DAVID FLEES FROM SAUL
Psalm relevant to this chapter: Psalm 59
A. Jonathan defends David before his father
1. (1 Sam 19:1a) Saul plots the murder of David, attempting to enlist the help of Jonathan and his servants
Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to put David to death.
Jonathan his son: Saul puts Jonathan in a trying place. Jonathan loved David, and God made a wonderful bond of friendship between them, sealed by a covenant (1 Samuel 18:1-4). Jonathan knew that David was destined to be the next king of Israel, even though Jonathan was officially the crown prince. Now, Jonathan's friendship was being tested as his father is demanding he kill David.
And to all his servants: Saul is also putting his servants in a difficult place. They all loved David (1 Samuel 18:5), and yet, now, they are being commanded by their king to kill David.
That they should kill David: Saul puts David in a challenging place. Who can David trust now that everyone is commanded to kill him? Even if David trusted Jonathan, David knew that there was at least one loyal man on Saul's staff who would do whatever Saul wanted, without regard to if it was right or wrong.
2. (1 Sam 19:1b-3) In loyalty to David, Jonathan warns David
But Jonathan, Saul's son, greatly delighted in David. So Jonathan told David saying, "Saul my father is seeking to put you to death. Now therefore, please be on guard in the morning, and stay in a secret place and hide yourself. I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you; if I find out anything, then I will tell you."
But Jonathan, Saul's son, greatly delighted in David. So Jonathan told David: Subsequently, this made Saul furious with Jonathan. But, Jonathan knew what he was doing was the right thing to do because his father and king told him to do something which was clearly disobedient to God. Jonathan knew the Bible said, "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13).
We are under authority and commanded to submit to God's order of authority in many different relationships. There is a command for children to submit to their parents, from citizens to their governments, from employees to their employers, from Christians to their church leadership and from wives to their husbands. But in all these instances, we are never excised from sin because we obeyed an authority that told us to sin. In this case, it would have been wrong for Jonathan to have obeyed his father and kill David.
Looking to the New Testament, Jonathan could say what the apostles said when they were told to stop preaching the gospel, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). Additionally, Jonathan also had the heart of the apostles. In Acts 5, the apostles were beaten severely and were willing to suffer for what was right before God. Rejoicing, they counted it worthy to suffer for His name (Acts 5:40-41). Jonathan was willing to endure the consequences for obeying God.
Be on guard in the morning: Saul's purpose was taking shape, and as there are always men ready to commit a crime at the bidding of the king, there was the danger that the secret murder might occur quickly. Jonathan, therefore, warns David of the king's malice and urges David to hide himself until Jonathan is able to make an entreaty for him.
In the field: The field is the open common land which surrounded the royal palace. It is likely that Saul took regular walks in the morning. When Saul took his scheduled walk, Jonathan would join him and hold a conference with his father apart from the royal court. After probing his father's real feelings, Jonathan would continue his walk and meet David to communicate to him the result of Jonathan and Saul's conversation.
Jonathan did more than refuse to help Saul. Jonathan helped David. Jonathan could have said, "I want no part of this. I am not going to help my father do something I know is wrong. But, I will not try to interfere with his plan either. I will just be neutral and let God work it out." But Jonathan did not take this passive attitude, but instead, he acted as he thought was only right to do.
3. (1 Sam 19:4-5) In loyalty to David, Jonathan speaks to Saul
Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Do not let the king sin against his servant David, since he had not sinned against you, and since his deeds have been very beneficial to you. For he took his life in his hand and struck the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great deliverance for all Israel; you saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death without a cause"
Jonathan spoke well of David: Had Jonathan simply advised David to flee, without endeavoring to bring Saul to a better mind, he would have acted to the prejudice of his father's interests. Instead, Jonathan tells Saul about David's great virtues and unrivaled gifts.
Do not let the king sin against his servant: Jonathan was bold enough to tell his father that his anger and jealousy against David was sin. Moreover, Jonathan told his father that David had not sinned against Saul. Saul felt that David had sinned against him in some manner, and he felt righteous in his cause. Jonathan delivered a needed word of correction.
For he took his life in his hand: David voluntarily exposed himself to great peril to kill Goliath. The meaning of the Hebrew is a figure of speech. It is that of taking treasure out of a safe place and carrying it about with the risk of losing it. Jonathan reminds Saul of the triumphal victories that David did for Israel. Saul knew that David killed Goliath, but he could not believe that David did it for a righteous reason. Jonathan tries to bring Saul back to reality. He reminds his father, "You saw it and rejoiced." When David first killed Goliath, Saul rejoiced just like everyone else. But now, Satan had filled Saul's mind with envy and jealousy.
Why then will you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death without a cause: In Saul's mind, there was a cause, and David was not innocent. But the truth was, there was no cause, and David was innocent. Again, Jonathan tries to call Saul back to reality.
4. (1 Sam 19:6-7) The reconciliation between Saul and David
Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul vowed, "As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death." Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these words. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as formerly.
Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan: This took great humility for Saul. It is easy to say, "I am the king. I am right. I do not care what you say." But, in this case, Saul listened to his son and turned from his evil ways.
Saul vowed, "As the LORD lives...: This shows that the LORD had genuinely touched Saul's heart. God used Jonathan, but it was not the work of Jonathan. It was the work of the LORD, and Saul recognized this by declaring a vow.
He was in his presence as formerly: It seems everything was back to the way it was. David seems to have been received on terms of intimacy and affection by Saul. The command to kill David is revoked.
5. (1 Sam 19:8-10) David escapes another attempt on his life
When there was war again, David went out and fought with the Philistines and defeated them with great slaughter, so that they fled before him. Now there was an evil spirit from the LORD on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp in his hand. Saul tried to pin David to the wall, but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, so that he stuck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.
When there was war again: In the context, this speaks of more war between Israel and the Philistines, but it was also true spiritually. At the end of 1 Samuel 19:7, there was a truce in the spiritual war involving David and Saul. But whenever we are at a time of cease-fire in the spiritual war, we know the battle will begin again before long. It can always be said of our lives, "Then there was war again."
David went out and fought with the Philistines: The friendly relations between Saul and David continued for some time, but when at length war broke out again, David left his usual place of playing the harp in the presence of Saul and went out to war. David once again was blessed with tremendous success, whereupon Saul's envy and jealousy returned.
There was an evil spirit from the LORD: At this point, the evil spirit is no longer called "an evil spirit from God" (as in 1 Samuel 18:10) but it is "an evil spirit from the LORD". (The word "LORD" in the English Bible is the Hebrew yod-hey-vav-hey, pronounced "Yahweh". Yahweh is built on the Hebrew word for "I am" and is God's covenantal name. Any time God makes a covenant with Israel, LORD (or yod-hey-vav-hey) is the name always given for God.) It is important to note the change of the evil spirit from "God" to "LORD" as this symbolizes Saul has broken his covenant with God. In 1 Samuel 19:6, Saul vows to God that he would not kill David. But now, when Saul's heart is changed, and rage and jealously provoke him to once again desire to kill David, Saul has broken his vow with God. Subsequently, God now must punish Saul for his disobedience.
Saul tried to pin David to the wall: Again, Saul was overcome by an evil spirit, and again he has a spear in his hand. This time, the evil spirit overtakes Saul with such violence that Saul is no longer able to restrain his hand. This time, Saul releases the spear. The Hebrew is different here than what it is in 1 Samuel 18:11. In chapter 18, the Hebrew implies Saul simply lifted his spear toward David. In 1 Samuel 19:10, the Hebrew implies Saul actually threw his spear at David.
And David fled and escaped that night: David never return to the palace until he is the king of Israel, some 20 years later! From now until the day of Saul's death, David lives as a fugitive.
B. David flees from Saul
1. (1 Sam 19:11-12) David escapes with the help from his wife Michal
Then Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, in order to put him to death in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, "If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be put to death." So Michal let David down through a window, and he went out and fled and escaped.
Saul sent messengers to David's house: Psalm 59 is referred by its title to the present occasion. (Psalm 59 title: "Prayer for deliverance from enemies. For the choir director; set to Al-tashheth. A mikhtam of David, when Saul sent men and they watched the house in order to kill him.") The psalm supplements the history given in this account. It shows not only was David in danger from Saul, but he was also in danger from ruffians among Saul's followers who prowled about the streets of Gibeah threatening his life.
Michal, David's wife, told him: Michal saves the day! Michal was Saul's daughter and thus had conflicting loyalties. Should she act in her father's interests or in her husband's interests? To her benefit, she made the right choice and supported her husband, David.
