1 Samuel 17:10 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. I defy - אני חרפתי ani cheraphti, "I strip and make bare," the armies of Israel; for none dared to fight him. From the Dhunoor Veda Shastra it appears that, among the Hindoos, it was common, before the commencement of an engagement, to challenge the enemy by throwing out some terms of abuse, similar to those used by Goliath. We find this also in Homer: his heroes scold each other heartily before they begin to fight. See on 1 Samuel 17:43 (note).