BIBLES NET. COM
Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
on the Whole Bible
Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page
|
[Previous] [Next] |
Matthew Henry |
F I R S T S A M U E L
CHAP. XVII.
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,
I. What a noble figure Goliath made, and how daringly he challenged the
armies of Israel,
II. What a mean figure David made, when Providence brought him to the
army,
III. The unparalleled bravery wherewith David undertook to encounter
this Philistine,
IV. The pious resolution with which he attacked him,
V. The glorious victory he obtained over him with a sling and a stone,
and the advantage which the Israelites thereby gained against the
Philistines,
VI. The great notice which was hereupon taken of David at court,
| Goliath’s Challenge to Israel. | B. C. 1060. |
|
|
|
1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle,
and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to
Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes-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.
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.
5 And he had a 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.
6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of
brass between his shoulders.
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.
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.
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.
10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this
day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the
Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
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,
v. 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 footing for Philistine-armies if Israel had been faithful to
their God. The Philistines (it is probable) had heard that Samuel had
fallen out with Saul and forsaken him, and no longer assisted and
advised him, and that Saul had grown melancholy and unfit for business,
and this news encouraged them to make this attempt for the retrieving
of the credit they had lately lost. The enemies of the church are
watchful to take all advantages, and they never have greater advantages
than when her protectors have provoked God’s Spirit and prophets to
leave them. Saul mustered his forces, and faced them,
And here we must take notice,
1. That the evil spirit, for the present, had left Saul,
David’s harp having given him some relief, perhaps the alarms and
affairs of the war prevented the return of the distemper. Business is a
good antidote against melancholy. Let the mind have something without
to fasten on and employ itself about, and it will be the less in danger
of preying upon itself. God, in mercy to Israel, suspended the judgment
for a while; for how distracted must the affairs of the public have
been if at this juncture the prince had been distracted!
2. That David for the present had returned to Bethlehem, and had left
the court,
When Saul had no further occasion to use him for the relief of his
distemper, though, being anointed, he had a very good private reason,
and, having a grant of the place of Saul’s armour-bearer, he had a very
plausible pretence to have continued his attendance, as a retainer to
the court, yet he went home to Bethlehem, and returned to keep his
father’s sheep; this was a rare instance, in a young man that stood so
fair for preferment, of humility and affection to his parents. He knew
better than most do how to come down again after he had begun to rise,
and strangely preferred the retirements of the pastoral life before all
the pleasures and gaieties of the court. None more fit for honour than
he, nor that deserved it better, and yet none more dead to it.
II. How they defied Israel with their champion Goliath, whom they were
almost as proud of as he was of himself, hoping by him to recover their
reputation and dominion. Perhaps the army of the Israelites was
superior in number and strength to that of the Philistines, which made
the Philistines decline a battle, and stand at bay with them, desiring
rather to put the issue upon a single combat, in which, having such a
champion, they hoped to gain the victory. Now concerning this champion
observe,
1. His prodigious size. He was of the sons of Anak, who at Gath kept
their ground in Joshua’s time
(Josh. xi. 22),
and kept up a race of giants there, of which Goliath was one, and, it
is probable, one of the largest. He was in height six cubits and a
span,
v. 4.
They learned bishop Cumberland has made it out that the scripture-cubit
was above twenty-one inches (above three inches more than our
half-yard) and a span was half a cubit, by which computation Goliath
wanted but eight inches of four yard in height, eleven feet and four
inches, a monstrous stature, and which made him very formidable,
especially if he had strength and spirit proportionable.
2. His armour. Art, as well as nature, made him terrible. He was well
furnished with defensive armour
(v. 5, 6):
A helmet of brass on his head, a coat of mail, made of brass
plates laid over one another, like the scales of a fish; and, because
his legs would lie most within the reach of an ordinary man, he wore
brass boots, and had a large corselet of brass about his neck. The coat
is said to weigh 5000 shekels, and a shekel was half an ounce
avoirdupois, a vast weight for a man to carry, all the other parts of
his armour being proportionable. But some think it should be
translated, not the weight of the coat, but the value of
it, was 5000 shekels; so much it cost. His offensive weapons were
extraordinary, of which his spear only is here described,
v. 7.
It was like a weaver’s beam. His arm could manage that which an
ordinary man could scarcely heave. His shield only, which was the
lightest of all his accoutrements, was carried before him by his
esquire, probably for state; for he that was clad in brass little
needed a shield.
