He took his staff in his hand, and chose for himself five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag which he had. His sling was in his hand; and he came near to the Philistine.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 40. Smooth. Louis de Dieu translates broken “pieces of stones,” as he pretends, contrary to the common opinion, that rough stones are more suitable for the sling. Calmet.—The learned Jew, whom we have cited above, (verse 12,) and several others, have inferred from this verse, that David seems to have just come from the flock. But Kennicott justly observes, that slingers were of great service in the army; and the “vessel of shepherds,” the bag or scrip, might well be used to obtain the stones; as the staff, makel, denotes a military weapon. (Taylor, Conc.) Diss. ii. p. 555. David was very expert in using these weapons, and the ordinary armour was encumbering to him. Bible.—“Valour depends more on its own efforts than on armour,” tegumentis. Saint Ambrose Off. i.