1 Samuel 18:25

“And Saul said, thus shall ye say to David, etc.] In answer to his objections, and in order to remove them, and especially what concerned the dowry: the king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies; that is, he required or desired no other dowry of David, but that he would slay an hundred Philistines, and bring their foreskins to him; by which he would be able to know that they were Philistines he slew, not Israelites who were circumcised; though it cannot well be thought that Saul should have any suspicion of that, or take such a method to prevent it; but as those were almost, if not altogether, the only uncircumcised persons…”

“The king desireth not any dowry--In Eastern countries the husband purchases his wife either by gifts or services. As neither David nor his family were in circumstances to give a suitable dowry for a princess, the king intimated that he would be graciously pleased to accept some gallant deed in the public service. a hundred foreskins of the Philistines--Such mutilations on the bodies of their slain enemies were commonly practised in ancient war, and the number told indicated the glory of the victory. Saul's willingness to accept a public service had an air of liberality, while his choice of so difficult and hazardous a service seemed only putting a proper value on gaining the hand of a king's…”

“An hundred foreskins - This is merely another expression of the spirit which led to the constant application of the epithet uncircumcised to the Philistines 1 Samuel 14:6. return to 'Top of Page'”

“dowry: Gen 29:18, Gen 34:12; Exo 22:16, Exo 22:17 but an hundred: That is, Thou shalt slay one hundred Philistines, and thou shalt produce their foreskins as a proof, not only that thou hast killed one hundred men, but that these are of the uncircumcised Philistines. foreskins: Sa1 17:26, Sa1 17:36; Gen 17:11-14; Jos 5:3 to be avenged: Sa1 14:24 thought: Sa1 18:17; Sa2 17:8-11 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 18:26”