3. His challenge. The Philistines having chosen him for their champion,
to save themselves from the hazard of battle, he here throws down the
gauntlet, and bids defiance to the armies of Israel,
He came into the valley that lay between the camps, and, his voice
probably being as much stronger than other people’s as his arm was, he
cried so as to make them all hear him, Give me a man, that we may
fight together. He looked upon himself with admiration, because he
was so much taller and stronger than all about him; his heart (says
bishop Hall) nothing but a lump of proud flesh. He looked upon Israel
with disdain, because they had none among them of such a monstrous
bulk, and defies them to find a man among them bold enough to enter the
list with him.
(1.) He upbraids them with their folly in drawing an army together:
“Why have you come to set the battle in array? How dare you
oppose the mighty Philistines?” Or, “Why should the two armies engage,
when the controversy may be sooner decided, with only the expense of
one life and the hazard of another?”
(2.) He offers to put the war entirely upon the issue of the duel he
proposes: “If your champion kill me, we will be your servants; if I
kill him, you shall be ours.” This, says bishop Patrick, was only a
bravado, for no nation would be willing thus to venture its all upon
the success of one man, nor is it justifiable; notwithstanding
Goliath’s stipulation here, when he was killed the Philistines did not
stand to his word, nor submit themselves as servants to Israel. When he
boasts, I am a Philistine, and you are servants to Saul, he
would have it thought a great piece of condescension in him, who was a
chief ruler, to enter the lists with an Israelite; for he looked on
them as no better than slaves. The Chaldee paraphrase brings him in
boasting that he was the man that had killed Hophni and Phinehas and
taken the ark prisoner, but that the Philistines had never given him so
much as the command of a regiment in recompence of his services,
whereas Saul had been made king for his services: “Let him therefore
take up the challenge.”
4. The terror this struck upon Israel: Saul and his army were
greatly afraid,
v. 11.
The people would not have been dismayed but that they observed Saul’s
courage failed him; and it is not to be expected that, if the leader be
a coward, the followers should be bold. We found before, when the
Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul
(ch. xi. 6),
none could be more daring nor forward to answer the challenge of Nahash
the Ammonite, but now that the Spirit of the Lord had departed from
him even the big looks and big words of a single Philistine make
him change colour. But where was Jonathan all this while? Why did not
he accept the challenge, who, in the last war, had so bravely engaged a
whole army of Philistines? Doubtless he did not feel himself stirred up
of God to it, as he did in the former case. As the best, so the bravest
men, are no more than what God makes them. Jonathan must now sit still,
because the honour of engaging Goliath is reserved for David. In great
and good actions, the wind of the Spirit blows when and where he
listeth. Now the pious Israelites lament their king’s breach with
Samuel.
| David Comes to the Camp of Israel. | B. C. 1060. |
|
|
|
12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of
Bethlehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons:
and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
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.
14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed
Saul.
15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s
sheep at Bethlehem.
16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and
presented himself forty days.
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 to thy brethren;
18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their
thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the
valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
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.
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.
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.
24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from
him, and were sore afraid.
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.
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?
27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So
shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
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.
29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a
cause?
30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the
same manner: and the people answered him again after the former
manner.
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,
I. The present state of his family. His father was old
(v. 12):
He went among men for an old man, was taken notice of for his
great age, above what was usual at that time, and therefore was excused
from pubic services, and went not in person to the wars, but sent his
sons; he had the honours paid him that were due his age, his hoary head
was a crown of glory to him. David’s three elder brethren, who perhaps
envied his place at the court, got their father to send for him home,
and let them go to the camp, where they hoped to signalize themselves
and eclipse him
(v. 13, 14),
while David himself was so far from being proud of the services he had
done his prince, or ambitious of further preferment, that he not only
returned from court to the obscurity of his father’s house, but to
care, and toil, and (as it proved,
the peril, of keeping his father’s sheep. It was the praise of
this humility that it came after he had the honour of a courtier, and
the reward of it that it came before the honour of a conqueror.
Before honour is humility. Now he had that opportunity of
mediation and prayer, and other acts of devotion, which fitted him for
what he was destined to more than all the military exercises of that
inglorious camp could do.
