1 Samuel 17:50

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:48-58

Here is 1. The engagement between the two champions, 1 Sam. 17:48. To this engagement the Philistine advanced with a great deal of state and gravity; if he must encounter a pigmy, yet it shall be with the magnificence of a giant and a grandee. This is intimated in the manner of expression: He arose, and came, and drew nigh, like a stalking mountain, overlaid with brass and iron, to meet David. David advanced with no less activity and cheerfulness, as one that aimed more to do execution than to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:50

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone ,.... And with them only, without any other warlike weapon: and smote the Philistine, and slew him ; smote him with the stone, which brought him to the ground, and then slew him with his own sword, as afterwards related: but there was no sword in the hand of David ; when he engaged with the Philistine, and smote him, for he had put off all his armour, 1 Samuel 17:39 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:41-51

The governing principle of life. The facts are— 1 . The Philistine, on observing the youth and simple weapons of David, disdains and curses him, and boasts of soon giving his flesh to bird and beast. 2 . David, in reply, declares that he comes in the name of God, and expresses his assurance that, in the speedy death of his foe, all men would learn that the battle is the Lord's. 3 . Goliath falls by means of the sling and stone. 4 . Seizing his sword, David cuts off his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:50-51

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone. It is evident that the narrator regarded David's victory as extraordinary; and no doubt it required not only great courage, but also perfect skill, as only the lower portion of the forehead would be exposed, and on no other part of the giant's body would a blow have been of any avail. The narrator also calls attention to the fact that David relied upon his sling alone, for there was no sword in the hand of David. Slings... 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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 17:50

THE COMPLETE ROUT OF THE PHILISTINE ARMY"So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him; and there was no sword in the hand of David. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath, and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath... 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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 17:50-58

The results of David’s victory 17:50-58God used a humble weapon to give His people a great victory in response to one person’s faith. This is another instance of God bringing blessing to and through a person who committed himself to simply believing and obeying God’s Word (cf. 1 Samuel 14:1). Stoning was the penalty for blasphemy in Israel (Leviticus 24:16; Deuteronomy 17:7). Usually death by stoning required many large stones, but David executed this Philistine blasphemer with only one stone.... 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 17:50

(50) But there was no sword in the hand of David.—The story of the daring of the son of Jesse dwells, and with good reason, on the extraordinary valour and skill of the young champion of Israel. Had his heart for one instant failed him—as, indeed, it well might; had he not possessed a confidence which nothing could shake in an unseen Helper—or had his skill as a marksman failed him in the slightest degree, the Philistine with one blow would have laid David lifeless at his feet; or had the... read more

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