Michal acts according to the principle of Genesis 2:24: "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." Although the Genesis passage speaks specifically of the husband, it expresses a principle that applies to both partners in a marriage that the former family loyalties and obligations are set aside to the loyalty and obligation to the new family.
Told him: Michal helped David by warning him. She perhaps saw the king's guards coming before David did. She also knew the character of her father better than David did. Michal was probably less surprised than David to find the king's guards were against him. And David did well to receive this warning from his wife. Sometimes men are so hard headed and so hard hearted that they never hear how God might warn them through their wives. If David would have ignored this warning because he did not like the source of the information, he might have ended up dead.
So Michal let David down: Michal knew well her father's character. Now that the veil of Saul's dark side was publicly lifted, there was no hope any longer for her husband, David, to serve King Saul. She knew David's only hope of surviving was to flee. She "let David down through a window" because the king's guards were watching the door. With this desperate flight began David's long weary wanderings, those perpetual risks of death, which continued until the death of King Saul.
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Sunday, December 24, 2017
1 Samuel Chapter 18 Part Two (Verses 12-30)
3. (1 Sam 18:12-16) David is transferred from the palace to the army
Now Saul was afraid of David, for the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. David was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him. When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded him. But all Israel and Judah love David, and he went out and came in before them.
Saul was afraid of David: A new feeling arose in Saul. To his jealously succeeded a sense of powerlessness as Saul realized that a higher power was with David, while Saul had lost his Divine protection. Not being able to, even in his sane hours, to endure the presence of one whom he knew would sooner or later take his place, Saul honorably dismisses David from his presence and installs David as commander of a thousand men.
Appointed him as commander: Saul's desire was not to bless David, but to set him up for harm. Although David had defeated Goliath and had some successful campaigns against the Philistines, David was still relatively young and inexperienced. In a jealous fit, Saul hoped this military appointment might lead to David's injury or death.
He went out and came in before the people: This is a Hebrew figure of speech meaning "David conducted successful military campaigns."
David was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him: Despite David's military inexperience, he prospered because God was with him. David could have easily protested his military appointment and claimed he did not have the experience worthy of such a high command. But David did not complain. Again, David puts his trust in God and allows God to lead his battles.
Moreover, David could have complained that he was a victim. Saul was trying to set up David for failure. But David never gave in to a victim mentality. He did not give in to the thinking that his fate was in Saul's hands. Instead, David trusted God with his fate.
He dreaded him: This is a stronger expression that than used in verse 12. A better rendering of the Hebrew would be "He stood in awe of him" denoting primarily the avoidance of the feared person.
But all Israel and Judah: The distinction mentioned of the two divisions of the chosen people seems to point to the fact that the compiler of the Books of Samuel lived after the final separation of the ten northern tribes from Judah and Benjamin. Although David was from the southern kingdom of Judah and Benjamin, the future king was equally popular with the northern tribes.
C. Saul sets a trap for David, but he escapes and is blessed
1. (1 Sam 18:17-19) Saul intends to kill David
Then Saul said to David, "Here is my oldest daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD'S battles." For Saul thought, "My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him." But David said to Saul, "Who am I, and what is my life of my father's family in Israel, that I should be the king's son-in-law?" So it came about at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.
Here is my oldest daughter Merab: This was but a fulfillment of a much earlier promise given in 1 Samuel 17:25 in which King Saul promised his daughter in marriage to the hero who should slay the Philistine giant. For one reason or another, Saul had declined, or at least postponed, the carrying out of his pledge. Now, Saul seems to have a motive in giving his daughter in marriage--Saul expects David to fight his battles, treacherously hoping David may fall by the hand of the Philistines.
Only be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD'S battles: Saul works as a clever manipulator. He takes advantage of David's loyalty and patriotism ("only be a valiant me for me"). He also takes advantage of David's courage and heart for the LORD ("fight the LORD'S battle").
My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him: The marriage offer "seems" like a gesture of kindness and goodness on Saul's part. And David was supposed to believe that Saul had forgiven him. But true to Saul's distressing spirit which plagued him, Saul had evil motives. Saul still wanted David dead and out of his way. But, now instead of threatening David with spears, he used cunning manipulation to have David killed. From a fleshly standpoint, this was a pretty clever plan on Saul's part. It was smart in the flesh, but God would not honor Saul and his secret motives. Manipulation tries to maneuver people and events to accomplish a hidden agenda. It is smart in the flesh, but it will never be blessed by God.
Moreover, Saul was setting a trap for David by offering Merab in marriage because a dowry would be necessary for Merab. In that day, a dowry was required whenever a man married. The dowry was paid to the bride's father. The more important and prestigious the bride and her family, the higher the dowry price. Since David was from a humble family, there was no there was no way he could pay the dowry for the daughter of a king.
Who am I...that I should be the king's son-in-law: David more than likely was not aware of Saul's evil motives. David had a humble heart and knew he came as a shepherd boy from a lowly family. Although David was nationally famous and loved by all Israel, he did not see himself as highly important. When the hand of Merab is offered to David in marriage, David did not think, "Well, it's about time! I am glad Saul has finally taken notice of my importance in the land of Israel."
She was given to Adriel: When David hesitated to marry Merab, Saul tried another tactic. Saul gave his daughter to another man. Perhaps, Saul's motive was to drive David into a jealous rage. Perhaps, Adriel was from a wealthy family and was able to offer a large sum of money and gifts for Merab. Whatever the reason for Saul giving away Merab to another man, the ultimate motive was to renege on his promise and to take away one of David's promised rewards for killing Goliath. Unfortunately for Merab and Adriel, there five sons are killed when David avenges the Gibeonites (see 2 Samuel 21).
Meholathite: A town in the valley near Beth-shean, it was the birthplace of the prophet Elisha (1 Kings 19:16).
2. (1 Sam 18:20-25) David's agreement to marry Michal
Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to him. Saul thought, "I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore, Saul said to David, "For a second time you may be my son-in-law today." Then Saul commanded his servants, "Speak to David secretly, saying, 'Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king's son-in-law.'" So Saul's servants spoke these words to David. But David said, "Is it a trivial in your sight to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?" The servants of Saul reported to him according to these words which David spoke. Saul then said, "Thus you shall say to David, 'The king does not desire any dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king's enemies.'" Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David: It should not surprise us that Michal was attracted to David. David was a mighty war hero and had gained much fame throughout Israel. But as is evident later in their marriage, Michal was not really attracted to David's heart for the LORD. It is the love of the younger of the two princesses for her father's enemy that gave Saul a fresh excuse to expose David's life to great peril. At the same, it would appear to David and everyone else that Saul was endeavoring to carry out an old promise.
She may become a snare to him: Saul may have meant this in two ways. First, Saul still wanted David to be snared by the dowry. But secondly, Saul knew Michal's heart and character. Saul knew that she could be a snare to David and his trust in the LORD, which, as it turns out, is true in some regard. (See 2 Samuel 6:16-23 for more details.) Moreover, it seems David learned some of Saul's tactics. When David loved Bethsheba, David ordered Uriah (Bathsheba's husband) to be placed in a very dangerous military position and then have David's troops withdraw, ultimately causing Uriah to be killed (2 Samuel 11). Upon Uriah's death, David was freely able to marry Bathsheba.
For a second time you may be my son-in-law today: The word translated "today" is a Hebrew idiom, which simply implies Saul wishes for David to be his son-in-law in a very short period of time.
Then Saul commanded his servants: It seems that David was not eager to embrace Saul's offer. Therefore, Saul privately orders his servants to persuade David to accept Saul's offer to become his son-in-law.
I am a poor man: David dwells upon this fact that he is unable to give the expected dowry for the princess.
The king does not desire any dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines: Now Saul builds on his clever plan. David will not marry Michal because he does not have enough money for her dowry. David is too humble to ask for different terms for payment of the dowry. So, Saul suggests his terms. Saul phrases the dowry in a very clever way. "The king does not desire any dowry" makes it sound as though Saul does not want anything from David. "Except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines" makes it sound as if Saul is not asking for much. In reality, Saul is asking for something far greater than a large dowry. Saul is asking David to put his life at risk in order to fulfill Saul's demands for marrying his daughter.
3. (1 Sam 18:26-27) David fulfills Saul's request for a dowry and marries Michal
When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to become the king's son-in-law. Before the days had expired David rose up and went, he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife.
It pleased David: Besides the great honor, David, not suspecting any malicious purpose on Saul's part, may have hoped that marrying Michal would put an end to the miserable state of things which existed between him and Saul.