II. The orders his father gave him to go and visit his brethren in the
camp. He did not himself ask leave to go, to satisfy his curiosity, or
to gain experience and make observations; but his father sent him on a
mean and homely errand, on which any of his servants might have gone.
He must carry some bread and cheese to his brethren, ten loaves with
some parched corn for themselves
(v. 17)
and ten cheeses (which, it seems, he thought too good for them) for a
present to their colonel,
David must still be the drudge of the family, though he was to be the
greatest ornament of it. He had not so much as an ass at command to
carry his load, but must take it on his back, and yet run to the camp.
Jesse, we thought, was privy to his being anointed, and yet
industriously kept him thus mean and obscure, probably to hide him from
the eye of suspicion and envy, knowing that he was anointed to a crown
in reversion. He must observe how his brethren fared, whether they were
not reduced to short allowance, now that the encampment continued so
long, that, if need were, he might send them more provisions. And he
must take their pledge, that is, if they had pawned any thing, he must
redeem it; take notice of their company, so some observe, whom
they associate with, and what sort of life they lead. Perhaps David,
like Joseph, had formerly brought to his father their evil report, and
now he sends him to enquire concerning their manners. See the care the
pious parents about their children when they are abroad from them,
especially in places of temptation; they are solicitous how they
conduct themselves, and particularly what company they keep. Let
children think of this, and conduct themselves accordingly, remembering
that, when they are from under their parents’ eye, they are still under
God’s eye.
III. David’s dutiful obedience to his father’s command. His prudence and care made him be up early
(v. 20),
and yet not to leave his sheep without a keeper, so faithful was he in
a few things and therefore the fitter to be made ruler over many
things, and so well had he learnt to obey before he pretended to
command. God’s providence brought him to the camp very seasonably, when
both sides had set the battle in array, and, as it should seem, were
more likely to come to an engagement than they had yet been during all
the forty days,
Both sides were now preparing to fight. Jesse little thought of sending
his son to the army just at that critical juncture, but the wise God
orders the time and all the circumstances of actions and affairs so as
to serve his designs of securing the interests of Israel and advancing
the men after his own heart. Now observe here,
1. How brisk and lively David was,
What articles he brought he honestly took care of, and left them with
those that had the charge of the bag and baggage; but, though he had
come a long journey with a great load, he ran into the army, to
see what was doing there, and to pay his respects to his brethren.
Seest thou a man thus diligent in his business, he is in
the way of preferment, he shall stand before kings.
2. How bold and daring the Philistine was,
Now that the armies were drawn out into a line of battle he appeared
first to renew his challenge, vainly imagining that he was in the eager
chase of his own glory and triumph, whereas really he was but courting
his own destruction.
3. How timorous and faint-hearted the men of Israel were. Though they
had, for forty days together, been used to his haughty looks and
threatening language, and, having seen no execution done by either,
might have learned to despise both, yet, upon his approach, they
fled from him and were greatly afraid,
v. 24.
One Philistine could never thus have chased 1000 Israelites, and put
10,000 to flight, unless their Rock, being treacherously forsaken by
them, had justly sold them, and shut them up,
Deut. xxxii. 30.
4. How high Saul bid for a champion. Though he was the tallest of all
the men of Israel, and, if he had not been so, while he kept close to
God might himself have safely taken up the gauntlet which this insolent
Philistine threw down, yet, the Spirit of the Lord having departed from
him, he durst not do it, nor press Jonathan to do it; but whoever will
do it shall have as good preferment as he can give him,
If the hope of wealth and honour will prevail with any man to expose
himself so far, it is proclaimed that the bold adventurer, if he come
off, shall marry the king’s daughter and have a good portion with her;
but, as it should seem, whether he come off or no, his father’s
house shall be free in Israel, from all toll, tribute, custom, and
services to the crown, or shall be ennobled and advanced to the
peerage.
5. How much concerned David was to assert the honour of God and Israel
against the impudent challenges of this champion. He asked what reward
was promised to him that should slay this Philistine
(v. 26),
though he knew already, not because he was ambitious of the honour, but
because he would have it taken notice of, and reported to Saul, how
much he resented the indignity hereby done to Israel and Israel’s God.
