1-3 The armies of the Israelites and Philistines being ready to battle 4-11 Goliath challenges a combat 12-27 David, sent by his father to visit his brethren, takes the challenge 28,29 Eliab chides him 30,31 He is brought to Saul 32-37 shows the reason of his confidence 38-54 and slays the giant 55-58 Saul takes notice of David

gathered 1Sa 7:7 13:5 14:46,52 Jud 3:3

Shochoh Jos 15:35

Socoh 2Ch 11:7

Shoco 1Sa 28:18

Shocho
Azekah Jos 10:10,11 15:35 Jer 34:7

Ephes-dammim. or, the coast of Dammin 1Ch 11:13

Pas-dammim

2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.

the valley 1Sa 17:19 21:9

set the battle in array [heb] ranged the battle

3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.

4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

Goliath 1Sa 17:23 21:9,10 2Sa 21:19 1Ch 20:5

of Gath 1Sa 27:4 Jos 11:22 2Sa 21:16-22 1Ch 20:4-8

whose height De 3:11 1Ch 11:23 Am 2:9

six cubits According to Bp. Cumberland's calculation, the height of Goliath was about eleven feet ten inches; but Parkhurst estimating the ordinary cubit at seventeen inches and a half, calculates that he was nine feet six inches high. Few instances can be produced of men who can be compared with him. Pliny says, `The tallest man that hath been seen in our days was one name Gabara, who, in the days of Claudius, the late Emperor, was brought out of Arabia: he was nine feet nine inches.' Josephus mentions a Jew, named Eleazar, whom Vitellius sent to Rome, who was seven cubits, or ten feet two inches high. Becanaus saw a man near ten feet, and a woman that was a full ten feet. And, to mention no more, a man of the name of John Middleton, born at Hale, near Warrington, in Lancashire, in the reign of James the First, was more than nine feet high. Dr. Plott, in his history of Staffordshire, says, that `his hand, from the carpus to the end of the middle finger, was seventeen inches, his palms eight inches and a half broad, and his whole height was nine feet three inches; wanting but six inches of the height of Goliath of Gath.'

5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

armed [heb] clothed

6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

target of brass. or, gorget. 1Ki 10:16 2Ch 9:15

7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

the staff 2Sa 21:19 1Ch 11:23 20:5

8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

servants to Saul 1Sa 17:26 8:17 2Sa 11:11 1Ch 21:3

9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

and serve us 1Sa 11:1

10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

I defy 1Sa 17:25,26,36,45 Nu 23:7,8 2Sa 21:21 23:9 Ne 2:19

give me Job 40:9-12 Ps 9:4,5 Pr 16:18 Jer 9:23 Da 4:37

11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

dismayed De 31:8 Jos 1:9 Ps 27:1 Pr 28:1 Isa 51:12,13 57:11

12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.

David 1Sa 17:58 16:1,18 Ru 4:22 Mt 1:6 Lu 3:31,32

Ephrathite Ge 35:19 Ps 132:6 Mic 5:2 Mt 2:1,6

eight sons 1Sa 16:10,11 1Ch 2:13-16

13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

the names 1Sa 17:28 16:6-8 1Ch 2:13

Shammah 2Sa 13:3,32 21:21

Shimeah

14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.

the youngest 1Sa 16:11 Ge 25:23

15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

returned 1Sa 16:11,19-23

16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

forty days Mt 4:2 Lu 4:2

17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of thy brethren;

Take now Mt 7:11 Lu 11:13

parched corn 1Sa 25:18 Ru 2:14 2Sa 17:28

18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

carry 1Sa 16:20

cheeses [heb] cheeses of milk 2Sa 17:29 Job 10:10

their thousand [heb] a thousand
look Ge 37:14 Ac 15:36 1Th 3:5,6

19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

the valley Dr. Richardson says, that in about twenty minutes, in an easterly direction, form the cave of St. John, (which is about two hours or six miles, in a westerly direction, from Jerusalem,) they came to the valley of Elah; which position seems to agree with that of Shochoh and Azekah. He describes it as `a small valley, and the place of the encampment is pointed out where it narrows into a broad, deep ravine; part of it was in crop, and part of it was under the plough, which was drawn by a couple of oxen. A small stream, which had shrunk almost under its stony bed, passes through it from east to west, from which we are informed that David chose out five smooth stones, and hasted and ran to meet the haughty champion of Gath. A well of water under the bank, with a few olive trees above, on the north side of the valley, are said to mark the spot of the shepherd's triumph over his boasting antagonist. Saul and his men probably occupied the side of the valley which is nearest to Jerusalem, on which the ground is higher and more rugged than on the other side.'