Before the days had expired: The dowry was given within the fixed time frame set by Saul. Before it had expired, David set out with his men and made an incursion into the Philistine territory.
Two hundred foreskins: David provides Saul twice the number of Philistine foreskins as Saul had required. Perhaps David was trying to prove with this abundance of foreskins that he was worthy enough to marry Saul's daughter. Or perhaps, David knew Saul was a man of trickery and wanted no doubt to exist in Saul's mind that David was the right person for Michal.
4. (1 Sam 18:28-30) David's constantly growing popularity
When Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and the Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David's enemy continually. Then the commanders of the Philistines went out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.
When Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David: The success of David's last expedition and the return of David with double the number of Philistine foreskins which Saul had required filled the unhappy king with dismay. Saul's daughter's love, too, for David contributed to Saul's continued hatred and fear of David. Moreover, as David grew closer and closer to God, the further David got from Saul.
The commanders of the Philistines went out to battle: Saul's cunning plan against David continues. After David ruthlessly defeated 200 Philistines and killed the Philistines honored champion, David find himself a marked man. The Philistines wanted retaliation against David.
David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul: Saul's plan completely backfires. David not only survives the battles with the Philistines, but he also becomes more popular with all of Israel and draws closer to God. As much as Saul is defeated in this round, he will continue to use more manipulation and violence against David in an attempt to save his kingdom from being taken away from his descendants.
Now Saul was afraid of David, for the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. David was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him. When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded him. But all Israel and Judah love David, and he went out and came in before them.
Saul was afraid of David: A new feeling arose in Saul. To his jealously succeeded a sense of powerlessness as Saul realized that a higher power was with David, while Saul had lost his Divine protection. Not being able to, even in his sane hours, to endure the presence of one whom he knew would sooner or later take his place, Saul honorably dismisses David from his presence and installs David as commander of a thousand men.
Appointed him as commander: Saul's desire was not to bless David, but to set him up for harm. Although David had defeated Goliath and had some successful campaigns against the Philistines, David was still relatively young and inexperienced. In a jealous fit, Saul hoped this military appointment might lead to David's injury or death.
He went out and came in before the people: This is a Hebrew figure of speech meaning "David conducted successful military campaigns."
David was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him: Despite David's military inexperience, he prospered because God was with him. David could have easily protested his military appointment and claimed he did not have the experience worthy of such a high command. But David did not complain. Again, David puts his trust in God and allows God to lead his battles.
Moreover, David could have complained that he was a victim. Saul was trying to set up David for failure. But David never gave in to a victim mentality. He did not give in to the thinking that his fate was in Saul's hands. Instead, David trusted God with his fate.
He dreaded him: This is a stronger expression that than used in verse 12. A better rendering of the Hebrew would be "He stood in awe of him" denoting primarily the avoidance of the feared person.
But all Israel and Judah: The distinction mentioned of the two divisions of the chosen people seems to point to the fact that the compiler of the Books of Samuel lived after the final separation of the ten northern tribes from Judah and Benjamin. Although David was from the southern kingdom of Judah and Benjamin, the future king was equally popular with the northern tribes.
C. Saul sets a trap for David, but he escapes and is blessed
1. (1 Sam 18:17-19) Saul intends to kill David
Then Saul said to David, "Here is my oldest daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD'S battles." For Saul thought, "My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him." But David said to Saul, "Who am I, and what is my life of my father's family in Israel, that I should be the king's son-in-law?" So it came about at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.
Here is my oldest daughter Merab: This was but a fulfillment of a much earlier promise given in 1 Samuel 17:25 in which King Saul promised his daughter in marriage to the hero who should slay the Philistine giant. For one reason or another, Saul had declined, or at least postponed, the carrying out of his pledge. Now, Saul seems to have a motive in giving his daughter in marriage--Saul expects David to fight his battles, treacherously hoping David may fall by the hand of the Philistines.
Only be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD'S battles: Saul works as a clever manipulator. He takes advantage of David's loyalty and patriotism ("only be a valiant me for me"). He also takes advantage of David's courage and heart for the LORD ("fight the LORD'S battle").
My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him: The marriage offer "seems" like a gesture of kindness and goodness on Saul's part. And David was supposed to believe that Saul had forgiven him. But true to Saul's distressing spirit which plagued him, Saul had evil motives. Saul still wanted David dead and out of his way. But, now instead of threatening David with spears, he used cunning manipulation to have David killed. From a fleshly standpoint, this was a pretty clever plan on Saul's part. It was smart in the flesh, but God would not honor Saul and his secret motives. Manipulation tries to maneuver people and events to accomplish a hidden agenda. It is smart in the flesh, but it will never be blessed by God.
Moreover, Saul was setting a trap for David by offering Merab in marriage because a dowry would be necessary for Merab. In that day, a dowry was required whenever a man married. The dowry was paid to the bride's father. The more important and prestigious the bride and her family, the higher the dowry price. Since David was from a humble family, there was no there was no way he could pay the dowry for the daughter of a king.
Who am I...that I should be the king's son-in-law: David more than likely was not aware of Saul's evil motives. David had a humble heart and knew he came as a shepherd boy from a lowly family. Although David was nationally famous and loved by all Israel, he did not see himself as highly important. When the hand of Merab is offered to David in marriage, David did not think, "Well, it's about time! I am glad Saul has finally taken notice of my importance in the land of Israel."
She was given to Adriel: When David hesitated to marry Merab, Saul tried another tactic. Saul gave his daughter to another man. Perhaps, Saul's motive was to drive David into a jealous rage. Perhaps, Adriel was from a wealthy family and was able to offer a large sum of money and gifts for Merab. Whatever the reason for Saul giving away Merab to another man, the ultimate motive was to renege on his promise and to take away one of David's promised rewards for killing Goliath. Unfortunately for Merab and Adriel, there five sons are killed when David avenges the Gibeonites (see 2 Samuel 21).
Meholathite: A town in the valley near Beth-shean, it was the birthplace of the prophet Elisha (1 Kings 19:16).
2. (1 Sam 18:20-25) David's agreement to marry Michal
Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to him. Saul thought, "I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore, Saul said to David, "For a second time you may be my son-in-law today." Then Saul commanded his servants, "Speak to David secretly, saying, 'Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king's son-in-law.'" So Saul's servants spoke these words to David. But David said, "Is it a trivial in your sight to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?" The servants of Saul reported to him according to these words which David spoke. Saul then said, "Thus you shall say to David, 'The king does not desire any dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king's enemies.'" Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David: It should not surprise us that Michal was attracted to David. David was a mighty war hero and had gained much fame throughout Israel. But as is evident later in their marriage, Michal was not really attracted to David's heart for the LORD. It is the love of the younger of the two princesses for her father's enemy that gave Saul a fresh excuse to expose David's life to great peril. At the same, it would appear to David and everyone else that Saul was endeavoring to carry out an old promise.
She may become a snare to him: Saul may have meant this in two ways. First, Saul still wanted David to be snared by the dowry. But secondly, Saul knew Michal's heart and character. Saul knew that she could be a snare to David and his trust in the LORD, which, as it turns out, is true in some regard. (See 2 Samuel 6:16-23 for more details.) Moreover, it seems David learned some of Saul's tactics. When David loved Bethsheba, David ordered Uriah (Bathsheba's husband) to be placed in a very dangerous military position and then have David's troops withdraw, ultimately causing Uriah to be killed (2 Samuel 11). Upon Uriah's death, David was freely able to marry Bathsheba.
For a second time you may be my son-in-law today: The word translated "today" is a Hebrew idiom, which simply implies Saul wishes for David to be his son-in-law in a very short period of time.
Then Saul commanded his servants: It seems that David was not eager to embrace Saul's offer. Therefore, Saul privately orders his servants to persuade David to accept Saul's offer to become his son-in-law.
I am a poor man: David dwells upon this fact that he is unable to give the expected dowry for the princess.
The king does not desire any dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines: Now Saul builds on his clever plan. David will not marry Michal because he does not have enough money for her dowry. David is too humble to ask for different terms for payment of the dowry. So, Saul suggests his terms. Saul phrases the dowry in a very clever way. "The king does not desire any dowry" makes it sound as though Saul does not want anything from David. "Except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines" makes it sound as if Saul is not asking for much. In reality, Saul is asking for something far greater than a large dowry. Saul is asking David to put his life at risk in order to fulfill Saul's demands for marrying his daughter.
3. (1 Sam 18:26-27) David fulfills Saul's request for a dowry and marries Michal
When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to become the king's son-in-law. Before the days had expired David rose up and went, he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife.
