1 Samuel 17:53-58

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 17:53

And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines ,.... The remainder that escaped having got into their fortified cities: and they spoiled their tents ; which they left in their camp, all their armour, goods, money, and provisions, they found there, they seized upon as their prey and booty; these they did not stay to meddle with as soon as the Philistines fled, but first pursued them, and slew as many of them as they could, and then returned to the spoil; which was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:54

And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem ,.... After he had been introduced with it to Saul, and when he had passed through various cities in Israel, carrying the head in triumph; where he was congratulated by the women, who came out singing and dancing, and speaking highly in his commendation and praise: why he carried it to Jerusalem is not easy to say, this not being a royal city, nor was it wholly in the hands of the Israelites; part of it indeed was in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:55

And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine ,.... Set out to meet him, and engage with him, as he might from the side of the mountain, where he was encamped: he said unto Abner, the captain of the host ; his own cousin, whom he had raised to this high post in the army, 1 Samuel 14:50 , Abner, whose son is this youth ? it is thought strange by many that Saul should not know who he was, when he had been often at his court, and served him as a musician, and had been very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:56

And the king said, inquire thou whose son the stripling is . Still the question is the same, being very desirous of knowing of what family he was, for the reason before given; see Gill on 1 Samuel 17:55 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:57

And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine ,.... Carrying his head in triumph, and no doubt accompanied with the acclamations of the people: Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand ; to give an answer to the king's question concerning him, who could best do it himself; and that Saul might have the opportunity of rewarding him, according to his merit, for so great a piece of service he had done for Israel, of which the head... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:58

And Saul said unto him, whose son art thou, thou young man ?.... Still the question was such as did not necessarily imply ignorance of his person, but of his family: and David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite ; which doubtless refreshed the memory of Saul, and he quickly called to mind who he was. This interview was very probably at Gibeah of Saul, which was the place of his birth and residence, 1 Samuel 10:26 , and where he kept his court, and to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 17:54

David took the head of the Philistine - It has been already remarked that this, with the following verses, and the five first verses of the eighteenth chapter, are omitted by the Septuagint. See the observations at the end, 1 Samuel 17:58 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 17:58

Whose son art thou , thou young man ? - That Saul should not know David with whom he had treated a little before, and even armed him for the combat, and that he should not know who his father was, though he had sent to his father for permission to David to reside constantly with him, ( 1 Samuel 16:22 ;), is exceedingly strange! I fear all Bishop Warburton's attempts to rectify the chronology by assumed anticipations, will not account for this. I must honestly confess they do... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:52-53

To the valley. Hebrew, gai. As we have seen, there was a gai or ravine between the two armies, but in the Hebrew there is no article, and the Israelites must also cross this before any fighting began. The panic which struck the Philistines when they saw their champion fall enabled the Israelites to do so, but the pursuit only then commenced. The Septuagint reads Gath, a very probable emendation, for, as we saw in the passage quoted from Condor on 1 Samuel 17:2 , Gath was situated at... read more

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