Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Samuel 17

The narrative returns to the Philistine wars (1 Samuel 14:52), as the preceding chapters have already covered the introductory details concerning Saul’s rejection and David’s appearance in the history.

Shochoh which belongs to Judah. See the marginal reference that places Shochoh and Azekah in the "Shephelah" or maritime plain (see also 2 Chronicles 28:18). Jerome identifies this as the modern "Shuweikeh," located "nine miles from Eleutheropolis."

Ephes-dammim. This place is also called Happas-dammim (or Pas-dammim, as in 1 Chronicles 11:13), which means "the end of bloodshed." It is now identified as "Damun," about four miles northeast of Shuweikeh.

The valley of Elah - that is, of the terebinth, now called Wady es-Sunt, from the acacias which are scattered in it.

In the middle of the broad open valley (1 Samuel 17:2) is a deep trench with vertical sides (1 Samuel 17:3), a valley within a valley. The sides and bed of the trench are strewn with water-worn pebbles. (Conder.)

A champion - This is literally “a man between the two camps”; that is, one who did not fight in the ranks like an ordinary soldier, but came out into the space between the opposing armies to challenge the mightiest man of his enemies to fight him.

Goliath of Gath - This was one of the places mentioned in Joshua 11:22 as still having a remnant of the sons of Anak, with Gaza and Ashdod being the others. The race of giants (the Rephaim, from רפא râphâ') is mentioned again in the account of David’s Philistine wars (2 Samuel 21:15–22; 1 Chronicles 20:4–8). It appears from these passages that Goliath had a brother named Lahmi. Four are named as being “born to the giant in Gath.” See Deuteronomy 2:10-11, 20-21; 3:11–13.

Six cubits and a span - If the cubit—the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger—is about 1.5 feet, and the span—the distance from the thumb to the middle or little finger when stretched apart—is half a cubit, then six cubits and a span would equal about nine feet, nine inches. The bed of Og, king of Bashan, was nine cubits long (Deuteronomy 3:11).

Coat of mail—Also known as a “breastplate of scales,” this was a type of metal shirt that protected the back as well as the breast. It was made of scales like those of a fish, similar to the corselet of Rameses III, which is now in the British Museum. The terms for helmet, coat, and “clothed” (rendered as “armed” in the King James Version) are the same as those used in Isaiah 59:17.

Five thousand shekels—This weight is probably about 157 pounds avoirdupois . It is very probable that Goliath’s brass coat was preserved for a long time as a trophy, just as we know his sword was, which is how its weight was ascertained.