It pleased David: Besides the great honor, David, not suspecting any malicious purpose on Saul's part, may have hoped that marrying Michal would put an end to the miserable state of things which existed between him and Saul.
Before the days had expired: The dowry was given within the fixed time frame set by Saul. Before it had expired, David set out with his men and made an incursion into the Philistine territory.
Two hundred foreskins: David provides Saul twice the number of Philistine foreskins as Saul had required. Perhaps David was trying to prove with this abundance of foreskins that he was worthy enough to marry Saul's daughter. Or perhaps, David knew Saul was a man of trickery and wanted no doubt to exist in Saul's mind that David was the right person for Michal.
4. (1 Sam 18:28-30) David's constantly growing popularity
When Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and the Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David's enemy continually. Then the commanders of the Philistines went out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.
When Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David: The success of David's last expedition and the return of David with double the number of Philistine foreskins which Saul had required filled the unhappy king with dismay. Saul's daughter's love, too, for David contributed to Saul's continued hatred and fear of David. Moreover, as David grew closer and closer to God, the further David got from Saul.
The commanders of the Philistines went out to battle: Saul's cunning plan against David continues. After David ruthlessly defeated 200 Philistines and killed the Philistines honored champion, David find himself a marked man. The Philistines wanted retaliation against David.
David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul: Saul's plan completely backfires. David not only survives the battles with the Philistines, but he also becomes more popular with all of Israel and draws closer to God. As much as Saul is defeated in this round, he will continue to use more manipulation and violence against David in an attempt to save his kingdom from being taken away from his descendants.
Sunday, December 17, 2017
1 Samuel Chapter 18 Part One (Verses 1-11)
CONFLICT BETWEEN SAUL AND DAVID
A. David, Jonathan and Saul
1. (1 Sam 18:1-4) The friendship between David and Jonathan
Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.
Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul: We have in this and the following chapters a detailed account of David at the Court of Saul. This conversation is a continuation of the discourse begun in 1 Samuel 17:55. When David returned from killing Goliath, the Philistine, Abner took David and presented him to King Saul. With the start of this conversation, a new beginning commences. We are told of the beginning of Jonathan and David's friendship, of the growth of Saul's hatred toward David and of the trials which befall David which eventually drives him away and compels David to lead the life of an outlaw. Jonathan's love for David is as beautiful contrasts sharply with Saul's deep cruelty toward David.
The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David: The Hebrew here is very strong. The same expressive phrase is used of Jacob's love for Benjamin in Genesis 44:30-31a: "Now, therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the lad's life, when he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die." An interesting note, Jonathan was the oldest son of Saul, making Jonathan both a prince and the slated next king of Israel. ("Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal" 1 Chronicles 9:39.) On the other hand, David was the youngest of eight brothers.
Saul took him that day: It appears that before this, David had not had his constant residence at the court. It seems from the text, prior to this, he would come to the court to soothe Saul, and when Saul became well, David returned home to his father. From this time forth, it appears David did not have the luxury of returning back to his family.
Jonathan made a covenant with David: We are not to suppose this happened immediately. David most likely continued on friendly terms with Saul for a considerable period, during which time he went on many military expeditions and grew in military renown. During this time, David and Jonathan's friendship blossomed and grew deeper and deeper until they entered this solemn bond of mutual friendship--a bond of true friendship and faithfulness to one another.
Jonathan stripped himself of the robe: In confirmation of the bond, Jonathan gave David his robe (in Hebrew meil), a tunic worn close to the skin. Additionally, Jonathan gave David his battle accessories--his sword, bow and belt. In clothing David with his own princely attire, Jonathan was showing David his greatest personal honor. Such a gift is still highly esteemed in the East. An example of honor given by clothing one in royalty attire can be seen in Esther 6:7-9: "Then Haman said to the king, 'For he man whom the king desires to honor, let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed; and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble princes and let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, "Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor."'"
2. (1 Sam 18:5-9) Saul's jealousy of David
So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. The women sang as they played, and said, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?" Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
David went out: David was appointed to some post of command and "went out" on military expeditions. On these campaigns, David "prospered". This word combines the ideas of prudence and subsequent success. In spite of his sudden promotion, which might have naturally excited the jealousy of the courtiers, David won their good-will. This verse is a summary of events which may have occupied a very considerable amount of time. It was only gradually that David's fame became so great as to rouse great hatred in Saul's mind.
When David was returned: The triumphant return of David does not refer to the homecoming after the death of the giant, Goliath. But this event occurs after the close of the campaign which followed the event. A series of victories after the fall of the dreaded champion--very likely spread out over a considerable period of time--had restored the supremacy of Israel in the land of Canaan. In this war, David established his character for bravery and skill.
The women came out: The women came out to celebrate to escort the victors home with singing and dancing. Dancing was the usual expression of rejoicing upon occasions of national triumph. For example, Miriam and the women of Israel celebrate after God delivers Israel through the Red Sea: "Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing. Miriam answered them, 'Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and his ride He has hurled into the sea'" Exodus 15:20-21. As a rule, these dances were confined mostly to women, with David dancing in 2 Samuel 6:14 being an exception.
When women sing and dance in your honor, you are popular. When "women came out in all the cities of Israel", you are VERY popular. When you are praised and popular, it isn't wise to let it go to your head. David was happy to hear these affirming words, but he did not let it dominate his thinking or change his opinion of himself. He kept the heart and mind of a shepherd, even in times of great success. And this was not easy. This was a test, one the devil wanted to use to bring David down, and one the LORD wanted to use to build David up. David never received this kind of affirmation when he kept his father's sheep. The sheep never danced and praised him. Now that David has been appointed a military post and has been victorious, he faces the challenge success. hen people can handle the trials of adversity, but they fall prey to pride when success is sprung upon them.
Because David could be so content and happy before the LORD in keeping sheep with no praise or popularity, it puts David's heart in the right place to handle it when he received praise and fame. Out in the shepherd's field, David had his heart set; he was doing everything for the LORD. Because his heart was right in the shepherd's field, David behaved wisely in all his ways when accolades and popularity came his way. Moreover, David lived his life more for the LORD than for people. It was not that David did not care about people or what they thought, but he could put the opinion of man in the right perspective. David cared more about the opinion of God.
Saul has slain thousands, and David his ten thousands: These words seem to have been sung in a call and response manner, similar to the way the psalms are composed. This refrain became very popular, so popular that is became widely known even among the Philistines. ("Is this not David, of whom they sing in the dances, saying, 'Saul has slain thousands, and David his ten thousands?" 1 Samuel 29:5)
Now what more can he have but the kingdom: Although many years had passed since Saul first heard for Samuel the Divine sentence of his rejection from the kingdom, yet, it was a thing the king could never forget. No doubt, Saul had looked for signs of the person destined to be his successor. And now, when he had stood powerless before the enemy, a shepherd boy had stepped forward and given him the victory. David, a military novice, had shown so great of qualities of bravery and military skill that people reckoned him at ten times Saul's worth. Had Saul been the high-minded man he was at the time he was appointed as king over Israel, he would have banished such thoughts from his mind. Unfortunately, Saul's mind had become consumed with discontent and brooding thoughts. Saul would now look upon David with suspicious thoughts in everything that David did.
B. Saul's first attempt to kill David
1. (1 Sam 18:10) The scene in Saul's royal court
Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul's hand.
An evil spirit from God: The evil spirit comes over the unhappy king in quite a new form. Up until this time, when the evil spirit came upon Saul, the madness showed itself as a hopeless melancholy--an entire indifference to everything connected with life. Now, the new phase of Saul's madness presents itself as a murderous jealously that fills Saul's whole soul, and drives him to open deeds of rough violence.
David was playing the harp with his hand: The same hands that had killed Goliath and carried the trophy of his severed head now sweetly played music unto the LORD, ministering to a troubled king. David obviously had skillful hands, both in war and in music. More remarkable was his humble heart. Most men, after the fame that came to David, would consider this kind of service beneath them. David was a great military leader, famous in all of Israel and had women dancing and singing his praises. Yet, he faithfully performed this job of personally ministering to Saul with music.
And a spear was in Saul's hand: The spear served as a scepter and was the symbol of royalty. The king often held the spear in his hand, especially when he held council or sat in a place of authority. ("Then Saul held that David and his men who were with him had been discovered. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around" 1 Samuel 22:6.)
2. (1 Samuel 18:11) Saul brandishes a spear at David
Saul hurled the spear for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David escaped from his presence twice.
Saul hurled the spear: Both the Chaldee and the Septuagint render this verse as "Saul lifted the spear" or "Saul brandished the spear". This translation would make more sense since it is hardly credible that if Saul had actually thrown the spear, David would have returned a second time to the king's chamber.
