1 Samuel 17:26

26 And David spake to the men that stood with him, and said, What shall be given to the man that slayeth this Philistine, and doeth away shame from Israel? for who is this Philistine uncircumcised, that despiseth the battle arrays of God living? (for who is this uncircumcised Philistine who despiseth the battle arrays 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 And when all the men of Israel had seen the man, they fled from his sight, and dreaded him greatly (and were greatly afraid of him).
25 And each man of Israel said to (the) other, Whether thou hast seen this man that hath gone up? forsooth he went up to say shame, or reproof, to Israel; therefore the king shall make rich with great riches the man that slayeth that Philistine; and the king shall give his daughter to that man, and shall make the house of his father without (having to pay) tribute in Israel (and he shall let his father's family be exempt from paying any taxes in Israel).
26 And David spake to the men that stood with him, and said, What shall be given to the man that slayeth this Philistine, and doeth away shame from Israel? for who is this Philistine uncircumcised, that despiseth the battle arrays of God living? (for who is this uncircumcised Philistine who despiseth the battle arrays of the living God?)
27 Forsooth the people told to him the same word, and said, These things shall be given to the man that slayeth him.
28 And when Eliab, his more brother/the elder brother of David, had heard this, while he spake with other men, he was wroth against David, and said, Why camest thou hither, and why hast thou left those few sheep in desert, (and why hast thou left those few sheep back in the wilderness)? I know thy pride, and the waywardness of thine heart; for thou camest down to see the battle.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.