50 So David H1732 prevailed H2388 over H4480 the Philistine H6430 with a sling H7050 and with a stone, H68 and smote H5221 the Philistine, H6430 and slew H4191 him; but there was no sword H2719 in the hand H3027 of David. H1732
And after H310 him was Shamgar H8044 the son H1121 of Anath, H6067 which slew H5221 of the Philistines H6430 six H8337 hundred H3967 men H376 with an ox H1241 goad: H4451 and he also delivered H3467 Israel. H3478
And he found H4672 a new H2961 jawbone H3895 of an ass, H2543 and put forth H7971 his hand, H3027 and took H3947 it, and slew H5221 a thousand H505 men H376 therewith.
So it came to pass in the day H3117 of battle, H4421 that there was neither sword H2719 nor spear H2595 found H4672 in the hand H3027 of any of the people H5971 that were with Saul H7586 and Jonathan: H3129 but with Saul H7586 and with Jonathan H3129 his son H1121 was there found. H4672
And David H1732 girded H2296 his sword H2719 upon his armour, H4055 and he assayed H2974 to go; H3212 for he had not proved H5254 it. And David H1732 said H559 unto Saul, H7586 I cannot H3201 go H3212 with these; for I have not proved H5254 them. And David H1732 put H5493 them off him.
And the priest H3548 said, H559 The sword H2719 of Goliath H1555 the Philistine, H6430 whom thou slewest H5221 in the valley H6010 of Elah, H425 behold, it is here wrapped H3874 in a cloth H8071 behind H310 the ephod: H646 if thou wilt take H3947 that, take H3947 it: for there is no other H312 save H2108 that here. H2088 And David H1732 said, H559 There is none like that; give H5414 it me.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Samuel 17
Commentary on 1 Samuel 17 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 17
David is the man whom God now delights to honour, for he is a man after his own heart. We read in the foregoing chapter how, after he was anointed, Providence made him famous in the court; we read in this chapter how Providence made him much more famous in the camp, and, by both, not only marked him for a great man, but fitted him for the throne for which he was designed. In the court he was only Saul's physician; but in the camp Israel's champion; there he fairly fought, and beat Goliath of Gath. In the story observe,
1Sa 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,
1Sa 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 Israel more and more timorous, while God designed hereby to ripen him for destruction and to make Israel's deliverance the more illustrious. All this while David is keeping his father's sheep, but at the end of forty days Providence brings him to the field to win and wear the laurel which no other Israelite dares venture for. We have in these verses,
1Sa 17:31-39
David is at length presented to Saul for his champion (v. 31) and he bravely undertakes to fight the Philistine (v. 32): Let no man's heart fail because of him. It would have reflected too much upon the valour of his prince if he had said, Let not thy heart fail; therefore he speaks generally: Let no man's heart fail. A little shepherd, come but this morning from keeping sheep, has more courage than all the mighty men of Israel, and encourages them. Thus does God often send good words to his Israel, and do great things for them, by the weak and foolish things of the world. David only desires a commission from Saul to go and fight with the Philistine, but says nothing to him of the reward he had proposed, because that was not the thing he was ambitious of, but only the honour of serving God and his country: nor would he seem to question Saul's generosity. Two things David had to do with Saul:-
1Sa 17:40-47
We are now coming near this famous combat, and have in these verses the preparations and remonstrances made on both sides.
1Sa 17:48-58
Here is,