Vera. 46__:_47.-And with a shield. Really, probably not so monstrous in size as Goliath's "o. javelin" (sec on vcr. 6). David of course other weapons. Champion is not the word mentions only his arms of offence. As Goliath so rendered in vers. 4, 23, but that used in hnd reviled David by his god, so David now eh. xvi. 18 for "a hero of valour." expresses his tn1st in the Go,! of Israel, even Vers. 52, 53.-To the valley. Hebrew, gai. lehova.h of hosts, whom the Philistine was As we ha:rn seen, there was a r;ai or ravinB dishonouring. This day. I. e. immediately between the two armies, but in the Hebrew (see eh. xiv. 33). Ca.rcases is singular in there is no article, and the Israelites must the Hebrew, but is rightly translated plu- also cross this before any fighting began, Tha ral, as it is used collectively. That all the p,rnic which struck the Philistines when they earth may kn.ow, &c. As we saw on ver. 37, saw their champion fall enabled the Israelites it was David's strong faith in Jehovah, and to <lo so, but the pursuit only then Mm- his conviction that God was fighting for him menced. The Septuagint reads Gath, a very in proof of his covenant relation to Israel,· probable emendation, for, as we saw in tl1e that not only nerved him to the battle, but passage quoted from Conder on ver. 2, Gath made Saul see in him one fit to be Israel's was situated at the mouth of the terebinth representative in so hazardous a duel. valley, The Syriac and Vulgate retain va!le!f, Vers. 4.8, 49.-When the Philistine a.rose. but the former understands it of the moutl1 Apparently he was seated, as was the rule of the valley of Elah. Sha.araim was a t0\\·11 with armies in ancient times when not en- assi~ned to Judah (Josh, xv. 36) in the She- gaged in conflict (comp. ver. 62). When, phe1ah (see on ver. 1), but was now held liy then, he saw David emerge from the ravine, the Philistines. They spoiled their tents. he rose, and, carrying his vast load of armour, More correctly, "their camp." moved slowly towards his enemy, trying to Ver. 54.-David .. . brought it to Jerusa- frighten him by his curses. David, mean- lem. This is an anticipation of later history. while, in his light equipment, ran towards the The Jebusites at this time held Jerusalem; army, Hebrew, "the rank," i. e. the Philis- but when David hacl taken it from them, lie tine line, in front of which Goliath had been reI!}oved the head of Goliath thither, aml sitting. As the giant's helmet had no visor, the narrator, following the usual custom of that protection not having as yet been in- Hebrew historians, mentions the ultimate vented, and his shield was still carried by fate of this trophy here (see on eh. xvi. 21 ). bis armour-bearer, his face was exposed to He put his armour in his tent. I. e. he David's missiles. And in those days, before carried it to his home (see on eh. ii. 35 ; iv. firearms were invented, men by constant prac- 10 ; xiii. 2, &c.), where it became his private tice "could sling stones at a hair-breadth, property. The mistranslation of camp by and not miss" (Judges xx. 16). And even tents in ver. 53 might lead an English reader if David were not quite as skilful as those to suppose that it meant a tent in the camp Benje.mites, yet, as the giant could move only of Israel; but ruost probably the men all slept very slowly, the chances were that he'would under their wagons. Abravanel supposes that hit him with one or more of his five pebbles. by David's tent was meant the tabernacle of As it was, he struck him at his first attempt •Jehovah, but this would surely h11vo been upon the forehead with such force that stated more fully. Either, however, now, or Goliath was stunned, and fell down upon his at some later perio,l, David must have pre- fa.ce to the ground, sented the sword as an offering to the taber- Vers. 50, 51.-So Da.vid prevailed over the nncle, as it was lai,l up at Nob, when~e he Philistine with a sling and with a stone. took it with him in his flight (see eh. :ui. 9). It is evident that the narrator regarded SAUL'S INQUIRY CONCERNING DAVID'S PA· David's victory as extraordinary; and no RENTAOE (vers. 55-58), Vers. 55-58.- doubt it required not only great courage, but Abner, whose son is this youth 1 Hebrew, also perfect skill, as only the lower portion "la,!," na'ar. \Ye have seen that the narra- of the forehead woalcl be exposed, and on no tive in eh. x,i. 21--23 carries the !1istory of other part of the giant's body would a blow David's relations with Saul down to a much have been of any ,ivail. The n11rr<1tor also later period, nnd that in vcr. 15 of this chapter calls attention to tho fact that David relied Daviu is represented as not dwelling continu- t:pon his sling alone, for there was no sword ously at Saul's comt, but as having rcturn~J. in the hand of David. Slings probably were to Bethlehem nml rcsurue,l his pstoral occu- reg~rcled as useful _only to hamss an enemy, pations there, whence lw woul,l l,,, summoned while swords, wh1~n they had only lately back in case of the rcctllT<'ncc of Saul's been a\Jle to procure (eh. xiii. 22), were re- malady. 1t is plain from what is stated garded as the real weapons of offence. David, here that Diwi,l hau not thus far spent time therefore, completes his victory by killing enough nt Gibcah to be personally well known Goliath with his own sword as he lay stunned either to Saul or his officers (see note 011 ver. upon tho ground. As Ahimelech considereu 15). Stripling. Not na'ar, but 'a/cm, the it fit for David's own use (eh. xxi. 9), it was masculine of the word 'a/mah, use,! in ISRe 1126 THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. [en. x1·11. 20-58,
,-ii. 14 .. It means a young man fully gr01rn, \'erses should be united with eh. xvii. u Rr1t1 ann-cd at ihe age to marry and so is their object is to introduce the account of 1the more definite than 11a'ai·, which S~ul uses in lo_ve of J?nat\1au for David. Starting then wr. 58. As David returned, &c. Abner, as with the mqmry made by the king of Abner captain of the host, would naturally watch asking for fuller information as to the young the oombat, and as soon as it was possible man's parentage, the historian then tells how would bring the young warrior into the king's after the chase he was brought before Saul and presence. But what is recorded here could then, in eh. xviii. 1, that the result of their have taken place only after the pursuit of conversation was the warm love that hence- ,the Philistines was over, and really these five forward knit together these two kindred souls.