He might have presumed so far upon his acquaintance and interest at
court as to go himself to Saul to offer his service; but his modesty
would not let him do this. It was one of his own rules, before it was
one of his son’s proverbs, Put not forth thyself in the presence of
the king, and stand not in the place of great men
(Prov. xxv. 6);
yet his zeal put him upon that method which he hoped would bring him
into this great engagement. Two considerations, it seems, fired David
with a holy indignation:–
(1.) That the challenger was one that was uncircumcised, a stranger to
God and out of covenant with him.
(2.) That the challenged were the armies of the living God, devoted to
him, employed by him and for him, so that the affronts offered to them
reflected upon the living God himself, and that he could not
bear. When therefore some had told him what was the reward proposed for
killing the Philistine
(v. 27)
he asked others
(v. 30),
with the same resentment, which he expected would at length come to
Saul’s ear.
6. How he was brow-beaten and discouraged by his eldest brother Eliab,
who, taking notice of his forwardness, fell into a passion upon it, and
gave David very abusive language,
Consider this,
(1.) As the fruit of Eliab’s jealousy. He was the eldest brother, and
David the youngest, and perhaps it had been customary with him (as it
is with too many elder brothers) to trample upon him and take every
occasion to chide him. But those who thus exalt themselves over their
juniors may perhaps live to see themselves, by a righteous providence,
abased, and those to whom they are abusive exalted. Time may come when
the elder may serve the younger. But Eliab was now vexed that his
younger brother should speak those bold words against the Philistine
which he himself durst not say. He knew what honour David had already
had in the court, and, if he should now get honour in the camp (from
which he thought he had found means effectually to seclude him,
v. 15),
the glory of his elder brethren would be eclipsed and stained; and
therefore (such is the nature of jealousy) he would rather that Goliath
should triumph over Israel than that David should be the man that
should triumph over him. Wrath is cruel and anger is outrageous, but
who can stand before envy, especially the envy of a brother, the
keenness of which Jacob, and Joseph, and David experienced? See
It is very ill-favoured language that Eliab here gives him; not only
unjust and unkind, but, at this time, basely ungrateful; for David was
now sent by his father, as Joseph by his, on a kind of visit to his
brethren. Eliab intended, in what he said, not only to grieve and
discourage David himself, and quench that noble fire which he perceived
glowing in his breast, but to represent him to those about him as an
idle proud lad, not fit to be taken notice of. He gives them to
understand that his business was only to keep sheep, and falsely
insinuates that he was a careless unfaithful shepherd; though he had
left his charge in good hands
(v. 20),
yet he must tauntingly be asked, With whom hast thou left those few
sheep? Though he came down now to the camp in disobedience to his
father and kindness to his brethren, and Eliab knew this, yet his
coming is turned to his reproach: “Thou hast come down, not to do any
service, but to gratify thy own curiosity, and only to look about
thee;” and thence he will infer the pride and naughtiness of his
heart, and pretends to know it as certainly as if he were in his
bosom. David could appeal to God concerning his humility and sincerity
and at this time gave proofs of both, and yet could not escape this
hard character from his own brother. See the folly, absurdity, and
wickedness, of a proud and envious passion; how groundless its
jealousies are, how unjust its censures, how unfair its
representations, how bitter its invectives, and how indecent its
language. God, by his grace, keep us from such a spirit!
(2.) As a trial of David’s meekness, patience and constancy. A short
trial it was, and he approved himself well in it; for,
[1.] He bore the provocation with admirable temper
(v. 29):
“What have I now done? What fault have I committed, for which I
should thus be chidden? Is there not a cause for my coming to
the camp, when my father sent me? Is there not a cause for my
resenting the injury done to Israel’s honour by Goliath’s challenges?”
He had right and reason on his side, and knew it, and therefore did not
render railing for railing, but with a soft answer turned away his
brother’s wrath. This conquest of his own passion was in some respects
more honourable than his conquest of Goliath. He that hath rule over
his own spirit is better than the mighty. It was no time for David
to quarrel with his brother when the Philistines were upon them. The
more threatening the church’s enemies are the more forbearing her
friends should be with one another.
[2.] He broke through the discouragement with admirable resolution. He
would not be driven off from his thoughts of engaging the Philistine by
the ill-will of his brother. Those that undertake great and public
services must not think it strange if they be discountenanced and
opposed by those from whom they had reason to expect support and
assistance; but must humbly go on with their work, in the face not only
of their enemies’ threats, but of their friends’ slights and
suspicions.
| David Meets Goliath. | B. C. 1060. |
|
|
|
31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they
rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of
him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put a helmet
of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, 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.