If a spear is in your hand, you will probably use it. As Saul held the spear, the distressing spirit moved him. Instead of receiving ministry from David's music, the distressing spirit prompted Saul to lash out at David. We must say that the distressing spirit did not make Saul do this. Bit, the spirit prompted him to do it. Saul was able to choose and never lost his free will. The same music ministry that once soothed Saul and made him refreshed, giving him relief from the distressing spirit (1 Samuel 16:23) now had no effect at all. David's music ministry and heart did not change. However, Saul's heart did, which set the stage for violence and hatred of David.
David escaped twice: It is amazing that after David was threatened once that he even returned to Saul's presence a second time. But, David was submissive. He knew Saul's heart, and he knew he had to trust God. After God delivered David from the hand of Goliath, who was David to doubt God's saving power? If David would have struck Saul after being threatened, we can suppose David would have still become king. But if David would have done this, he would have surrendered his destiny to be the greatest king in Israel's history. He would still have become king, but he would not have become the king the LORD destined him to be.
A. David, Jonathan and Saul
1. (1 Sam 18:1-4) The friendship between David and Jonathan
Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.
Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul: We have in this and the following chapters a detailed account of David at the Court of Saul. This conversation is a continuation of the discourse begun in 1 Samuel 17:55. When David returned from killing Goliath, the Philistine, Abner took David and presented him to King Saul. With the start of this conversation, a new beginning commences. We are told of the beginning of Jonathan and David's friendship, of the growth of Saul's hatred toward David and of the trials which befall David which eventually drives him away and compels David to lead the life of an outlaw. Jonathan's love for David is as beautiful contrasts sharply with Saul's deep cruelty toward David.
The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David: The Hebrew here is very strong. The same expressive phrase is used of Jacob's love for Benjamin in Genesis 44:30-31a: "Now, therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the lad's life, when he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die." An interesting note, Jonathan was the oldest son of Saul, making Jonathan both a prince and the slated next king of Israel. ("Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal" 1 Chronicles 9:39.) On the other hand, David was the youngest of eight brothers.
Saul took him that day: It appears that before this, David had not had his constant residence at the court. It seems from the text, prior to this, he would come to the court to soothe Saul, and when Saul became well, David returned home to his father. From this time forth, it appears David did not have the luxury of returning back to his family.
Jonathan made a covenant with David: We are not to suppose this happened immediately. David most likely continued on friendly terms with Saul for a considerable period, during which time he went on many military expeditions and grew in military renown. During this time, David and Jonathan's friendship blossomed and grew deeper and deeper until they entered this solemn bond of mutual friendship--a bond of true friendship and faithfulness to one another.
Jonathan stripped himself of the robe: In confirmation of the bond, Jonathan gave David his robe (in Hebrew meil), a tunic worn close to the skin. Additionally, Jonathan gave David his battle accessories--his sword, bow and belt. In clothing David with his own princely attire, Jonathan was showing David his greatest personal honor. Such a gift is still highly esteemed in the East. An example of honor given by clothing one in royalty attire can be seen in Esther 6:7-9: "Then Haman said to the king, 'For he man whom the king desires to honor, let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed; and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble princes and let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, "Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor."'"
2. (1 Sam 18:5-9) Saul's jealousy of David
So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. The women sang as they played, and said, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?" Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
David went out: David was appointed to some post of command and "went out" on military expeditions. On these campaigns, David "prospered". This word combines the ideas of prudence and subsequent success. In spite of his sudden promotion, which might have naturally excited the jealousy of the courtiers, David won their good-will. This verse is a summary of events which may have occupied a very considerable amount of time. It was only gradually that David's fame became so great as to rouse great hatred in Saul's mind.
When David was returned: The triumphant return of David does not refer to the homecoming after the death of the giant, Goliath. But this event occurs after the close of the campaign which followed the event. A series of victories after the fall of the dreaded champion--very likely spread out over a considerable period of time--had restored the supremacy of Israel in the land of Canaan. In this war, David established his character for bravery and skill.
The women came out: The women came out to celebrate to escort the victors home with singing and dancing. Dancing was the usual expression of rejoicing upon occasions of national triumph. For example, Miriam and the women of Israel celebrate after God delivers Israel through the Red Sea: "Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing. Miriam answered them, 'Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and his ride He has hurled into the sea'" Exodus 15:20-21. As a rule, these dances were confined mostly to women, with David dancing in 2 Samuel 6:14 being an exception.
When women sing and dance in your honor, you are popular. When "women came out in all the cities of Israel", you are VERY popular. When you are praised and popular, it isn't wise to let it go to your head. David was happy to hear these affirming words, but he did not let it dominate his thinking or change his opinion of himself. He kept the heart and mind of a shepherd, even in times of great success. And this was not easy. This was a test, one the devil wanted to use to bring David down, and one the LORD wanted to use to build David up. David never received this kind of affirmation when he kept his father's sheep. The sheep never danced and praised him. Now that David has been appointed a military post and has been victorious, he faces the challenge success. hen people can handle the trials of adversity, but they fall prey to pride when success is sprung upon them.
Because David could be so content and happy before the LORD in keeping sheep with no praise or popularity, it puts David's heart in the right place to handle it when he received praise and fame. Out in the shepherd's field, David had his heart set; he was doing everything for the LORD. Because his heart was right in the shepherd's field, David behaved wisely in all his ways when accolades and popularity came his way. Moreover, David lived his life more for the LORD than for people. It was not that David did not care about people or what they thought, but he could put the opinion of man in the right perspective. David cared more about the opinion of God.
Saul has slain thousands, and David his ten thousands: These words seem to have been sung in a call and response manner, similar to the way the psalms are composed. This refrain became very popular, so popular that is became widely known even among the Philistines. ("Is this not David, of whom they sing in the dances, saying, 'Saul has slain thousands, and David his ten thousands?" 1 Samuel 29:5)
Now what more can he have but the kingdom: Although many years had passed since Saul first heard for Samuel the Divine sentence of his rejection from the kingdom, yet, it was a thing the king could never forget. No doubt, Saul had looked for signs of the person destined to be his successor. And now, when he had stood powerless before the enemy, a shepherd boy had stepped forward and given him the victory. David, a military novice, had shown so great of qualities of bravery and military skill that people reckoned him at ten times Saul's worth. Had Saul been the high-minded man he was at the time he was appointed as king over Israel, he would have banished such thoughts from his mind. Unfortunately, Saul's mind had become consumed with discontent and brooding thoughts. Saul would now look upon David with suspicious thoughts in everything that David did.
B. Saul's first attempt to kill David
1. (1 Sam 18:10) The scene in Saul's royal court
Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul's hand.
An evil spirit from God: The evil spirit comes over the unhappy king in quite a new form. Up until this time, when the evil spirit came upon Saul, the madness showed itself as a hopeless melancholy--an entire indifference to everything connected with life. Now, the new phase of Saul's madness presents itself as a murderous jealously that fills Saul's whole soul, and drives him to open deeds of rough violence.
David was playing the harp with his hand: The same hands that had killed Goliath and carried the trophy of his severed head now sweetly played music unto the LORD, ministering to a troubled king. David obviously had skillful hands, both in war and in music. More remarkable was his humble heart. Most men, after the fame that came to David, would consider this kind of service beneath them. David was a great military leader, famous in all of Israel and had women dancing and singing his praises. Yet, he faithfully performed this job of personally ministering to Saul with music.
And a spear was in Saul's hand: The spear served as a scepter and was the symbol of royalty. The king often held the spear in his hand, especially when he held council or sat in a place of authority. ("Then Saul held that David and his men who were with him had been discovered. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around" 1 Samuel 22:6.)
2. (1 Samuel 18:11) Saul brandishes a spear at David
Saul hurled the spear for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David escaped from his presence twice.
Saul hurled the spear: Both the Chaldee and the Septuagint render this verse as "Saul lifted the spear" or "Saul brandished the spear". This translation would make more sense since it is hardly credible that if Saul had actually thrown the spear, David would have returned a second time to the king's chamber.
If a spear is in your hand, you will probably use it. As Saul held the spear, the distressing spirit moved him. Instead of receiving ministry from David's music, the distressing spirit prompted Saul to lash out at David. We must say that the distressing spirit did not make Saul do this. Bit, the spirit prompted him to do it. Saul was able to choose and never lost his free will. The same music ministry that once soothed Saul and made him refreshed, giving him relief from the distressing spirit (1 Samuel 16:23) now had no effect at all. David's music ministry and heart did not change. However, Saul's heart did, which set the stage for violence and hatred of David.
