1 Samuel 17:26

26 David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man who kills this Pelishti, and takes away the reproach from Yisra'el? for who is this uncircumcised Pelishti, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

1 Samuel 17:26 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:26

And David spake to the men that stood by him
Who were next to him, looking upon the Philistine, and hearing what he said,

saying, what shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine,
and taketh away the reproach from Israel?
which he asked not for the sake of the reward, but to observe the necessity there was of some man's engaging with him, and killing him, or otherwise it would be a reproach to Israel, and to signify that he had an inclination to attempt it:

for who [is] this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the
armies of the living God?
there were two things which provoked David, and raised indignation in him against this man; the one was, the character of the person that reproached, a Philistine, an uncircumcised person, a profane man, that had no true religion in him, an alien from the commonwealth of Israel, and a stranger to the covenants of promise; and the other was the persons whom he reproached, the armies of the living God, of the King of kings, and Lord of lords; and which in effect was reproaching the Lord himself, and which David, filled with zeal for God, and for his people, could not bear; and the consideration of these things animated him to engage with him, not doubting of success.

1 Samuel 17:26 In-Context

24 All the men of Yisra'el, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
25 The men of Yisra'el said, Have you seen this man who is come up? surely to defy Yisra'el is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who kills him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Yisra'el.
26 David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man who kills this Pelishti, and takes away the reproach from Yisra'el? for who is this uncircumcised Pelishti, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
27 The people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man who kills him.
28 Eli'av his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eli'av's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why are you come down? and with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart; for you have come down that you might see the battle.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.