Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
I defy the armies of Israel . . .; give me a man, that we may fight together—In cases of single combat, a warrior used to go out in front of his party, and advancing towards the opposite ranks, challenge someone to fight with him. If his formidable appearance, or great reputation for physical strength and heroism, deterred any from accepting the challenge, he used to parade himself within hearing of the enemy's lines, specify in a loud, boastful, bravado style, defying them, and pouring out torrents of abuse and insolence to provoke their resentment.
GOLIATH CHALLENGES A COMBAT. (I Samuel 17:4-11)
a champion—Hebrew, a "man between two"; that is, a person who, on the part of his own people, undertook to determine the national quarrel by engaging in single combat with a chosen warrior in the hostile army.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 1 Samuel 17:8:
1 Samuel 17:4-11
Habakkuk 1:6
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