20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.

left the sheep 1Sa 17:28 Eph 6:1,2

trench. or, place of the carriage 1Sa 26:5 Lu 19:43

fight. or, battle array, or place of fight.

21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.

22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

his carriage. [heb] the vessels from upon him
saluted his brethren [heb] asked his brethren of peace Ge 37:14 Jud 18:15 Mt 10:12,13 Lu 10:5,6

23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.

according 1Sa 17:4-10

24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

him [heb] his face 1Sa 13:6,7

sore 1Sa 17:11 Le 26:36 Nu 13:33 De 32:30 Isa 7:2 30:17

25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

the king 1Sa 18:17-27 Jos 15:16 Re 2:7,17 3:5,12,21

free in Israel Ezr 7:24 Mt 17:26

26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

reproach 1Sa 11:2 Jos 7:8,9 2Ki 19:4 Ne 5:9 Ps 44:13 74:18 79:12 Da 9:16 Joe 2:19

uncircumcised 1Sa 17:36 14:6

defy 1Sa 17:10 De 5:26 Jer 10:10 1Th 1:9 1Jo 5:20

27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.

So shall it 1Sa 17:25

28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

Eliab's anger 1Sa 16:13 Ge 37:4,8,11 Pr 18:19 27:4 Ec 4:4 Mt 10:36 27:18 Mr 3:21

with 1Sa 17:20

I know 1Sa 16:7 Ps 35:11 Jude 1:10

29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

Pr 15:1 Ac 11:2-4 1Co 2:15 1Pe 3:9

30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.

manner [heb] word 1Sa 17:26,27

31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.

sent for him [heb] took him Pr 22:29

The preceding twenty verses, from the 12th to the 31st inclusive, the 41st, and from the 54th to the end of this chapter, with the five first verses and the 9th, 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, and 19th, of ch. 18, are all wanting in the Vatican copy of the LXX.; and they are supposed by Dr. Kennicott, and others, to be an interpolation. But, as Bp. Horsley observes, it appears, from many circumstances of the story, that David's combat with Goliath was many years prior to Saul's madness, and David's introduction to him as a musician. In the first place, David was quite a youth when engaged with Goliath, (ver. 33, 42:) when introduced to Saul he was of full age, (ch 16:18) Again, this combat was his first appearance in public life, and first military exploit, (ver. 36, 38,39) when introduced as a musician, he was man of established character, and a man of war (ch. 16:18). Now the just conclusion is, that the last ten verses of chapter 16 have been misplaced; their true place being between the ninth and tenth verses of ch. 18. Let them be removed there, and the whole apparent disorder will be removed.

32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

Let Nu 13:30 14:9 De 20:1-3 Isa 35:4 Heb 12:12

thy 1Sa 14:6 16:18 Jos 14:12 Ps 3:6 27:1-3

33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

Thou art not Nu 13:31 De 9:2 Ps 11:1 Re 13:4

for thou are but 1Sa 17:42,56

34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

lamb. or, kid

35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

smote him Jud 14:5,6 2Sa 23:20 Ps 91:13 Da 6:22 Am 3:12 Ac 28:4-6 2Ti 4:17,18

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

this 1Sa 17:26 Eze 32:19,27-32 Ro 2:28,29

seeing 1Sa 17:10 Isa 10:15 36:8-10,15,18 37:22,23,28,29 Zec 2:8 12:3 Ac 5:38,39 9:4,5 12:1,2,22,23

37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

The Lord 1Sa 7:12 Ps 11:1 18:16,17 63:7 77:11 138:3,7,8 2Co 1:9,10 2Ti 4:17,18

Go 1Sa 20:13 24:19 26:25 2Sa 10:12 1Ch 22:11,16

38 And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

armed David with his armour [heb] clothed David with his clothes 1Sa 17:5

39 And David girded his sword upon his armor, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

put them off Ho 1:7 Zec 4:6 2Co 10:4,5

40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

staff Jud 3:31 7:16-20 15:15,16 20:16 1Co 1:27-29

brook. or, valley
bag. [heb] vessel Mt 10:10

41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.

