SEV Biblia, Chapter 17:49
Y metiendo David su mano en el saco, tomó de allí una piedra, y se la tiró con la honda, e hirió al filisteo en la frente; y la piedra quedó hincada en su frente, y cayó en tierra sobre su rostro.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:49
Verse 49. Smote the Philistine in his forehead] Except his face, Goliath was everywhere covered over with strong armour. Either he had no beaver to his helmet, or it was lifted up so as to expose his forehead; but it does not appear that the ancient helmets had any covering for the face. The Septuagint however supposes that the stone passed through the helmet, and sank into his forehead: kai diedu o liqov dia thv perikefalaiav eiv to metwpon autou, "and the stone passed through his helmet, and sank into his skull." To some this has appeared perfectly improbable; but we are assured by ancient writers that scarcely any thing could resist the force of the sling. Diodourus Siculus, lib. v., c. 18, p. 287, edit. Bipont, says "The Baleares, in time of war, sling greater stones than any other people, and with such force, that they seem as if projected from a catapult. dio kai kata tav teicomaciav en taiv provbolaiv tuptontev touv pro twn epalxewn efestwtav katatraumatizousin? en de taiv parataxesi touv te qureouv, kai ta kranh, kai pan skepasthrion oplon suntribousi. kata de thn eustocian outwv akribeiv eisin, wste kata to pleiston mh amartanein tou prokeimenou skopou.
Therefore, in assaults made on fortified towns, they grievously wound the besieged; and in battle they break in pieces the shields, helmets, and every species of armour by which the body is defended. And they are such exact marksmen that they scarcely ever miss that at which they aim." The historian accounts for their great accuracy and power in the use of the sling, from this circumstance: aitiai de toutwn, k. t. l. "They attain to this perfection by frequent exercise from their childhood; for while they are young and under their mother's care, they are obliged to learn to sling; for they fasten bread for a mark at the top of the pole; and till the child hit the bread he must remain fasting; and when he has hit it, the mother gives it to him to eat." -Ibid.
I have given these passages at large, because they contain several curious facts, and sufficiently account for the force and accuracy with which David slung his stone at Goliath. We find also in the mh amartanein, not miss the mark, of the historian, the true notion of amartanein, to sin, which I have contended for elsewhere. He who sins, though he aims thereby at his gratification and profit, misses the mark of present and eternal felicity.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 49. And David put his hand in his bag , etc.] The shepherd’s scrip, in which he had put the five stones he took out of the brook: and took thence a stone ; and put it into his sling he had in his hand: and slang [it], and smote the Philistine in his forehead ; it is made a difficulty of how he should smite him on his forehead, when he had a helmet of brass upon his head, ( 1 Samuel 17:5); in answer to this Kimchi observes, that some say, that when David said he would give his flesh to the fowls of the air, at the mention of that he looked upwards, and what was upon his forehead fell backwards, and then David slung and smote him; or he might put back his helmet to talk with David, and hear and be heard the better; and having nothing to fear from an unarmed man, might neglect to put it forward again; or there might be some open space left in the helmet for him to look through, in at which the stone might pass; so the Targum renders it, he smote him in the house of his eyes, so the stone passed through the eye hole into his brain: but after all, supposing his forehead ever so well covered, as the stone slung by David was under a divine direction, so as to hit a person in motion, it came with a divine power, which nothing could resist; and supposing this, of which there need no doubt, it could as easily pass through the helmet of brass, as pierce into his forehead and sink there; nor can this be thought the least incredible, if what Diodorus Siculus relates of the Baleares be true, that they were so dexterous at slinging, that they not only would sling stones bigger than others could, and were so directed, that they seldom missed their mark, being inured to it from their youth, but would even in battle break in pieces shields, helmets, and all kinds of armour, with which bodies were covered: that the stone sunk into his forehead ; and so into his brain, as a stone is immersed and sinks in water, when thrown into it; with such force did it go, and with so much ease did it make its way, through the direction and power of God: and he fell upon his face to the earth ; Jarchi observes, that it was most natural for him to have fallen backwards, being struck upon his forehead; but so it was, that David might have no trouble to cut off his head, for by this means he fell nearer to him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 48-58 - See how frail and uncertain life is, even when a man thinks himsel best fortified; how quickly, how easily, and by how small a matter, the passage may be opened for life to go out, and death to enter! Let no the strong man glory in his strength, nor the armed man in his armour God resists the proud, and pours contempt on those who defy him and his people. No one ever hardened his heart against God and prospered. The history is recorded, that all may exert themselves for the honour of God, and the support of his cause, with bold and unshaken reliance of him. There is one conflict in which all the followers of the Lamb are and must be engaged; one enemy, more formidable than Goliath, stil challenges the armies of Israel. But "resist the devil, and he wil flee from you." God forth to battle with the faith of David, and the powers of darkness shall not stand against you. But how often is the Christian foiled through an evil heart of unbelief __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
וישׁלח 7971 דוד 1732 את 853 ידו 3027 אל 413 הכלי 3627 ויקח 3947 משׁם 8033 אבן 68 ויקלע 7049 ויך 5221 את 853 הפלשׁתי 6430 אל 413 מצחו 4696 ותטבע 2883 האבן 68 במצחו 4696 ויפל 5307 על 5921 פניו 6440 ארצה׃ 776
