1 Samuel 17:1-17

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:12-30

Forty days the two armies lay encamped facing one another, each advantageously posted, but neither forward to engage. Either they were parleying and treating of an accommodation or they were waiting for recruits; and perhaps there were frequent skirmishes between small detached parties. All this while, twice a day, morning and evening, did the insulting champion appear in the field and repeat his challenge, his own heart growing more and more proud for his not being answered and the people of... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:2

And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together ,.... He being cured, at least being better of his disorder, through the music of David, and alarmed and aroused by the invasion of the Philistines, which might serve to dissipate any remains of it, or prevent its return, got together his forces: and pitched by the valley of Elah ; which Jerom F21 Deloc. Heb. fol. 91. F. says Aquila and Theodotion interpret "the valley of the oak"; but the Vulgate Latin version, the valley of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:3

And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side , Before the Israelites are said to encamp in or by the valley; but here they are said to take the higher ground, and face the Philistines, who were on a mountain or hill on the other side over against them, which Kimchi reconciles thus; the whole or the grand army lay encamped in the valley, and, they that were set in array, or the first ranks, the first battalion, ascended the mountain... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:4

And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines ,.... Or a "middle person", or a man "between two" F25 איש הבינים "vir intermedius", Montanus; "inter duo", Vatablus; "vir medietatum", Noldius, p. 194. No. 283. ; meaning either one that went and stood between the two armies of Israel and the Philistines, as the Jewish writers generally interpret it: or a "dueller" F26 "Quidam duellator", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. , as others, with which our version... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:5

And he had an helmet of brass upon his head ,.... This was a piece of armour, which covered the head in the day of battle; these were usually made of the skins of beasts, of leather, and which were covered with plates of iron, or brass; and sometimes made of all iron, or of brass F7 Vid. Lydium "de re militari": l. 3. c. 5. p. 63. ; as this seems to have been: and he was armed with a coat of mail ; which reached from the neck to the middle, and consisted of various plates of brass... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:6

And he had greaves of brass upon his legs ,.... Which were a sort of boots, or leg harnesses, which covered the thighs and legs down to the heels; such as Iolaus F11 Hesiod. Scutum Herc. ver. 122. and the Grecians usually wore, as described by Homer; which are supposed to be double the weight of the helmet, reckoned at fifteen pounds, so that these must weigh thirty pounds of avoirdupois weight: and a target of brass between his shoulders ; the Targum is,"a spear or shield of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:7

And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam ,.... The wooden part of it, held in the hand; this for thickness was like the beam in the weaver's loom, about which the warp, or else the web, is rolled; and it is conjectured that, in proportion to the stature of Goliath, his spear must be twenty six feet long, since Hector's in Homer F13 Iliad. 18. was eleven cubits, or sixteen feet and a half: and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron ; the iron part of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:8

And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel ,.... He stood in the valley between the two armies, and cried with a loud voice that he might be heard; and as he was of such a monstrous stature, no doubt his voice was very strong and sonorous; and as the battalions of Israel designed by armies were posted on the mountain or hill, his voice would ascend, and be the more easily heard: and said unto them, why are ye come out to set your battle in array ? either as wondering at their... read more

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