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Donald C. Fleming

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 17:11

greatly afraid = feared exceedingly. Compare 1 Samuel 17:24 . read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 17:1-11

The Philistine challenge 17:1-11The Elah (Oak) Valley is an S-shaped valley just south of the Sorek Valley, where Samson earlier lived. It runs east and west parallel to it. Socoh stood to the east and Azekah to the west. Some authorities believe Ephes-dammim stood west of Socoh and south of Azekah, but its location is debated. Gath was 7 miles to the west and was the closest Philistine town."That Saul now came to meet the Philistines, even at the west end of the Elah Valley-and so before the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 17:1-58

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

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 17:1-58

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

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 17:9

(9) Then will we be your servants.—Each of the positions which the two opposing armies held was well-nigh impregnable; thus it seemed as though a single combat was the only way of deciding the present campaign: besides which, in those far back times such single combats between renowned chieftains of the opposing armies were not by any means uncommon. The reader of the Iliad will ever readily call to mind—in colloquies before the deadly duel—words not altogether unlike the haughty, boastful... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 17:11

(11) They were dismayed, and greatly afraid.—Saul the king, perhaps, was restrained from personally accepting the challenge by motives of dignity, but the marked silence on his part, and the utter hopelessness of his army, reads in strange contrast to the former records of Hebrew daring. Where was Jonathan, for instance, ever the bravest of the brave, and his gallant armour-bearer? There had assuredly been a time when neither motives of dignity nor prudence would have restrained Saul and his... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Samuel 17:1-58

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

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:1-58

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

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Samuel 17:1-58

2. David and Goliath CHAPTER 17 1. Goliath of Gath, the Philistine (1 Samuel 17:1-11 ) 2. David’s errand and inquiry (1 Samuel 17:12-30 ) 3. David’s offer to fight Goliath (1 Samuel 17:31-40 ) 4. David’s victory (1 Samuel 17:41-54 ) 5. Saul’s inquiry (1 Samuel 17:55-58 ) Modern critics are practically unanimous in regarding the story of this chapter as unhistorical. One of the leading arguments they advance is the statement found in 2 Samuel 21:19 that the slayer of Goliath was... read more

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