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:–
I. To get clear of the objection Saul made against his undertaking.
“Alas!” says Saul, “thou hast a good heart to it, but art by no means
an equal match for this Philistine. To engage with him is to throw away
a life which may better be reserved for more agreeable services.
Thou art but a youth, rash and inconsiderate, weak and unversed
in arms: he is a man that has the head and hands of a man, a man of
war, trained up and inured to it from his youth
(v. 33),
and how canst thou expect but that he will be too hard for thee?”
David, as he had answered his brother’s passion with meekness, so he
answered Saul’s fear with faith, and gives a reason of the hope
which was in him that he should conquer the Philistine, to the
satisfaction of Saul. We have reason to fear that Saul had no great
acquaintance with nor regard to the word of God, and therefore David,
in reasoning with him, fetched not his arguments and encouragements
thence, how much soever he had an eye to it in his own mind. But he
argues from experience; though he was but a youth, and never in the
wars, yet perhaps he had done as much as the killing of Goliath came
to, for he had had, by divine assistance, spirit enough to encounter
and strength enough to subdue a lion once and another time a bear that
robbed him of his lambs,
To these he compares this uncircumcised Philistine, looks upon him to
be as much a ravenous beast as either of them, and therefore doubts not
but to deal as easily with him; and hereby he gives Saul to understand
that he was not so inexperienced in hazardous combats as he took him to
be.
1. He tells his story like a man of spirit. He is not ashamed to own
that he kept his father’s sheep, which his brother had just now
upbraided him with. So far is he from concealing it that from his
employment as a shepherd he fetches the experience that now animated
him. But he lets those about him know that he was no ordinary shepherd.
Whatever our profession or calling is, be it ever so mean, we should
labour to excel in it, and do the business of it in the best manner.
When David kept sheep,
(1.) He approved himself very careful and tender of his flock, though
it was not his own, but his father’s. He could not see a lamb in
distress but he would venture his life to rescue it. This temper made
him fit to be a king, to whom the lives of subjects should be dear and
their blood precious
and fit to be a type of Christ, the good Shepherd, who gathers the
lambs in his arms and carries them in his bosom
(Isa. xl. 11),
and who not only ventured, but laid down his life for his sheep.
Thus too was David fit to be an example to ministers with the utmost
care and diligence to watch for souls, that they be not a prey to the
roaring lion.
(2.) He approved himself very bold and brave in the defence of his
flock. This was that which he was now concerned to give proof of, and
better evidence could not be demanded than this: “Thy servant not only
rescued the lambs, but, to revenge the injury, slew both the lion
and the bear.“
2. He applies his story like a man of faith. He owns
(v. 37)
it was the Lord that delivered him from the lion and the bear;
to him he gives the praise of that great achievement, and thence he
infers, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.
“The lion and the bear were enemies only to me and my sheep, and it was
in defence of my own interest that I attacked them; but this Philistine
is an enemy to God and Israel, defies the armies of the living
God, and it is for their honour that I attack him.” Note,
(1.) Our experiences ought to be improved by us as our encouragements
to trust in God and venture in the way of duty. He that has delivered
does and will.
(2.) By the care which common Providence takes of the inferior
creatures, and the protection they are under, we may be encouraged to
depend upon that special Providence which surrounds the Israel of God.
He that sets bounds to the waves of the sea and the rage of wild beasts
can and will restrain the wrath of wicked men. Paul seems to allude to
this of David
I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion, and therefore, I
trust, the Lord shall deliver me. And perhaps David here thought
of the story of Samson, and encouraged himself with it; for his slaying
a lion was a happy presage of his many illustrious victories over the
Philistines in single combat. Thus David took off Saul’s objection
against his undertaking, and gained a commission to fight the
Philistine, with which Saul gave him a hearty good wish; since he would
not venture himself, he prayed for him that would: Go, and the Lord
be with thee, a good word, if it was not spoken customarily, and in
a formal manner, as too often it is. But David has somewhat to do
likewise,
II. To get clear of the armour wherewith Saul would, by all means, have
him dressed up when he went upon this great action
(v. 38):
He armed David with his armour, not that which he wore himself,
the disproportion of his stature would not admit that, but some that he
kept in his armoury, little thinking that he on whom he now put his
helmet and coat of mail must shortly inherit his crown and robe. David,
being not yet resolved which way to attack his enemy, girded on his
sword, not knowing, as yet, but he should have occasion to make use
of it; but he found the armour would but encumber him, and would be
rather his burden than his defence, and therefore he desires leave of
Saul to put them off again: I cannot go with these, for I have not
proved them, that is, “I have never been accustomed to such
accoutrements as these.” We may suppose Saul’s armour was both very
fine and very firm, but what good would it do David if it were not fit,
or if he knew not how to manage himself in it? Those that aim at
things above their education and usage, and covet the attire and armour
of princes, forget that that is the best for us which we are fit for
and accustomed to; if we had our desire, we should wish to be in our
own coat again, and should say, “We cannot go with these;” we had
therefore better go without them.