David escaped twice: It is amazing that after David was threatened once that he even returned to Saul's presence a second time. But, David was submissive. He knew Saul's heart, and he knew he had to trust God. After God delivered David from the hand of Goliath, who was David to doubt God's saving power? If David would have struck Saul after being threatened, we can suppose David would have still become king. But if David would have done this, he would have surrendered his destiny to be the greatest king in Israel's history. He would still have become king, but he would not have become the king the LORD destined him to be.
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Chanukah (Part Two)
Chanukah is the Festival of Light. Jesus told His disciples, "I am the light of the world." On another occasion, He instructed His disciples, "You are the light of the world...Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works (mitzvot), and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). In the same way it is tradition to place the Chaunkah candelabrum (chanukiah) in a window so that its light radiates outward and illuminates the darkness of the outside world.
Most Christians do not know that chanukah was prophesied to happen, and it was prophesied to happen by the prophet Daniel. In Daniel chapter 7, we are told about four world powers which will arise--first the Babylonians, second the Medes-Persians, third the Greeks and fourth the Romans. In Daniel chapter 8, we read about just two of the world powers, the Medes-Persians followed by the Greeks.
Daniel 8:3-11 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. And as I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and broke his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. Then the he-goat became very great. And when he was strong, the great horn was broken. And in its place came up four outstanding ones towards the four winds of the heavens. And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which became very great, toward the south and toward the east and toward the bountiful land. And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
In the vision in chapter 8, the ram represents the Medes-Persians, while the he-goat is Greece. The two horns on the ram represents the two parts of the kingdom--the Medes and the Persians. The great horn is the Grecian ruler Alexander the Great. When Alexander dies (and the great horn is broken), his kingdom is divided up to four of his generals (Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus and Ptolemy). One little horn arises which is Antiochus Epiphanes, who becomes very great in power. This is where the story of chanukah happens. Antiochus casts down the stars to the ground, with the stars representing Israel ("I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky" (Genesis 26:4).) Antiochus takes away the daily sacrifice from the temple, and the temple is defiled.
Below is an account of the events of Chanukah which happened during the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. I do not believe the book of Maccabees is an inspired book and do not believe it should be in the Bible, but it is a history book filled with accounts from the past. Additionally, I will be using Josephus as a source. Josephus was a Roman-Jewish scholar who lived from about 37-100 AD. He wrote a 20 volume historical-geographical work which documents Jewish history from Adam and Eve through the Jewish-Roman War (66-73 AD). Maccabees and Josephus are used to give a more complete account of the events which happened during this time period.
1 Maccabees 1:1 After Alexander the Macedonian, Philip’s son, who came from the land of Kittim,* had defeated Darius, king of the Persians and Medes, he became king in his place, having first ruled in Greece.
1 Maccabees 1:10-15 There sprang from these a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome. He became king in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year* of the kingdom of the Greeks. In those days there appeared in Israel transgressors of the law who seduced many, saying: “Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles all around us; since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us.” The proposal was agreeable; some from among the people promptly went to the king, and he authorized them to introduce the ordinances of the Gentiles. Thereupon they built a gymnasium* in Jerusalem according to the Gentile custom. They disguised their circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves to wrongdoing.
(A side note: the building of a gymnasium was done in order to host olympic events. The olympics in ancient days used to be performed in the nude. Hence, a male's circumcision was easily seen when competing. In order to hide their circumcision, Jews would either have procedures done to un-do their circumcision or not circumcise their sons. Either way, by neglecting circumcision, Jews were violating God's covenant He made with Abraham. "You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner--those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant" Genesis 17:11-14.)
1 Maccabees 1:20-24 After Antiochus had defeated Egypt in the one hundred and forty-third year,* he returned and went up against Israel and against Jerusalem with a strong force. He insolently entered the sanctuary* and took away the golden altar, the lampstand for the light with all its utensils, the offering table, the cups and bowls, the golden censers, and the curtain. The cornices and the golden ornament on the facade of the temple—he stripped it all off. And he took away the silver and gold and the precious vessels; he also took all the hidden treasures he could find. Taking all this, he went back to his own country. He shed much blood and spoke with great arrogance.
(This echoes Daniel's prophecy in chapter 8 verse 11 which speaks about Antiochus's arrogance: "Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host".)
1 Maccabees 1:41-50 Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people, and abandon their particular customs. All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king, and many Israelites delighted in his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath. The king sent letters by messenger to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah, ordering them to follow customs foreign to their land; to prohibit burnt offerings, sacrifices, and libations in the sanctuary, to profane the sabbaths and feast days, to desecrate the sanctuary and the sacred ministers, to build pagan altars and temples and shrines, to sacrifice swine and unclean animals, to leave their sons uncircumcised, and to defile themselves with every kind of impurity and abomination; so that they might forget the law and change all its ordinances. Whoever refused to act according to the command of the king was to be put to death.
(It is worthy to note a key factor about Antiochus. Antiochus is NOT like Hitler or Haman (from the Book of Esther). Both Hilter and Haman disliked the Jews and wanted all of them killed. They wanted total annihilation of the Jews. However, like the antichrist, Antiochus does not want to kill Jews. He wants them to assimilate. He wants them to lose their Jewish customs and traditions and become one with the world. If you do not assimilate, then you will be annihilated. This "one world" philosophy is very prevalent in our society. Perhaps this is a sign of things to come.)
1 Maccabees 1:54-57 On the fifteenth day of the month Kislev, in the year one hundred and forty five,* the king erected the desolating abomination upon the altar of burnt offerings, and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars. They also burned incense at the doors of houses and in the streets. Any scrolls of the law* that they found they tore up and burned. Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant, and whoever observed the law, was condemned to death by royal decree.
1 Maccabees 1:62-64 But many in Israel were determined and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean; they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. And very great wrath came upon Israel. The officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to make them sacrifice. Many of Israel joined them, but Mattathias and his sons drew together. Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias: “You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city, supported by sons and kindred. Come now, be the first to obey the king’s command, as all the Gentiles and Judeans and those who are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons shall be numbered among the King’s Friends,* and you and your sons shall be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.” But Mattathias answered in a loud voice: “Although all the Gentiles in the king’s realm obey him, so that they forsake the religion of their ancestors and consent to the king’s orders, yet I and my sons and my kindred will keep to the covenant of our ancestors. Heaven forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments. We will not obey the words of the king by departing from our religion in the slightest degree.” As he finished saying these words, a certain Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein according to the king’s order. When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal; his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused; he sprang forward and killed him upon the altar. At the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. Thus he showed his zeal for the law, just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu. Then Mattathias cried out in the city, “Let everyone who is zealous for the law and who stands by the covenant follow me!” Then he and his sons fled to the mountains, leaving behind in the city all their possessions.
(Those familiar with the Gospel of Matthew chapter 24, can hear the echoes of Jesus' words: "Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things outs that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak" Matthew 24:16-18.)
1 Maccabees 2:32-41 Many hurried out after them, and having caught up with them, camped opposite and prepared to attack them on the sabbath. The pursuers said to them, “Enough of this! Come out and obey the king’s command, and you will live.” But they replied, “We will not come out, nor will we obey the king’s command to profane the sabbath.” Then the enemy attacked them at once. But they did not retaliate; they neither threw stones, nor blocked up their secret refuges. They said, “Let us all die in innocence; heaven and earth are our witnesses that you destroy us unjustly.” So the officers and soldiers attacked them on the sabbath, and they died with their wives, their children and their animals, to the number of a thousand persons. When Mattathias and his friends heard of it, they mourned deeply for them. They said to one another, “If we all do as our kindred have done, and do not fight against the Gentiles for our lives and our laws, they will soon destroy us from the earth.” So on that day they came to this decision: “Let us fight against anyone who attacks us on the sabbath, so that we may not all die as our kindred died in their secret refuges.”
(An important item to note is the decision of Mattathias and his firends to fight on the sabbath. This decision is based on Deuteronomy 8:1 "All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live". Mattathias and his friends used this verse to justify defending themselves on the sabbath. If they wanted to uphold God's commandments, they needed to defend themselves even on the LORD'S sabbath. Also, again those familiar with the Gospel of Matthew can hear Jesus' words: "But pray that your flight is not in the winter, nor on the sabbath day" Matthew 24:20. Mattathias and his friends fight on the sabbath, and Chanukah happens on Kislev 25, which is the winter. Fleeing during the winter there is snow in Israel, which makes travel difficult.)
