The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 322

EXPOSITION. Vors. 20:._22.-He came to· the trench. Still we cannot imagine that Saul had intro- More probably the barricade, or outer circle duced taxes, nor was the political organisa- of defence for theix: camp, made of their tion of the State ripe enough for so advanced wagons (see on eh. x. 22). Strictly the word a state of things. The words more probably means a. wagon-tra:ck, but the primary mean- refer to freedom from personal service in the ing of the verb is to be round. This was the army and elsewhere ; though it is quite pos- shape of camps in old time, and they were sible that on special occasions contributions protected against surprise by having the ·may have been levied, and presents, no doubt, wagons and baggage placed round them, The ,,er() constantly being made to the king, ward. occurs again in eh. xxvi. 6, 7. The though on no regular system. Te.keth away- latter part of ,the.verse is literally, ".And he the reproach. The noun formed from the came to the circle of the wagons, and to the . verb rendered defy in vcr. 10, where see note, host that was going forth to the array ; and Uncircumcised. See on eh. xiv. 6. David, they shouted for the battle." If the articl~ like Jonathan, sees a. ground of confidence in be omitted before "going forth," for which the uncovenanted relation of the Philistine there is some authority, the rendering of the . towards God. The living God. A second .A. V; would be right. David left his car- ground of confidence. The god of the Philis- riage. I. e. that which he was carrying. tines was a lifeless idol ; Jehovah a. Being The word is rendered stuff in eh. x. 22 ; xxv. who proved his existence by his act~. So 13; Jtxx. 24.· Literally the word mean! shall it be done. .As the people all answer utensils, and so whatever he h~d with him David's inquiries in the same way, Saul had for any purpose (comp. Acts xx1. 15). Ran. evidently made a. proclamation to this effect, into the army. Literally, 'f to the array," which we may suppose he fulfilled, though " to the ranks," the place where the troops not in the frankest manner (eh. xviii. 17, 27). were drawn up (see ve;. IQ), , .. ,,: , Yers. 28, 29.-Eliab's anger was kindled Vers. 23, 24.-The champion, the Philis- age.inst David. As David, with growing tine of Gath, Goliath by name... The ~~]lrew, .indignation a.tan nncovenanteci heathen thus is, !' The champion (see on .ver. 4), Go~th .dishonouring the subjects of the living God, the Philistine his name, of Gath," probably 'puts eager questions to all around, his elder the very words of the original record. Qut. brother angrily reproaches him with word! of the armies, or ranks. This is a very full of contempt. Between the eldest and probable correction of the Kri, made by·re- yonngest of eight sons was a vast interval, storing a letter which has apparently dropped and Eliab regards David's talk. as mere pride, out. The word in the written text might •or •rather " presumption " "impertinence ·" mean " the open space between the two a.n'.d also ;s naughtiness, ~r badness, of hea.r't, armies ; " but it occurs nowhere else, .a.rli:l.,, probably·because he imagined that David's this space was chiefly occupied by the ra- object was to provoke some one else to fight, vine. The men of Israel . . . , :ll.ed· :frQm thnt he. might see the battle. David's him, I. e. they drew back in haste from the answer is gentle and forbearing, but the last edge of the ravine, which Goliath could. no words are difficult. Is there not a cause l more have crossed, encased in armour weigh- Have not those whom we a.re ready to con- ing two and a half hundred-weight, than 11 demn a reason and justification for their con- knight could have done in the middle ages. duct 1 Such a question put to ourselves In ver. 40 we read that it was out of this might stop much slo.nder and fault-finding. ravine that David selected his pebbles, and, But ·the Hebrew literally has, Is it not a being encumbered with no armour, i~. was word? And the ancient versions and the easy for him to climb up the other side and best modern commento.tors understand by attack his heavily-armed opponent. this, " It was but a mere word ; " " I was Yers. 25-,--27.--,,,To defy Israel. Rather, ''to only talking about this challenge, and was cast .scam on," "to. dishonour Israel" (see doing no wrong." on ver. 10). The king will enrioh him with Vers. 30, 31.-lle.uner. Literally, word, the great riches, . . . . and make his father'.s noun translated cause in var. 29, o.nd mellil• house free in Israel. Many years must ha..ve ing in both verses "conversation," It occurs elapsed before Saul could thus ho.ve develope.d here thrice, the Hebrew bein~, "And he spake the powers of the crown, and the last words according to this word: anel the people re- show that contributions were levied from turned him a word aecording to the former all the households in Israel for the support word." .And as David thus persisted in hi& of the king and his Tetinue. There had indignant remonstrances at the ranks of thet manifestly bben a great advance since the day living God being thus dishonoured by no when Jesse sent the king a few loaves of man accepting the challenge, they rehearsed Dread, a skin of wine, and II kid (eh. xvi. 20). them before Saul, who thereupon sent for y 2  Tim FIHST BOOK OF SA:\lUEL. L,::n. xn1. ~0-68.