(21) A goodly man.--The meaning is explained in the parallel place in Chronicles, where he is called "a man of stature," and it is added "five cubits high." Benaiah's exploit, therefore, consisted in coming, armed only with a staff, to this giant Egyptian, wresting his spear from him, and then slaying him with it.
Verse 21. - A goodly man. The Hebrew text has "who a sight," for which the Massorites read, "a man of sight," that is, handsome, and worth looking at. In 1 Chronicles 11:23 we find what, no doubt, is the right reading, "a man of measure [equivalent to 'a tall man'], five cubits high." The height of Goliath was six cubits and a span (1 Samuel 17:4).
23:8-39 David once earnestly longed for the water at the well of Bethlehem. It seems to be an instance of weakness. He was thirsty; with the water of that well he had often refreshed himself when a youth, and it was without due thought that he desired it. Were his valiant men so forward to expose themselves, upon the least hint of their prince's mind, and so eager to please him, and shall not we long to approve ourselves to our Lord Jesus, by ready compliance with his will, as shown us by his word, Spirit, and providence? But David poured out the water as a drink-offering to the Lord. Thus he would cross his own foolish fancy, and punish himself for indulging it, and show that he had sober thoughts to correct his rash ones, and knew how to deny himself. Did David look upon that water as very precious which was got at the hazard of these men's blood, and shall not we much more value those benefits for purchasing which our blessed Saviour shed his blood? Let all beware of neglecting so great salvation.
And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man,.... A person of good countenance and shape, very large and tall; in 1 Chronicles 11:28, he is said to be a man of great stature, and five cubits high, and so wanted a cubit and a span of the height of Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:4,
and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; as large as Goliath's; for in 1 Chronicles 11:23, it is said to be like a weaver's beam, as Goliath's was; see Gill on 1 Samuel 17:7,
and he went down to him with a staff; with a walking staff only, having no other weapon:
and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand; and therefore must be a man very nimble and dexterous, as well as bold and courageous:
and slew him with his own spear; as David cut off Goliath's head with his own sword. This is supposed (l) to be Shimei, the son of Gera, 1 Kings 2:46.
and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; as large as Goliath's; for in 1 Chronicles 11:23, it is said to be like a weaver's beam, as Goliath's was; see Gill on 1 Samuel 17:7,
and he went down to him with a staff; with a walking staff only, having no other weapon:
and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand; and therefore must be a man very nimble and dexterous, as well as bold and courageous:
and slew him with his own spear; as David cut off Goliath's head with his own sword. This is supposed (l) to be Shimei, the son of Gera, 1 Kings 2:46.
(l) Hieron. Trad. Heb. ut supra. (in. 2 Reg. fol. 80. C.)