Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
1 Kings (1 Samuel) Chapter 17
Overview
Sa1 17:1, The armies of the Israelites and Philistines being ready to battle, Sa1 17:4, Goliath challenges a combat; Sa1 17:12, David, sent by his father to visit his brethren, takes the challenge; Sa1 17:28, Eliab chides him; Sa1 17:30, He is brought to Saul; Sa1 17:32, shews the reason of his confidence; Sa1 17:38, and slays the giant; Sa1 17:55, Saul takes notice of David.
gathered: Sa1 7:7, Sa1 13:5, Sa1 14:46, Sa1 14:52; Jdg 3:3
Shochoh: Jos 15:35, Socoh, Ch2 11:7, Shoco, Ch2 28:18, Shocho
Azekah: Jos 10:10, Jos 10:11, Jos 15:35; Jer 34:7
Ephesdammim: or, the coast of Dammim, Ch1 11:13, Pas-dammim
the valley: Sa1 17:19, Sa1 21:9
set the battle in array: Heb. ranged the battle
Goliath: Sa1 17:23, Sa1 21:9, Sa1 21:10; Sa2 21:19; Ch1 20:5
of Gath: Sa1 27:4; Jos 11:22; Sa2 21:16-22; Ch1 20:4-8
whose height: Deu 3:11; Ch1 11:23; Amo 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. Becanus saw a man near ten feet, and a woman that was 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.
armed: Heb. clothed, Sa1 17:38
target of brass: or, gorget, Kg1 10:16; Ch2 9:15
the staff: Sa2 21:19; Ch1 11:23, Ch1 20:5
servants to Saul: Sa1 17:26, Sa1 8:17; Sa2 11:11; Ch1 21:3
and serve us: Sa1 11:1
I defy: Sa1 17:25, Sa1 17:26, Sa1 17:36, Sa1 17:45; Num 23:7, Num 23:8; Sa2 21:21, Sa2 23:9; Neh 2:19
give me: Job 40:9-12; Psa 9:4, Psa 9:5; Pro 16:18; Jer 9:23; Dan 4:37
dismayed: Deu 31:8; Jos 1:9; Psa 27:1; Pro 28:1; Isa 51:12, Isa 51:13, Isa 57:11
David: Sa1 17:58, Sa1 16:1, Sa1 16:18; Rut 4:22; Mat 1:6; Luk 3:31, Luk 3:32
Ephrathite: Gen 35:19; Psa 132:6; Mic 5:2; Mat 2:1, Mat 2:6
eight sons: Sa1 16:10, Sa1 16:11; Ch1 2:13-16
the names: Sa1 17:28, Sa1 16:6-9; Ch1 2:13
Shammah: Sa2 13:3, Sa2 13:32, Sa2 21:21, Shimeah
the youngest: Sa1 16:11; Gen 25:23
returned: Sa1 16:11, Sa1 16:19-23
parched corn: Sa1 25:18; Rut 2:14; Sa2 17:28
carry: Sa1 16:20
cheeses: Heb. cheeses of milk, Sa2 17:29; Job 10:10
their thousand: Heb. a thousand
look: Gen 37:14; Act 15:36; Th1 3:5, Th1 3:6
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." Sa1 17:19
left the sheep: Sa1 17:28; Eph 6:1, Eph 6:2
trench: or, place of the carriage, Sa1 26:5; Luk 19:43
fight: or, battle array, or place of fight
his carriage: Heb. the vessels from upon him
saluted his brethren: Heb. asked his brethren of peace, Gen 37:14; Jdg 18:15; Mat 10:12, Mat 10:13; Luk 10:5, Luk 10:6
according: Sa1 17:4-10
him: Heb. his face, Sa1 13:6, Sa1 13:7
sore: Sa1 17:11; Lev 26:36; Num 13:33; Deu 32:30; Isa 7:2, Isa 30:17
the king: Sa1 18:17-27; Jos 15:16; Rev 2:7, Rev 2:17, Rev 3:5, Rev 3:12, Rev 3:21
free in Israel: Ezr 7:24; Mat 17:26
reproach: Sa1 11:2; Jos 7:8, Jos 7:9; Kg2 19:4; Neh 5:9; Psa 44:13, Psa 74:18, Psa 79:12; Dan 9:16; Joe 2:19
uncircumcised: Sa1 17:36, Sa1 14:6
defy: Sa1 17:10; Deu 5:26; Jer 10:10; Th1 1:9; Jo1 5:20
So shall it: Sa1 17:25
Eliab's anger: Sa1 16:13; Gen 37:4, Gen 37:8, Gen 37:11; Pro 18:19, Pro 27:4; Ecc 4:4; Mat 10:36, Mat 27:18; Mar 3:21
with: Sa1 17:20
I know: Sa1 16:7; Psa 35:11; Jde 1:10
Pro 15:1; Act 11:2-4; Co1 2:15; Pe1 3:9
manner: Heb. word, Sa1 17:26, Sa1 17:27
sent for him: Heb. took him, Pro 22:29; The preceding twenty verses, from the Sa1 17:12 to the Sa1 17:31 inclusive, the Sa1 17:41, and from the Sa1 17:54 to the end of this chapter, with the first Sa1 18:1 and the Sa1 18:9, 10th, 11th, Sa1 18:17, 18th, and 19th, of chapter 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 he engaged with Goliath (Sa1 17:33 and Sa1 17:42). When introduced to Saul he was of full age (Sa1 16:18). Again, this combat was his first appearance in public life, and his first military exploit (Sa1 17:36, Sa1 17:38, Sa1 17:39). When introduced as a musician, he was a man of established character, and a man of war (Sa1 16:18). Now the just conclusion is, that the last ten verses of Sa1 16:14 have been misplaced; their true place being between the ninth and tenth verses of Jos 18:9. Let them be removed there, and the whole apparent disorder will be removed.
