1 Samuel 17:34-36

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 17:35

His beard - Put here for his throat, or under jaw; neither lion nor bear has a beard properly speaking. read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 17:34-35

1 Samuel 17:34-35. There came a lion and a bear Not both together, but at different times. I went out after him I pursued the beast. When he arose against me Turned again upon me; I caught him by his beard I had resolution and strength enough given me to close with him, and, catching him by the hair of his beard, smote and killed him on the spot. David does not say with what instrument he did this; but probably it was with a sword or spear. It is not improbable but in that age, and in... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 17:36-37

1 Samuel 17:36-37. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear, &c. There is a remarkable, and never to be sufficiently admired modesty in this relation of David, which he concludes by attributing all he had done to the goodness and power of God. And he takes encouragement from the experience which he had already had of these divine attributes being exerted on his behalf on a less important occasion, to believe that they would be exerted on this occasion also, which was much more... 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 17:34

kept = was keeping. Compare 1 Samuel 16:11 . his . Some codices, quoted in the Massorah, read "my". and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in verses: 1 Samuel 17:34-36 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 17:35

beard = mane, or throat. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 17:36

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

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 17:34-37

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

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 17:34

34-36. a lion, and a bear—There were two different rencontres, for those animals prowl alone. The bear must have been a Syrian bear, which is believed to be a distinct species, or perhaps a variety, of the brown bear. The beard applies to the lion alone. Those feats seem to have been performed with no weapons more effective than the rude staves and stones of the field, or his shepherd's crook. 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

Group of Brands