Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman interpreted the verse regarding the Philistines. “When evildoers approach me,” this is Goliath, as it is stated: “The Philistine approached every morning and evening” (I Samuel 17:16). “To consume my flesh” – “The Philistine said to David: Come to me and I will give your flesh to the birds of the heavens” (I Samuel 17:44). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: The land took hold of him.1Goliath was unable to move quickly, as though he was held down by the ground itself.
This was so that he would not reach David before David could employ his slingshot against Goliath (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Tanḥuma said: I will state a source; it does not say: “I will come to you,” but rather “come to me.” This teaches that the land took hold of him. Rabbi Yanai says in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Rabbi Yanai: The Holy One blessed be He placed two hundred and forty-eight iron fetters on the two hundred and forty-eight limbs that are in a person.
At that moment David said: “Lord, do not grant the wishes of the wicked” (Psalms 140:9); do not grant his desires. “Do not untie his muzzle” (Psalms 140:9); do not loosen it for him.2This phrase is often translated “do not bring to fruition his scheme [zemamo].” However, the word zamam can also mean muzzle, and therefore the midrash translates the verse to mean do not untie, or loosen, his muzzle [zemamo].
“May they elevate, Selah” (Psalms 140:9); restrain his shoulders. Rabbi Yudan said: He lusted after David, who was: “With beautiful eyes and a lovely appearance” (I Samuel 16:12). Immediately, David said: “Lord, do not grant the wishes of the wicked” (Psalms 140:9); do not grant his desires, but rather, “grant the desire of the righteous” (Proverbs 10:24). The Rabbis say: [God] afflicted [Goliath] with leprosy, as it is stated: “The Lord will deliver you [yesagerkha] into my hand” (I Samuel 17:46), and this [term], yesagerkha, is nothing other than leprosy, just as it says: “The priest shall quarantine him [vehisgiro]” (Leviticus 13:4).
“My foes and my adversaries are mine” – “the stone penetrated his forehead” (I Samuel 17:49). From there on, David said before the Holy One blessed be He: “If a camp” – of Philistines – “besieges me, my heart will not fear.” “If war” – with the Philistines – “comes upon me, in this I will put my trust” (Psalms 27:3), “In this [bezot]” – Rabbi Levi said: In the testament that Moses dictated to us in the Torah when he said to the elders: “This is [vezot] for Judah” (Deuteronomy 33:7).3The verse concludes: “You will be help against his adversaries.”