The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 323

l1im. And lhns Dnvid a second time, and Ver. 37.-Saul a&id unto David, Oo. The under nry different circumstnnces, found king's consent was necessary Ix.Jore David himself agnin standing in the king's presence. could act as the champion of the Israelites. It DAYID UNDERTAKES THE COMBAT WITH w~s ~ courage?us ~et in Saul to give his per- GOLIATH, AKD rnErARES FOR THE ENCOUN- mission, cons1dermg the conditions of tho TER (vers. 32-40). Yers. 32, 33.-On being combat (sec ver. 9), but the two arguments brought before the king, DaYid says, Let no here given persuaded him: the first, David's msn's hesrt fsil because of him, i. e. "on strong confidence in Jehovah, insuring his sccoun t of this Philistine." Literally it is courage ; and, secondly, flie coolness and "upon him," and some therefore translate bravery he had shown in these dangerous "within him." The Septuagint for man reads encounters with savage animals. "my lord"-" Let not my lord's heart fail Vers. 38-40.-Saul armed David with Viithin him." Probably "within him" is hie armour. Rather, " Saul clad David in the best rendering of the ~hrase. Thou art his war-dress." The word does not mean but a youth. I. e. " a lad' (see on eh. i. 24 ; arms, either offensive or defensive; for in ii. 18). It is the word applied to David's eh. iv. 12, where it is rendered "clothes," brethren in eh. xvi. 11, and his friend must we read of its being rent. It occurs again hs,e been very enthusiastic when, in eh. xvi in eh. xviii. 4, and is there rendered. "gar- 18, he described him as a "hero of valour ments." Strictly it was the soldier's coat, and a man of war." worn under his armour, and girt close to the Yers. 34-36.-David does not appeal to body by the sword-belt. It does not follow any feat of arms. He may have served with that David was as tall as Saul because ho credit in repelling some Philistine foray, but thus put on his military coat; for it would be these combats with wild beasts, fought with- adjusted to the body by the belt, and its out the presence of spectators, and with no length was not a matter of much consequence. urgent necessity (as most shepherds would When, then, it is said that David girded hi& have been too glad to compound with such sword upon hie armour, it means upon thie enemies by letting them take a lamb without coat, though the corselet of mail would also molestation), still more clearly proved David's be worn over it. He aeeayed to go. I. e. he fearless nature. Lions and bears were both made an attempt at going, took a short walk common in ancient times in Palestine, when thus arrayed, making trial all the while of the country was more densely covered with his equipments; and he found them so cum- wood ; and bears are numerous in the moun- brous that he felt that be would have no tainous districts now. Lions seem to have cha.nee against the Philistine except as a been less feared than bears (Amos v. 19); but light-armed soldier. The agility of his move- Canon Tristram thinks there were two species ments would then make him a match for one of the lion in Palestine-one sbort-maned, so heavily overweighted as Goliath. Wearing, which was not very formidable, the other therefore, only his shepherd's dress, armed long-maned, which was more fierce and dan- only with a sling, David descended into the gerous(' Nat. Hist. of Bible,' p. 117). The ravine which separated the two armies, chose Heurew literally is, "There came the lion there five pebbles, and, clambering up the and eren the bear," the articles implying other side, advanced towards the Philistine. that they were the well-known foes of the For brook the Hebrew has "torrent bed." shepherd. The written text bas zeh, "this," Conder speaks of a torrent flowing through for seh, "a lamb," probably a mere variety the ravine (see on ver. 2). of spelling. There can be little doubt that COMBAT OF DAVID AND GOLIATH (vers. David refers to two different occasions, espe- 41-64). Vers. 41-44.-When David had cially as bears and lions never hunt in com- crossed the ravine, Goliath and his ormour- pany. :By his beard. Neither the bear bearer advanced towards him; and when he nor the lion has a Leard, and the word really saw that the Israelite champion was but a means "the chin," " the place where the lad (see ver. 33), with red ha1r, which added beard. grows." The Chaldee translates the to his youthful appearance, and handsome, lower jaw, and the Septuagint the throat. but with nothing more than a staff in his It is plain from this description that David hand, he regarded this light equipment 11s on slew the beast with his staff. He arose insult, and asks, Am I a dog,-an animal against me. This shows that the combat held in great avorsion in the East,-that thou thus particularly described was with the bear, comest to me with etavee 1 The plural is which does thus rise on its hind legs to usod as a contemptuous generalisation, but grapple with its foe, while the lion crouches the Septuagint is offended at it, and with and then springs. Pliny also says that the amusing matter-of-fact exactness translates weakest part of a bear is its head, and that "With a staff and stones." And the Philis- it can be killed bv a smart blow there. The tine cursed David by hie gode. The Hebrew manner in which.David killed the lion is not is singular," by his god," i. e. the deity whom described. Defied. See on ver. 10. he had selected to be his especial patron. on. xvu. 20-58.J 'l'HE FIRST B00K OF SAMUEL. 325