| David Kills Goliath. | B. C. 1060. |
|
|
|
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 carcases 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.
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.
We are now coming near this famous combat, and have in these verses the
preparations and remonstrances made on both sides.
I. The preparations made on both sides for the encounter. The
Philistine was already fixed, as he had been daily for the last forty
days. Well might he go with his armour, for he had sufficiently proved
it. Only we are told
(v. 41)
that he came on and drew near, a signal, it is likely, being
given that his challenge was accepted, and, as if he distrusted his
helmet and coat of mail, a man went before him, carrying his
shield, for his own hands were full with his sword and spear,
But what arms and ammunition is David furnished with? Truly none but
what he brought with him as a shepherd; no breastplate, nor corselet,
but his plain shepherd’s coat; no spear, but his staff; no sword nor
bow, but his sling; no quiver, but his scrip; nor any arrows, but,
instead of them, five smooth stones picked up out of the brook,
By this it appeared that his confidence was purely in the power of God,
and not in any sufficiency of his own, and that now at length he who
put it into his heart to fight the Philistine put it into his head with
what weapons to do it.
II. The conference which precedes the encounter, in which observe,
1. How very proud Goliath was,
(1.) With what scorn he looked upon his adversary,
He looked about, expecting to meet some tall strong man, but, when he
saw what a mean figure he made with whom he was to engage, he disdained
him, thought it below him to enter the lists with him, fearing that the
contemptibleness of the champion he contended with would lessen the
glory of his victory. He took notice of his person, that he was but a
youth, not come to his strength, ruddy and of a fair
countenance, fitter to accompany the virgins of Israel in their
dances (if mixed dancing was then in use) than to lead on the men of
Israel in their battles. He took notice of his array with great
indignation
(v. 43):
“Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? Dost thou think
to beat me as easily as thou dost thy shepherd’s dog?”
(2.) With what confidence he presumed upon his success. He cursed David
by his gods, imprecating the impotent vengeance of his idols against
him, thinking these fire-balls thrown about him would secure his
success: and therefore, in confidence of that, he darts his grimaces,
as if threatening words would kill
(v. 44):
“Come to me, and I will give thy flesh to the fowls of the air,
it will be a tender and delicate feast for them.” Thus the security and
presumption of fools destroy them.
2. How very pious David was. His speech savours nothing of ostentation,
but God is all in all in it,
(1.) He derives his authority from God: “I come to thee by
warrant and commission from heaven, in the name of the Lord, who
has called me to and anointed me for this undertaking, who, by his
universal providence, is the Lord of hosts, of all hosts, and
therefore has power to do what he pleases, and, by the special grace of
his covenant, is the God of the armies of Israel, and therefore
has engaged and will employ his power for their protection, and against
thee who hast impiously defied them.” The name of God David relied on,
as Goliath did on his sword and spear. See
(2.) He depends for success upon God,
David speaks with as much assurance as Goliath had done, but upon
better ground; it is his faith that says, “This day will the Lord
deliver thee into my hand, and not only thy carcase, but the
carcases of the host of the Philistines, shall be given to the birds
and beasts of prey.”
(3.) He devotes the praise and glory of all to God. He did not, like
Goliath, seek his own honour, but the honour of God, not doubting but
by the success of this action,
[1.] All the world should be made to know that there is a God, and that
the God of Israel is the one only living and true God, and all other
pretended deities are vanity and a lie.
