1 Samuel17

The Philistines and Israelites faced each other in battle, with the giant Goliath of Gath defying Israel daily for forty days. Young David, visiting the camp, heard Goliath's challenge and, trusting in the LORD, volunteered to fight. Armed only with a sling and stones, David struck Goliath down, leading to the Philistine army's rout and Israel's victory.

The Philistine Challenge and Goliath's Defiance

1
Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle; and they were gathered together at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim. ​
2
Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and encamped in the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.
3
The Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
4
There went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. ​
5
He had a helmet of brass on his head, and he was clad with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. ​
6
He had brass shin armor on his legs, and a javelin of brass between his shoulders.
7
The staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and his shield bearer went before him.
8
He stood and cried to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to set your battle in array? Am I not a Philistine, and you servants to Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. ​
9
If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then you will be our servants, and serve us.”
10
The Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day! Give me a man, that we may fight together!” ​
11
When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid. ​

David Arrives at the Camp

12
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man was an old man in the days of Saul, stricken among men. ​
13
The three eldest sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
14
David was the youngest; and the three eldest followed Saul.
15
Now David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
16
The Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. ​
17
Jesse said to David his son, “Now take for your brothers an efah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers;
18
and bring these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers are doing, and bring back news.”
19
Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
20
David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the place of the wagons, as the army which was going out to the fight shouted for the battle.
21
Israel and the Philistines put the battle in array, army against army.
22
David left his baggage in the hand of the keeper of the baggage, and ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. ​
23
As he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke according to the same words: and David heard them.
24
All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were terrified.
25
The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? He has surely come up to defy Israel. It shall be, that the man who kills him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.”
26
David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done to the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” ​
27
The people answered him in this way, saying, “So shall it be done to the man who kills him.”
28
Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart; for you have come down that you might see the battle.” ​
29
David said, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?” ​
30
He turned away from him toward another, and spoke like that again; and the people answered him again the same way.

David Volunteers to Fight Goliath

31
When the words were heard which David spoke, they rehearsed them before Saul; and he sent for him.
32
David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
33
Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”
34
David said to Saul, “Your servant was keeping his father’s sheep; and when a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb out of the flock, ​
35
I went out after him, and struck him, and rescued it out of his mouth. When he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and struck him, and killed him.
36
Your servant struck both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.”
37
David said, “The LORD who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go; and the LORD shall be with you.” ​
38
Saul dressed David with his clothing. He put a helmet of brass on his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail.
39
David strapped his sword on his clothing, and he tried to move; for he had not tested it. David said to Saul, “I can’t go with these; for I have not tested them.” David took them off. ​

The Confrontation: David's Declaration of Faith

40
He took his staff in his hand, and chose for himself five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his wallet. His sling was in his hand; and he drew near to the Philistine. ​
41
The Philistine came on and drew near to David; and the man who bore the shield went before him.
42
When the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and withal of a fair face.
43
The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” The Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44
The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky, and to the animals of the field.”
45
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ​
46
Today, the LORD will deliver you into my hand. I will strike you, and take your head from off you. I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky, and to the wild animals of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, ​
47
and that all this assembly may know that the LORD doesn’t save with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.” ​

The Victory and the Rout

48
When the Philistine arose, and came and drew near to meet David, David hurried, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49
David put his hand in his bag, took a stone, and slung it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead; and the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.
50
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. ​
51
Then David ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of its sheath, and killed him, and cut off his head therewith. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. ​
52
The men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until you come to Gai, and to the gates of Ekron. The wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath, and to Ekron.
53
The children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they plundered their camp.
54
David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent. ​

Saul Inquires About David's Identity

55
When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I can’t tell.” ​
56
The king said, “Inquire whose son the young man is!”
57
As David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58
Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, you young man?” David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”

Study Notes for 1 Samuel 17

Verse 1

The Philistines gathered at Shochoh in the Valley of Elah, setting the stage for a critical battle that would determine regional dominance. The armies are poised on opposing hillsides.

