1 Samuel 17:50 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

But there was no sword in the hand of David. — The story of the daring of the son of Jesse dwells, and with good reason, on the extraordinary valour and skill of the young champion of Israel. Had his heart for one instant failed him — as, indeed, it well might; had he not possessed a confidence which nothing could shake in an unseen Helper — or had his skill as a marksman failed him in the slightest degree, the Philistine with one blow would have laid David lifeless at his feet; or had the active shepherd boy eluded his giant antagonist, it must have been by flight. In any case, the single combat upon which Israel had staked so much would have gone against the chosen people.