[2.] All Israel (whom he calls not this army, but this assembly,
or church, because they were now religiously attending the goings of
their God and King, as they used to do in the sanctuary)
shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear
(v. 47),
but can, when he pleases, save without either and against both,
David addresses himself to this combat rather as a priest that was
going to offer a sacrifice to the justice of God than as a soldier that
was going to engage an enemy of his country.
48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and
drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the
army to meet the Philistine.
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.
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.
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.
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.
53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the
Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to
Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
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.
56 And the king said, Enquire 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.
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.
Here is
1. The engagement between the two champions,
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 make a figure: He hasted, and
ran, being lightly clad, to meet the Philistine. We may
imagine with what tenderness and compassion the Israelites saw such a
pleasing youth as this throwing himself into the mouth of destruction,
but he knew whom he had believed and for whom he acted.
2. The fall of Goliath in this engagement. He was in no haste, because
in no fear, but confident that he should soon at one stroke cleave his
adversary’s head; but, while he was preparing to do it solemnly, David
did his business effectually, without any parade: he slang a stone
which hit him in the forehead, and, in the twinkling of an eye, fetched
him to the ground,
Goliath knew there were famous slingers in Israel
(Judg. xx. 16),
yet was either so forgetful or presumptuous as to go with the beaver of
his helmet open, and thither, to the only part left exposed, not so
much David’s art as God’s providence directed the stone, and brought it
with such force that it sunk into his head, notwithstanding the
impudence with which his forehead was brazened. See how frail and
uncertain life is, even when it thinks itself best fortified, and how
quickly, how easily, and with how small a matter, the passage may be
opened for life to go out and death to enter. Goliath himself has
not power over the spirit to retain the spirit,
Eccl. viii. 8.
Let not the strong man glory in his strength, nor the armed man in his
armour. See how God resists the proud and pours contempt upon those
that bid defiance to him and his people. None ever hardened his heart
against God and prospered. One of the Rabbin thinks that when Goliath
said to David, Come, and I will give thy flesh to the fowls of the
air, he threw up his head so hastily that his helmet fell off, and
so left his broad forehead a fair mark for David. To complete the
execution, David drew Goliath’s own sword, a two-handed weapon for
David, and with it cut off his head,
v. 51.
What need had David to take a sword of his own? his enemy’s sword shall
serve his purpose, when he has occasion for one. God is greatly
glorified when his proud enemies are cut off with their own sword and
he makes their own tongues to fall upon them,
Ps. lxiv. 8.
David’s victory over Goliath was typical of the triumphs of the son of
David over Satan and all the powers of darkness, whom he spoiled,
and made a show of them openly
(Col. ii. 15),
and we through him are more than conquerors.
3. The defeat of the Philistines’ army hereupon. They relied wholly
upon the strength of their champion, and therefore, when they saw him
slain, they did not, as Goliath had offered, throw down their arms and
surrender themselves servants to Israel
(v. 9),
but took to their heels, being wholly dispirited, and thinking it to no
purpose to oppose one before whom such a mighty man had fallen: They
fled
(v. 51),
and this put life into the Israelites, who shouted and pursued
them (David, it is probable, leading them on in the pursuit) even
to the gates of their own cities,
In their return from the chase they seized all the baggage, plundered
the tents
(v. 53),
and enriched themselves with the spoil.
4. David’s disposal of his trophies,
He brought the head of the Philistine to Jerusalem, to be a terror to
the Jebusites, who held the strong-hold of Sion: it is probable that he
carried it in triumph to other cities. His armour he laid up in his
tent; only the sword was preserved behind the ephod in the
tabernacle, as consecrated to God, and a memorial of the victory to his
honour,
5. The notice that was taken of David. Though he had been at court
formerly, yet, having been for some time absent
(v. 15),
Saul had forgotten him, being melancholy and mindless, and little
thinking that his musician would have spirit enough to be his champion;
and therefore, as if he had never seen him before, he asked whose son
he was. Abner was a stranger to him, but brought him to Saul
(v. 57),
and he gave a modest account of himself,
And now he was introduced to the court with much greater advantages
than before, in which he owned God’s hand performing all things for
him.
|
[Previous] [Next] |
Matthew Henry |
|
Back to Bibles Net . Com – Online Christian Library Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary – Free Download |
Copyright 2008. Bibles Net. Com. All Rights Reserved.