1 Samuel 17:1-25:7

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

John Gill

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

Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle ,.... Josephus F19 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 9. sect. 1. says this was not long after the things related in the preceding chapter were transacted; and very probably they had heard of the melancholy and distraction of Saul, and thought it a proper opportunity of avenging themselves on Israel for their last slaughter of them, and for that purpose gathered together their dispersed troops: and were gathered together at Shochoh , which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 17:1

Now the Philistines gathered together - Calmet thinks that this war happened eight years after the anointing of David, and ten or twelve years after the war with the Amalekites. We have already seen that there was war between Saul and the Philistines all his days. See 1 Samuel 14:52 . Shochoh and Azekah - Places which lay to the south of Jerusalem and to the west of Bethlehem; about five leagues from the former. Ephes-dammim was somewhere in the vicinity, but it is not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:1

ADVANCE OF DAVID IN REPUTATION BY THE SLAUGHTER OF GOLIATH ( 1 Samuel 17:1-58 .). EXPOSITION GOLIATH 'S DEFIANCE OF ISRAEL ( 1 Samuel 17:1-11 ). The Philistines gathered together their armies. As the object of the historian is not to give us an account of the Philistine wars, but only to record the manner of David's ripening for the kingly office, nothing is said as to the space of time which had elapsed between Saul's victory at Michmash and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:1-11

Aggression not defence. The facts are— 1 . The armies of Israel and Philistia are drawn up in array, with a valley between them. 2 . A gigantic champion, heavily armed and proud of his strength, challenges any one of Saul's army to a personal encounter, and with lofty words defies the armies of Israel. 3 . Saul and his men are in great fear. The episode given by the sacred writer is one of those occurrences likely to arise under the conditions of ancient warfare. It must be... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 17:1

The narrative reverts to the Philistine wars 1 Samuel 14:52; the other introductory details concerning Saul’s rejection, and David’s introduction upon the stage of the history, having been disposed of in the intermediate chapters.Shochoh which belongeth to Judah - See the marginal reference which places Shochoh and Azekah in the “Shephelah” or maritime plain, and 2 Chronicles 28:18, “Shochoh” now “Shuweikeh,” “nine miles from Eleutheropolis,” Jerome.Ephes-dammim - Called “Happas-dammim”... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 17:1

1 Samuel 17:1. The Philistines gathered together their armies Probably they had heard that Samuel had forsaken Saul, and that Saul himself was unfit for business. The enemies of the church are watchful to take all advantages, and they never have greater advantages than when her protectors have provoked God’s Spirit and prophets to leave them. read more

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 17:1

Now. Ch. 1 Samuel 17:1 reads on chronologically from 1 Samuel 16:13 (see note on 1 Samuel 16:14 ). An author's right is claimed for placing the later episode here (1 Samuel 16:14 , 1 Samuel 16:23 ), in order to connect and contrast the two spirits with Saul and David. The canonical order alternates David's call and Saul's. See notes on 1 Samuel 16:14 ; 1 Samuel 18:12 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 17:1

THE GIANT GOLIATH CHALLENGES ISRAEL; DAVID KILLS GOLIATH; THE PHILISTINE OF GATH"Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with... read more

Group of Brands