“Am I a dog,” he said to David, “that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
We are now coming near this famous combat, and have in these verses the preparations and remonstrances made on both sides. I. The preparations made on both sides for the encounter. The Philistine was already fixed, as he had been daily for the last forty days. Well might he go with his armour, for he had sufficiently proved it.
Commenting on 1 Samuel 17:40-47
And the Philistine said unto David, am I a dog?.... Truly David did not think him much better, because of his impudence, impurity, and barking blasphemy against God, and the armies of Israel; the Targum is,"am I a despised dog?'' verily he was by David: that thou comest to me with staves?
And the Philistine said unto David, [Am] I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. (o) He swore by his gods that he would destroy him.