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.
Ver. 43. Am I a dog?] a No, not so good as a dog, said David, very stoutly and sternly, if Josephus may be believed; and this so maddened the Philistine, that he cursed him, saying, Dagon destroy thee, or, The devil take thee: but David knew that cursing men are cursed men. He remembered likely the promise made to Abraham, "I will bless them that bless thee, and I will curse him that curseth thee." Basil b of Selencia bringeth in David hereupon, saying, Maledicam inimici linguam victoriae pignus teneo, I take Goliath's curse for a pledge of victory. "Let him curse, Lord, but do thou bless," &c. Psa 109:28
a Had David taken him for any better, he would never have come out with a staff and a stone.
b Orat. 15.