Below is Josephesus's account of the events of Chanukah. This gives a few more details than what is related in the book of Maccabees.
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 12, Chapters 6
6.2 But when those that were appointed by the king were come to Modin, that they might compel the Jews to do what they were commanded, and to enjoin those that were there to offer sacrifice, as the king had commanded, they desired that Mattathias, a person of the greatest character among them, both on other accounts, and particularly on account of such a numerous and so deserving a family of children, would begin the sacrifice, because his fellow citizens would follow his example, and because such a procedure would make him honored by the king. But Mattathias said he would not do it; and that if all the other nations would obey the commands of Antiochus, either out of fear, or to please him, yet would not he nor his sons leave the religious worship of their country. But as soon as he had ended his speech, there came one of the Jews into the midst of them, and sacrificed, as Antiochus had commanded. At which Mattathias had great indignation, and ran upon him violently, with his sons, who had swords with them, and slew both the man himself that sacrificed, and Apelles the king's general, who compelled them to sacrifice, with a few of his soldiers. He also overthrew the idol altar, and cried out, "If," said he," any one be zealous for the laws of his country, and for the worship of God, let him follow me." And when he had said this, he made haste into the desert with his sons, and left all his substance in the village. Many others did the same also, and fled with their children and wives into the desert, and dwelt in caves. But when the king's generals heard this, they took all the forces they then had in the citadel at Jerusalem, and pursued the Jews into the desert; and when they had overtaken them, they in the first place endeavored to persuade them to repent, and to choose what was most for their advantage, and not put them to the necessity of using them according to the law of war. But when they would not comply with their persuasions, but continued to be of a different mind, they fought against them on the sabbath day, and they burnt them as they were in the caves, without resistance, and without so much as stopping up the entrances of the caves.
7.6. When therefore the generals of Antiochus's armies had been beaten so often, Judas assembled the people together, and told them, that after these many victories which God had given them, they ought to go up to Jerusalem, and purify the temple, and offer the appointed sacrifices. But as soon as he, with the whole multitude, was come to Jerusalem, and found the temple deserted, and its gates burnt down, and plants growing in the temple of their own accord, on account of its desertion, he and those that were with him began to lament, and were quite confounded at the sight of the temple; so he chose out some of his soldiers, and gave them order to fight against those guards that were in the citadel, until he should have purified the temple. When therefore he had carefully purged it, and had brought in new vessels, the candlestick, the table [of shew-bread], and the altar [of incense], which were made of gold, he hung up the veils at the gates, and added doors to them. He also took down the altar [of burnt-offering], and built a new one of stones that he gathered together, and not of such as were hewn with iron tools. So on the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, which the Macedonians call Apeliens, they lighted the lamps that were on the candlestick, and offered incense upon the altar [of incense], and laid the loaves upon the table [of shew-bread], and offered burnt-offerings upon the new altar [of burnt-offering]. Now it so fell out, that these things were done on the very same day on which their Divine worship had fallen off, and was reduced to a profane and common use, after three years' time; for so it was, that the temple was made desolate by Antiochus, and so continued for three years. And this desolation came to pass according to the prophecy of Daniel, which was given four hundred and eight years before; for he declared that the Macedonians would dissolve that worship [for some time]. 7. Now Judas celebrated the festival of the restoration of the sacrifices of the temple for eight days, and omitted no sort of pleasures thereon; but he feasted them upon very rich and splendid sacrifices; and he honored God, and delighted them by hymns and psalms. Nay, they were so very glad at the revival of their customs, when, after a long time of intermission, they unexpectedly had regained the freedom of their worship, that they made it a law for their posterity, that they should keep a festival, on account of the restoration of their temple worship, for eight days. And from that time to this we celebrate this festival, and call it Lights.
Abomination of desolation: Antiochus Epiphanes set up an altar to Zeus over the altar of burnt offering in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. He also scarified a pig on the altar in the temple. This event is known as the abomination of desolation. Daniel prophesied about this event in Daniel 11:31-33 "And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days."
Moreover, the abomination of desolation has happened again in Jewish history. In 70 AD, the Roman armies surround the Jewish temple in Jerusalem and destroyed it. After the temple was destroyed, the worship overseen by the High Priest ceased. The Temple Mount was covered over with rubble and a pagan temple dedicated to Jupiter was built when Hadrian became Caesar (117-138 AD). Hadrian installed on the mount two statues--one of Jupiter and another of himself. This was seen by the Jews as idolatry and abomination of desolation of their temple.
A problem arises with the Greek mindset: it believes once something happens it cannot happen again. Like a checklist, once something has been crossed off the list, it cannot be completed again. This is VERY different from the eastern (Jewish mindset). They believe if an event has happened, it WILL happen again. Everything happens in a circular fashion. As Josephus says, the abomination of desolation happened during Antiochus Epiphanes's reign. Jews also hold this view that the abomination of desolation has already occurred. As Jesus says in Matthew 24:15, the abomination of desolation will also occur in the future. Matthew 24:15 "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand)."
A summary of Jesus' words given in Matthew 24 regarding a future Chanukah which reminds the Jews of the events which happened during the 168 BC Chanukah:
Matthew 24:3 And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the world?
Matthew 24:15 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand).
Matthew 24:9,10 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matthew 24:16 Then let those in Judea flee into the mountains.
Matthew 24:20,21 But pray that your flight is not in the winter, nor on the sabbath day; for then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be.
Reasons for keeping Chanukah
1. Jesus kept Chanukah. Jesus went to the Temple to celebrate Chanukah. If Chanukah matters to Jesus, shouldn't it matter to us?
2. It's about re-dedicating God's temple. Chanukah means "dedication". It is a remembrance of when the Jews re-dedicated God's Holy Temple to serve only the LORD. Scripture tells us we are God's Temple. If Chanukah is a festival about the dedication of God's Temple, and we are God's Temple, shouldn't it matter to us?
3. It's about being persecuted for righteousness's sake. Chanukah is a story of religious persecution and standing up for faith in God. Jesus tells us that we can expect persecution, but He also tells us we must stand strong in our faith. If Chanukah is a story about being persecuted for one's faith, shouldn't it matter to us?
4. It's about not hiding your light under a bushel. Chanukah is the Festival of Light. It celebrates the re-lighting of the menorah lamp that burned in God's Holy Temple. In rabbinic terminology, the menorah was called the "light of the world". Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world," and another time He told His disciples, "You are the light of the world." If Chanukah is the Festival of the Light of the World, shouldn't it matter to us?
5. Prophetically Chanukah will happen again. Jesus talked about Chanukah. He warned His disciples that the things that happened in the story of Chanukah would happen again (see Mark 13 and Matthew 24). To understand what Jesus was saying, His disciples had to know the story of Chanukah. If Jesus talked about the story of Chanukah, and His disciples knew the story, shouldn't it matter to us?
Most Christians do not know that chanukah was prophesied to happen, and it was prophesied to happen by the prophet Daniel. In Daniel chapter 7, we are told about four world powers which will arise--first the Babylonians, second the Medes-Persians, third the Greeks and fourth the Romans. In Daniel chapter 8, we read about just two of the world powers, the Medes-Persians followed by the Greeks.
Daniel 8:3-11 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. And as I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and broke his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. Then the he-goat became very great. And when he was strong, the great horn was broken. And in its place came up four outstanding ones towards the four winds of the heavens. And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which became very great, toward the south and toward the east and toward the bountiful land. And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
In the vision in chapter 8, the ram represents the Medes-Persians, while the he-goat is Greece. The two horns on the ram represents the two parts of the kingdom--the Medes and the Persians. The great horn is the Grecian ruler Alexander the Great. When Alexander dies (and the great horn is broken), his kingdom is divided up to four of his generals (Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus and Ptolemy). One little horn arises which is Antiochus Epiphanes, who becomes very great in power. This is where the story of chanukah happens. Antiochus casts down the stars to the ground, with the stars representing Israel ("I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky" (Genesis 26:4).) Antiochus takes away the daily sacrifice from the temple, and the temple is defiled.
Below is an account of the events of Chanukah which happened during the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. I do not believe the book of Maccabees is an inspired book and do not believe it should be in the Bible, but it is a history book filled with accounts from the past. Additionally, I will be using Josephus as a source. Josephus was a Roman-Jewish scholar who lived from about 37-100 AD. He wrote a 20 volume historical-geographical work which documents Jewish history from Adam and Eve through the Jewish-Roman War (66-73 AD). Maccabees and Josephus are used to give a more complete account of the events which happened during this time period.