42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

disdained 1Ki 20:18 2Ki 18:23,24 Ne 4:2-4 Ps 123:4

a youth 1Sa 17:33 16:12

43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

Am 1Sa 24:14 2Sa 3:8 9:8 16:9 2Ki 8:13

cursed Ge 27:29 Nu 22:6,11,12 Jud 9:27 Pr 26:2

44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

come to me 1Ki 20:10,11 Pr 18:12 Ec 9:11,12 Jer 9:23 Eze 28:2,9,10 39:17-20

I will give Parallel instances of vaunting occur in some writers of a more recent date:--The conspirators against the emperor Maximinus having slain him, his son, and several of his best friends, threw out their bodies to be devoured by dogs and the fowls of the air. This custom appears to have been frequently threatened; and however shocking to human feelings, was often carried into effect.

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

Thou comest Ps 44:6

in the name 2Sa 22:33-35 2Ch 32:8 Ps 3:8 18:2 20:5-7 118:10,11 124:8 125:1 Pr 18:10 2Co 3:5 10:4 Php 4:13 Heb 11:33,34

defied 1Sa 17:10,26,36 Isa 37:23,28

46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

will the Lord De 7:2,23 9:2,3 Jos 10:8

deliver thee [heb] shut thee up Ps 31:8

take thine 1Sa 17:51

carcases 1Sa 17:44 De 28:26 Isa 56:9 Mt 24:28 Re 19:17,18

all the earth Ex 9:16 15:14,15 Jos 4:24 1Ki 8:43 18:36,37 2Ki 19:19 Ps 46:10 Isa 52:10 Da 2:47 3:29 6:26,27

47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.

saveth not Ps 33:16,17 44:6,7 Pr 21:30,31 Ho 1:7

the battle 1Sa 14:6 2Ch 20:15-17 Ps 46:11 Isa 9:7 Zec 4:6 Ro 8:31,37

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

David hasted Ps 27:1 Pr 28:1

49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

smote 1Ki 22:34 2Ki 9:24 1Co 1:27,28

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

So David prevailed The tradition of the combat between David and Goliath, in which the latter was killed, is preserved among the Arabs; for he is mentioned in the Koran, where he is called Galut or Jalut. The Arabs also call the dynasty of the Philistine kings, who reigned in palestine when the Hebrews came there, Galutiah, or Jalutiah. Achmed Al Fassi say, `Those kings were as well known by the name of Jalaut, as the ancient kings of Egypt by that of Pharaoh. David killed the Jalaut who reigned in his time, and entirely rooted out the Philistines, the rest of whom fled into Africa, and from them descended the Brebers or Berbers, who inhabit the coast of Barbary.' It is remarkable that the Berbers themselves should acknowledge their descent from the Philistines. The name Goliath, which they pronounce Sqhia-lud, is very common among the Brebers, and the history of the champion of the Philistines is very well known to the Moors. When children quarrel, and the bigger one challenges the smaller to fight the latter answers, `Who will fight with you? (Enta men ulid Sgialud.) You are of the race of Golaith.' The Jews who dwell among them, on the mountains, all call them Philistines. 1Sa 21:9 23:21 Jud 3:31 15:15

but there was 1Sa 17:39 13:22

51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

his sword 1Sa 21:9 2Sa 23:21 Es 7:10 Ps 7:15,16 Heb 2:14

cut off 1Sa 17:46

fled [heb] heb 11:34

52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.

the men of Israel 1Sa 14:21,22 Jud 7:23 2Sa 23:10

valley Jos 15:33-36,45,46

53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

they spoiled 2Ki 7:7-16 Jer 4:20 30:16

54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent.

took the head 1Sa 21:9 Ex 16:33 Jos 4:7,8

55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

whose son 1Sa 17:58 16:21,22

56 And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.

57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

the head 1Sa 17:54

58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.

Whose son To account for the apparent inconsistency of Saul not knowing David, see the Note at the end of verse 31.

I am the son 1Sa 17:12 16:18,19