Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 17:10
And he also [that is] valiant, whose heart [is] as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father [is] a mighty man, and [they] which [be] with him [are] valiant men.
The known fame of the prodigious valour of David and his followers will easily gain credit to that report, and strike the stoutest of our men with dread, even Ahithophel himself, if he should go with them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he also [that is] valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt,…. That is, whoever should hear of Absalom’s forces, or a part of them, being routed, would be intimidated, though ever so courageous, or of such a lion-like temper and disposition; and even Ahithophel himself, notwithstanding all his boasted courage, his heart would fail, he would melt like water h, Jos 7:5; should he meet with such a rebuff at first setting out. A lion is well known for its courage as well as strength, and has not only a fierce countenance, hence we read of lion-like men in their faces, 2Sa 23:20; but has a courageous heart, and from thence it is thought to have its name Labi, from “leb”, which signifies the heart; so Hercules is represented by the poet as having a lion’s heart i, and others also; though Leo Africanus k relates of some lions in Africa that are so naturally fearful that they will flee at the cry of children, particularly at a place called Agla; hence it became a proverb with the inhabitants of Fez to call blustering cowards the lions of Agla; and he speaks of great numbers of lions elsewhere l, who are easily driven away with a small stick by the most timorous persons; but for the most part lions are very bold and daring, as well as strong, to which the allusion is here. Some apply this to David himself, who was a valiant man, and whose heart was like that of a lion, and so read the last clause with an interrogation: “shall he utterly melt?” no, he will not; he is not to be made afraid so easily as Ahithophel has intimated:
for all Israel knoweth that thy father [is] a mighty man, and [they] which be with him [are] valiant men: this is so universally known that it cannot be denied.
h —- , Moschi Idyll 2. ver. 45. i Homer. Iliad. 5. ver 639. Iliad. 7. ver. 228. Odyss. 11. ver. 279. Vid. Hesiod. Theogoniam prope finem. k Descriptio Africae, l. 3. p. 400. l Ib. p. 474.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“And even if he (the hearer, 2Sa 17:9) be a brave man, who has a lion’s heart (lion-like courage), he will be thrown into despair; for all Israel knows that thy father is a hero, and brave men (are those) who are with him.”
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
2Sa 17:10 And he also [that is] valiant, whose heart [is] as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father [is] a mighty man, and [they] which [be] with him [are] valiant men.
Ver. 10. Whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt. ] Falling asunder in his bosom like drops of water. See Jos 2:11 . Those seeming lions shall become as harts and stags, that have great horns and strength, but do nothing with them, quia deest animus, through want of courage.
That thy father is a mighty man, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
valiant men = sons of valour.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
heart: 2Sa 1:23, 2Sa 23:20, Gen 49:9, Num 24:8, Num 24:9, Pro 28:1
utterly melt: Exo 15:15, Deu 1:28, Jos 2:9-11, Isa 13:7, Isa 19:1
thy father: 1Sa 18:17, Heb 11:34
and they which: Son 3:7
Reciprocal: Jdg 4:22 – and I will 1Sa 16:18 – a mighty 1Ch 12:8 – whose faces Psa 58:7 – General Psa 107:26 – their soul Jer 49:23 – fainthearted Eze 21:7 – and every