26 David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done to the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
The living God - This fine expression occurs first in Deuteronomy (marginal reference), and next in Joshua 3:10, and 2-Kings 19:4. We find it twice in the Psalm of David Psalm 42:2; Psalm 84:2, four times in the prophets, and frequently in the New Testament. It is generally in contrast to false gods (1-Thessalonians 1:9, etc.).
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 (h) reproach from Israel? for who [is] this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
(h) This dishonour that he does to Israel.
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.
*More commentary available at chapter level.