E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 17:35
beard = mane, or throat. read more
beard = mane, or throat. read more
them . The Septuagint adds "them" and reads "[Shall I not go and smite him, and turn aside reproach to-day from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine] that he hath", &c. defied = reproached. living God , Both these words in plural in Hebrew Compare 1 Samuel 17:26 . read more
1 Samuel 17:34-37. 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 people and covenant of God. 3. Upon the full assurance that God will support any one who shall undertake to punish this monster for his insolent treatment of the Israelites as slaves.... read more
2. The reason for God’s selection of David ch. 17The exciting story of David and Goliath illustrates what it was that God saw in David’s heart that led Him to choose David for the position of king. It also shows how and why others in Israel began to notice David. David fought the Lord’s battles, as Samuel did (ch. 7). He also did so as Saul, God’s previously anointed king, had done (chs. 10-11, 14-15).Saul’s defeat of the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:1-11) followed Saul’s anointing (1 Samuel 10:1).... read more
David’s qualifications to fight Goliath 17:31-40When David volunteered to be Israel’s champion, Saul scoffed at him because he evaluated David’s chances for success solely in physical terms, as usual. The Hebrew word na’ar translated "youth" (1 Samuel 17:33) usually describes an older teenager (cf. 1 Samuel 3:1)."The opposite of the fear of the Lord is the fear of man. No greater contrast of these opposing fears could be presented than when David confronted Goliath. Saul and his men feared... read more
David slays Goliath1 Samuel 17:1 to 1 Samuel 18:5 is evidently taken from a different document from 1 Samuel 16:14-23. In 1 Samuel 16:14-23; David is a man of war, and skilful in speech, and an expert harper, and has already become Saul’s musician and armourbearer. In 1 Samuel 17 he is still a shepherd lad, who is personally unknown to Saul. LXX tries to get rid of the difficulty by omitting several vv., but the attempt is not altogether successful.1. Shochoh] identified with Shuweikeh, ’a... read more
(36) The lion and the bear.—The lion and the bear were, in the days of Saul, common in Palestine; the country then was densely wooded. In some of the wilder districts bears are still numerous.Shall be as one of them.—“He, the idolator, must know that he has not to do with mere men, but with God: with a living God will he have to do, and not with a lifeless idol.”—Berleburger Bible. read more
Whose Son Art Thou, Young Man? 1 Samuel 17:58 When this shepherd boy entered the royal presence with the ghastly trophy, his fingers clutching the hair of Goliath's head, the king looked at him with admiring wonderment, and put the plain, straightforward question of my text, 'Whose son art thou, young man?' It was natural that Saul should wish to know something of the antecedents of so brave a youth. I. If there is anything more utterly contemptible than for one who has risen a bit in the... read more
CHAPTER XXIV.DAVID’S CONFLICT WITH GOLIATH1 Samuel 17:1-58.THESE irrepressible Philistines were never long recovering from their disasters. The victory of Jonathan had been impaired by the exhaustion of the soldiers, caused by Saul’s fast preventing them from pursuing the enemy as far, and destroying their force as thoroughly, as they might have done. A new attack was organized against Israel, headed by a champion, Goliath of Gath, whose height must have approached the extraordinary stature of... read more
Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:1-58
Goliath’s challenge and defeat (17:1-58)The Philistines again assembled their troops to fight against Israel (17:1-3). As often happened in ancient warfare, the invaders challenged the defenders by calling for a contest between the champions of the two sides (4-11). At this time David was back on his father’s farm at Bethlehem, for he did not need to remain at Saul’s court when Saul was away directing affairs on the battlefield (12-16).When circumstances later brought David to the scene of the... read more