Verse 4

Goliath’s height is given as six cubits and a span, approximately 9 feet 9 inches. His immense size makes him the ultimate champion, designed to terrify the Israelite forces into submission.

Verse 5

The weight of Goliath’s bronze armor (5,000 shekels, roughly 125 pounds or 57 kg) emphasizes his status as a professional, heavily protected warrior, contrasting sharply with David’s later appearance.

Verse 8

Goliath proposes a trial by combat, a common ancient practice where the outcome of the war is decided by two champions, saving both armies from mass slaughter.

Verse 10

Goliath’s challenge is both military and theological; he ‘defies’ the armies of Israel, implying a direct challenge to their God, Yahweh, the Lord of Hosts.

Verse 11

The fear of Saul and the entire Israelite army underscores the severity of the crisis and Israel’s reliance on human strength rather than divine intervention, a major theme in 1 Samuel.

Verse 12

This verse reintroduces David, emphasizing his status as the youngest son running errands. This highlights his improbable role in the conflict, contrasting the king (Saul) with the shepherd boy (David).

Verse 16

The duration of 'forty days' suggests a complete and relentless challenge, intensifying Israel’s shame and fear and symbolizing a full measure of time for testing.

Verse 22

The 'carriage' refers to the provisions or supplies David brought. He quickly delegates his civilian duties to engage with the military situation, showing his immediate concern for the crisis.

Verse 26

David’s motivation is fundamentally theological. He identifies Goliath as an 'uncircumcised Philistine' (outside the covenant) who dares to defy 'the armies of the living God,' focusing on God’s honor.

Verse 28

Eliab’s anger likely stems from jealousy and wounded pride, recalling that Samuel had initially thought he was the chosen king (16:6). He misinterprets David’s zeal as arrogance and selfish pride.

Verse 29

David’s response, 'Is there not a cause?' (or 'Was it not just a word?'), defends his righteous curiosity and implies that the magnitude of the crisis demands a response, regardless of his elder brother's disapproval.

Verse 34

David uses his experience as a shepherd—protecting the flock from a lion and a bear—as proof that God has already equipped him for battle. These private victories prepared him for the public one.

Verse 37

This is David’s declaration of faith: past deliverance guarantees future deliverance. He attributes his victories solely to the Lord, transforming the battle into a confrontation between God and the Philistine gods.

Verse 39

David rejects Saul’s conventional armor because it is untested by him and relies on human might. This decision underscores that the battle will be won by faith and divine power, not military technology.

Verse 40

David’s choice of simple shepherd tools (sling and stones) emphasizes his reliance on skill and faith, contrasting sharply with Goliath's massive, sophisticated weaponry.

Verse 45

This is the theological climax. David contrasts Goliath’s confidence in physical weapons with his own confidence in the 'name of the LORD of hosts,' identifying Yahweh as the true leader of Israel’s armies.

Verse 46

David defines the purpose of the victory: not just Israel’s freedom, but that 'all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.' The battle is meant to be a demonstration of divine sovereignty to the nations.

Verse 47

David articulates the core theological lesson: God does not need conventional means ('sword and spear') to save His people, proving definitively that 'the battle is the LORD’S.'

Verse 50

The narrator emphasizes the unconventional victory: David prevailed using only a sling and a stone. The outcome demonstrates that God works through the weak and foolish to confound the mighty.

Verse 51

David uses Goliath’s own sword to complete his execution. When the Philistines see their champion dead, their covenant agreement (v. 9) is broken, and they flee in panic.

Verse 54

The mention of bringing Goliath's head to Jerusalem is likely an editorial note, as Jerusalem was still a Jebusite city at this time, foreshadowing David’s future conquest and establishment of the capital.

Verse 55

This inquiry poses a chronological difficulty, as David had previously served Saul (16:19-23). This may reflect two separate traditions of David's rise, or Saul’s instability and distraction caused him to forget the identity of his young servant.

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