Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 17:23

And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spoke according to the same words: and David heard [them].

And as he talked with them,…. About their health, and the errand he came upon, and the message of his father to them, and how it was with him, who sent them his best wishes:

behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name: of whom see 1Sa 17:4; he came out of the valley, and drew near to the mountain the Israelites were descending:

out of the armies of the Philistines: from the plains where they were encamped, as Kimchi, though they seem to have been encamped on a mountain as the Israelites were; or from the ranks of the Philistines; according to the marginal reading, he came out of one of the battalions that were set in array:

and spake according to the same words; which he had spoken time after time forty days successively, namely, what is expressed 1Sa 17:8;

and David heard [them]; and observed them.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(23) The Philistine of Gath.There is a difficulty connected with the Philistine giants name, for we read in 2Sa. 21:19 how that Goliath of Gath, the giant, the staff of whose spear was like a weavers beam, was slain by Elhanan, the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, after David had been made king. It is possible that Goliath was a general designation of these monstrous descendants of the ancient Anakim in Gath; but Ewald suggests that the name Goliath really only belongs to the giant slain by Elhanan, some years after the exploit of the youthful son of Jesse, and that it was transferred in error to the champion whom David slew (who is, moreover, generally called simply the Philistine) when his proper name had been lost.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

(23) And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. (24) And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. (25) And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel. (26) And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? (27) And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.

The subject is beautifully introduced to the knowledge of David, as well by Goliath drawing nigh and trumpeting forth his own challenge, as by the answers given by those that stood by to David’s enquiries. But what I would wish the Reader particularly to notice is, the observation of David on the conduct and character of Goliath. A Philistine braving the armies of Israel, and one thus daring, who was uncircumcised. Observe, Reader, in this, what stress David laid upon the blessedness of being within the Covenant. Is it not, as if he had said, where can be the blessedness of Israel, or the high privilege of God’s covenant; if his people, even in the lowest circumstances, are thus to be insulted by their uncircumcised enemies? Oh! what a lift would it give to the faith of God’s people, if at the worst of times they took shelter under God’s covenant engagements. Shall I despond, shall I despair, when I know that my God in Christ is absolutely under covenant obligations to be my God, and to acknowledge me as one of his people? See that one promise to this effect, which is in itself a volume: Jer 32:38 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

1Sa 17:23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard [them].

Ver. 23. The Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name. ] Which signifieth Captivity; a terrible name, a such as was that of Bellarmine ( Bellum, arma, minae ), the Pope’s late great champion.

“ Cur Bellarminum te, Bellarmine, vocamus?

Nempe Malerminus rectius esse potes. ” b

a Apud Plautum militis nomen est Therapontigonoplata-gidorias.

b Owen, Epigram.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)