Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 18:27

Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

27. two hundred men ] He slew double the stipulated number of Philistines. The Sept. however reads “one hundred.” Cp. 2Sa 3:14.

in full tale ] “Tale” = a number told or counted off, a reckoning. Compare

“Every shepherd tells his tale

Under the hawthorn in the dale.”

Milton, L’Allegro, l. 67.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 27. Slew – two hundred men.] The Septuagint has only one hundred men. Saul covenanted with David for a hundred; and David himself says, 2Sa 3:14, that he espoused Michal for a hundred: hence it is likely that one hundred is the true reading.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

He doubled the number required; partly to oblige Saul the more to the performance of his promise; and partly to show his great respect and affection to Sauls daughter.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

27. David . . . slew of thePhilistines two hundred menThe number was doubled, partly toshow his respect and attachment to the princess, and partly to obligeSaul to the fulfilment of his pledge.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men,…. This he did himself, for the verb is singular, and which were an hundred more than required; this he did to show his regard to the orders of Saul, and his obedience to him, and to testify the sincerity of his afflictions to his daughter, for whose sake he risked his life in this expedition, as well as to express his zeal for God, and his country, against their avowed enemies; the Greek version has only one hundred men, see 2Sa 3:14;

and David brought their foreskins; along with him to Saul’s court, having taken them off when slain. Josephus says z he cut off their heads, and brought them to him, and he makes the number to be six hundred; neither are according to the text, but to make his history more agreeable to the Gentiles, see 1Sa 18:21; an Arabic writer a makes mention of a people, that cut off the genital parts of men, and gave them to their wives for their dowry:

and they gave them in full tale to the king; the messengers David sent in with them, even the full tale of two hundred, which were as many more as were demanded:

that he might be the king’s son in law; being now as desirous of it as the king was:

and Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife; which he could not in honour refuse to do, seeing he had performed the condition he had required. David’s marriage of the younger sister, when upon various considerations it might have been expected that he should have married the elder, may be an emblem of Christ’s espousing the Gentile church, when the Jewish church, her elder sister, is neglected by him, she having rejected him.

z Antiqu. l. 6. c. 10. sect. 3. a Alcamus apud Bochart. Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 1. c. 19. col. 130.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

27. Two hundred men Twice the number required. “This was another great exploit far more arduous, although less renowned, than the overthrow of Goliath. It must have attracted great attention at the time, and have conduced in no small degree to the public estimation in which David was held.” Kitto.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments