him success; and to equip him for the battle, brings down a fish of armour, and fits it on him; but after assuring to go in it, either his spirit was admonished not to make use of these defenses, half God’s arm might not be so much firm; or, more probably, not being accustomed to walk in armour, he felt it encumbered rather than afflicted him, therefore he put it off, resolving to advance just as he was. Note, They have the best armour that go forth with a good conscience in a good cause.

5. And the took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in his Shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a krip; and his fling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.

6. And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David, and the men that have the third most before him.

7. And when the Philistine locked about and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ready, and of a fair convenience.

8. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with Slaves? and the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

9. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beall of the field.

10. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defend.

11. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand, and I will smit thee, and take thine head from thee, and I will give the carcasses of the hoft of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild bealls of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

12. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD Gaveh not with sword and spear: for the battle it the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.

David having put off his armour, in his Shepherd’s derfs, with his fling in his hand, marches down toward this proud Philistine, and chases five smooth stones from the brook which ran in the valley, nor was at all certified with the formidable appearance of his antagonists, Isaac God was the strength of his hope.

1. Goliath, looking on such a puny foe, a youth, and, so accoutre’d, with high disdain treated his influence in daring to approach him, as if a dog, to be beaten with a Shepherd’s staff; and curling him by his gods, threatens, as easily as a lion tears the lamb, to give his flesh to the birds and bealls. Note, (1.) The curle that is causeless falls only on the head that utters it. (2.) The presumption of the proud deftroys them.

2. David replies with confidence and dependance upon God, and hurls back this brother’s threatenings into his face; having authority from the God of Israel, whom, in his people, Goliath had defied, dependent on the arm of that complacent Lord of hosts, who alone giveth victory in the battle, he threatens that his carcass, and those of his countrymen, shall this day afford a nobler feast to the birds and bealls; the nations around shall then acknowledge the glory of Israel’s God, and his church and people adore him for a salvation so great and wonderful.

3. And it came to pass when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David haffed, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

4. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and flang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone is sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

5. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a fling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine and flew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

6. Therefore David ran and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and flew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistine for their champion was dead, they fled.

7. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ehem; and the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Elston.

8. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they floated their teens.

9. And David took the head of the Philistines, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.

10. And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistines, he said unto Abner the captain of the hoft, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, At thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

11. And the king said, Enquire thou whofe for the stripping it.

12. And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

13. And Saul said to him, Whose son are thou, take young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jett the Beth-lehemite.

1 Samuel 17:48-58

We have here the afters of this unequal match, and see the battle is not always to the strong.

1. Like a Colossius huge Goliath strides along, glittering in burnished armour; David, with nimbler flete, haffes to meet him, and having fisted the stone into his fling, aimed at the broad mark of this Philistine’s forehead. Swift flew the messenger of death, reafflict; percus through his skull, and backward fell the mighty hero, extended breathless on the plain. Probably despiring such a youth, he turned back the casket of his helmet, or through the eye the stone might enter, as the Targum intimates; or, since it was of God, through the beaten helmet, and hardened forehead, it might pass forth as lightning, and reaffilies as the thunderbolt. With eagerness now David flies on his prey, drawn forth the tranquilized champion’s sword, and severs his head from his body, as the trophy of his victory. Note, (1.) Vain is the arm of flesh against the power of God. (2.) Thus hath Jesus conquered the powers of darkness, and spoiled them openly; and thus shall every believer conquer those giant-like corruptions that wage war against his soul.

2. A panic raises the hofts of Philistia, when they behold their boasted hero fallen, whilst Israel’s armies, shouting for victory, pursue the disputed fugitives even to the gates of their cities, and on their return plunder the camp. Note, They who trust on man will find their dependence but a broken reed.

3. David spoiled the Philistine of his armour, as well as his head; and having carried the latter in triumph round the cities of Israel, fixed it up at Jerusalem, as a terror to the Jebulses who still held the fortness of Zion; the armour he laid up in his tent, or perhaps in God’s tent or tabernacle, as a monument of the victory, where we find the sword of Goliath, chap. xxi. 9.

4. Saul makes enquiries about this young hero, having forgotten David by his absence from court, and so differently fretted, and in so different a character; or if he recollected him, he was, as the question seems to import, solicitous to know his family and extraction, whether he were nobly descended, having engaged so many his daughter to him. Abner professes his ignorance of his family; but David appears and satisfies his enquiries, with a modest account of his parentage, as the son of Jett the Beth-lehemite. Note, It is not nigh birth, but deeds of high desert, that constitute true nobility.