Let: Num 13:30, Num 14:9; Deu 20:1-3; Isa 35:4; Heb 12:12
thy: Sa1 14:6, Sa1 16:18; Jos 14:12; Psa 3:6, Psa 27:1-3
Thou art not: Num 13:31; Deu 9:2; Psa 11:1; Rev 13:4
for thou art but: Sa1 17:42, Sa1 17:56
lamb: or, kid
smote him: Jdg 14:5, Jdg 14:6; Sa2 23:20; Psa 91:13; Dan 6:22; Amo 3:12; Act 28:4-6; Ti2 4:17, Ti2 4:18
this: Sa1 17:26; Eze 32:19, Eze 32:27-32; Rom 2:28, Rom 2:29
seeing: Sa1 17:10; Isa 10:15, Isa 36:8-10, Isa 36:15, Isa 36:18, Isa 37:22, Isa 37:23, Isa 37:28, Isa 37:29; Zac 2:8, Zac 12:3; Act 5:38, Act 5:39, Act 9:4, Act 9:5, Act 12:1, Act 12:2, Act 12:22, Act 12:23
The Lord: Sa1 7:12; Psa 11:1, Psa 18:16, Psa 18:17, Psa 63:7, Psa 77:11, Psa 138:3, Psa 138:7, Psa 138:8; Co2 1:9, Co2 1:10; Ti2 4:17, Ti2 4:18
Go: Sa1 20:13, Sa1 24:19, Sa1 26:25; Sa2 10:12; Ch1 22:11, Ch1 22:16
armed David with his armour: Heb. clothed David with his clothes, Sa1 17:5
put them off: Hos 1:7; Zac 4:6; Co2 10:4, Co2 10:5
staff: Jdg 3:31, Jdg 7:16-20, Jdg 15:15, Jdg 15:16, Jdg 20:16; Co1 1:27-29
brook: or, valley
bag: Heb. vessel, Mat 10:10
disdained: Kg1 20:18; Kg2 18:23, Kg2 18:24; Neh 4:2-4; Psa 123:3, Psa 123:4; Co2 11:27-29
Am: Sa1 24:14; Sa2 3:8, Sa2 9:8, Sa2 16:9; Kg2 8:13
cursed: Gen 27:29; Num 22:6, Num 22:11, Num 22:12; Jdg 9:27; Pro 26:2
Come to me: Kg1 20:10, Kg1 20:11; Pro 18:12; Ecc 9:11, Ecc 9:12; Jer 9:23; Eze 28:2, Eze 28:9, Eze 28:10; Eze 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.
Thou comest: Psa 44:6
in the name: Sa2 22:33-35; Ch2 32:8; Psa 3:8, Psa 18:2, Psa 20:5-7, Psa 118:10, Psa 118:11, Psa 124:8; Psa 125:1; Pro 18:10; Co2 3:5, Co2 10:4; Phi 4:13; Heb 11:33, Heb 11:34
defied: Sa1 17:10, Sa1 17:26, Sa1 17:36; Isa 37:23, Isa 37:28
will the Lord: Deu 7:2, Deu 7:23, Deu 9:2, Deu 9:3; Jos 10:8
deliver thee: Heb. shut thee up, Psa 31:8
take thine: Sa1 17:51
carcases: Sa1 17:44; Deu 28:26; Isa 56:9; Mat 24:28; Rev 19:17, Rev 19:18
all the earth: Exo 9:16, Exo 15:14, Exo 15:15; Jos 4:24; Kg1 8:43, Kg1 18:36, Kg1 18:37; Kg2 19:19; Psa 46:10; Isa 52:10; Dan 2:47, Dan 3:29, Dan 6:26, Dan 6:27
saveth not: Psa 33:16, Psa 33:17, Psa 44:6, Psa 44:7; Pro 21:30, Pro 21:31; Hos 1:7
the battle: Sa1 14:6; Ch2 20:15-17; Psa 46:11; Isa 9:7; Zac 4:6; Rom 8:31, Rom 8:37
David hasted: Psa 27:1; Pro 28:1
smote: Kg1 22:34; Kg2 9:24; Co1 1:27, Co1 1:28
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 says, "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 Sghialud, 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." Sa1 21:9, Sa1 23:21; Jdg 3:31, Jdg 15:15
but there was: Sa1 17:39, Sa1 13:22
his sword: Sa1 21:9; Sa2 23:21; Est 7:10; Psa 7:15, Psa 7:16; Heb 2:14
cut off: Sa1 17:46
fled: Heb 11:34
the men of Israel: Sa1 14:21, Sa1 14:22; Jdg 7:23; Sa2 23:10
valley: Jos 15:33-36, Jos 15:45, Jos 15:46
they spoiled: Kg2 7:7-16; Jer 4:20, Jer 30:16
took the head: Sa1 21:9; Exo 16:33; Jos 4:7, Jos 4:8
whose son: Sa1 17:58, Sa1 16:21, Sa1 16:22
the head: Sa1 17:54
Whose son: To account for the apparent inconsistency of Saul not knowing David, see note at the end of Sa1 17:31.