1 Maccabees 1:1 After Alexander the Macedonian, Philip’s son, who came from the land of Kittim,* had defeated Darius, king of the Persians and Medes, he became king in his place, having first ruled in Greece.
1 Maccabees 1:10-15 There sprang from these a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome. He became king in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year* of the kingdom of the Greeks. In those days there appeared in Israel transgressors of the law who seduced many, saying: “Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles all around us; since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us.” The proposal was agreeable; some from among the people promptly went to the king, and he authorized them to introduce the ordinances of the Gentiles. Thereupon they built a gymnasium* in Jerusalem according to the Gentile custom. They disguised their circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves to wrongdoing.
(A side note: the building of a gymnasium was done in order to host olympic events. The olympics in ancient days used to be performed in the nude. Hence, a male's circumcision was easily seen when competing. In order to hide their circumcision, Jews would either have procedures done to un-do their circumcision or not circumcise their sons. Either way, by neglecting circumcision, Jews were violating God's covenant He made with Abraham. "You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner--those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant" Genesis 17:11-14.)
1 Maccabees 1:20-24 After Antiochus had defeated Egypt in the one hundred and forty-third year,* he returned and went up against Israel and against Jerusalem with a strong force. He insolently entered the sanctuary* and took away the golden altar, the lampstand for the light with all its utensils, the offering table, the cups and bowls, the golden censers, and the curtain. The cornices and the golden ornament on the facade of the temple—he stripped it all off. And he took away the silver and gold and the precious vessels; he also took all the hidden treasures he could find. Taking all this, he went back to his own country. He shed much blood and spoke with great arrogance.
(This echoes Daniel's prophecy in chapter 8 verse 11 which speaks about Antiochus's arrogance: "Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host".)
1 Maccabees 1:41-50 Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people, and abandon their particular customs. All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king, and many Israelites delighted in his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath. The king sent letters by messenger to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah, ordering them to follow customs foreign to their land; to prohibit burnt offerings, sacrifices, and libations in the sanctuary, to profane the sabbaths and feast days, to desecrate the sanctuary and the sacred ministers, to build pagan altars and temples and shrines, to sacrifice swine and unclean animals, to leave their sons uncircumcised, and to defile themselves with every kind of impurity and abomination; so that they might forget the law and change all its ordinances. Whoever refused to act according to the command of the king was to be put to death.
(It is worthy to note a key factor about Antiochus. Antiochus is NOT like Hitler or Haman (from the Book of Esther). Both Hilter and Haman disliked the Jews and wanted all of them killed. They wanted total annihilation of the Jews. However, like the antichrist, Antiochus does not want to kill Jews. He wants them to assimilate. He wants them to lose their Jewish customs and traditions and become one with the world. If you do not assimilate, then you will be annihilated. This "one world" philosophy is very prevalent in our society. Perhaps this is a sign of things to come.)
1 Maccabees 1:54-57 On the fifteenth day of the month Kislev, in the year one hundred and forty five,* the king erected the desolating abomination upon the altar of burnt offerings, and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars. They also burned incense at the doors of houses and in the streets. Any scrolls of the law* that they found they tore up and burned. Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant, and whoever observed the law, was condemned to death by royal decree.
1 Maccabees 1:62-64 But many in Israel were determined and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean; they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. And very great wrath came upon Israel. The officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to make them sacrifice. Many of Israel joined them, but Mattathias and his sons drew together. Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias: “You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city, supported by sons and kindred. Come now, be the first to obey the king’s command, as all the Gentiles and Judeans and those who are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons shall be numbered among the King’s Friends,* and you and your sons shall be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.” But Mattathias answered in a loud voice: “Although all the Gentiles in the king’s realm obey him, so that they forsake the religion of their ancestors and consent to the king’s orders, yet I and my sons and my kindred will keep to the covenant of our ancestors. Heaven forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments. We will not obey the words of the king by departing from our religion in the slightest degree.” As he finished saying these words, a certain Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein according to the king’s order. When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal; his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused; he sprang forward and killed him upon the altar. At the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. Thus he showed his zeal for the law, just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu. Then Mattathias cried out in the city, “Let everyone who is zealous for the law and who stands by the covenant follow me!” Then he and his sons fled to the mountains, leaving behind in the city all their possessions.
(Those familiar with the Gospel of Matthew chapter 24, can hear the echoes of Jesus' words: "Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things outs that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak" Matthew 24:16-18.)
1 Maccabees 2:32-41 Many hurried out after them, and having caught up with them, camped opposite and prepared to attack them on the sabbath. The pursuers said to them, “Enough of this! Come out and obey the king’s command, and you will live.” But they replied, “We will not come out, nor will we obey the king’s command to profane the sabbath.” Then the enemy attacked them at once. But they did not retaliate; they neither threw stones, nor blocked up their secret refuges. They said, “Let us all die in innocence; heaven and earth are our witnesses that you destroy us unjustly.” So the officers and soldiers attacked them on the sabbath, and they died with their wives, their children and their animals, to the number of a thousand persons. When Mattathias and his friends heard of it, they mourned deeply for them. They said to one another, “If we all do as our kindred have done, and do not fight against the Gentiles for our lives and our laws, they will soon destroy us from the earth.” So on that day they came to this decision: “Let us fight against anyone who attacks us on the sabbath, so that we may not all die as our kindred died in their secret refuges.”
(An important item to note is the decision of Mattathias and his firends to fight on the sabbath. This decision is based on Deuteronomy 8:1 "All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live". Mattathias and his friends used this verse to justify defending themselves on the sabbath. If they wanted to uphold God's commandments, they needed to defend themselves even on the LORD'S sabbath. Also, again those familiar with the Gospel of Matthew can hear Jesus' words: "But pray that your flight is not in the winter, nor on the sabbath day" Matthew 24:20. Mattathias and his friends fight on the sabbath, and Chanukah happens on Kislev 25, which is the winter. Fleeing during the winter there is snow in Israel, which makes travel difficult.)
Below is Josephesus's account of the events of Chanukah. This gives a few more details than what is related in the book of Maccabees.
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 12, Chapters 6
6.2 But when those that were appointed by the king were come to Modin, that they might compel the Jews to do what they were commanded, and to enjoin those that were there to offer sacrifice, as the king had commanded, they desired that Mattathias, a person of the greatest character among them, both on other accounts, and particularly on account of such a numerous and so deserving a family of children, would begin the sacrifice, because his fellow citizens would follow his example, and because such a procedure would make him honored by the king. But Mattathias said he would not do it; and that if all the other nations would obey the commands of Antiochus, either out of fear, or to please him, yet would not he nor his sons leave the religious worship of their country. But as soon as he had ended his speech, there came one of the Jews into the midst of them, and sacrificed, as Antiochus had commanded. At which Mattathias had great indignation, and ran upon him violently, with his sons, who had swords with them, and slew both the man himself that sacrificed, and Apelles the king's general, who compelled them to sacrifice, with a few of his soldiers. He also overthrew the idol altar, and cried out, "If," said he," any one be zealous for the laws of his country, and for the worship of God, let him follow me." And when he had said this, he made haste into the desert with his sons, and left all his substance in the village. Many others did the same also, and fled with their children and wives into the desert, and dwelt in caves. But when the king's generals heard this, they took all the forces they then had in the citadel at Jerusalem, and pursued the Jews into the desert; and when they had overtaken them, they in the first place endeavored to persuade them to repent, and to choose what was most for their advantage, and not put them to the necessity of using them according to the law of war. But when they would not comply with their persuasions, but continued to be of a different mind, they fought against them on the sabbath day, and they burnt them as they were in the caves, without resistance, and without so much as stopping up the entrances of the caves.
7.6. When therefore the generals of Antiochus's armies had been beaten so often, Judas assembled the people together, and told them, that after these many victories which God had given them, they ought to go up to Jerusalem, and purify the temple, and offer the appointed sacrifices. But as soon as he, with the whole multitude, was come to Jerusalem, and found the temple deserted, and its gates burnt down, and plants growing in the temple of their own accord, on account of its desertion, he and those that were with him began to lament, and were quite confounded at the sight of the temple; so he chose out some of his soldiers, and gave them order to fight against those guards that were in the citadel, until he should have purified the temple. When therefore he had carefully purged it, and had brought in new vessels, the candlestick, the table [of shew-bread], and the altar [of incense], which were made of gold, he hung up the veils at the gates, and added doors to them. He also took down the altar [of burnt-offering], and built a new one of stones that he gathered together, and not of such as were hewn with iron tools. So on the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, which the Macedonians call Apeliens, they lighted the lamps that were on the candlestick, and offered incense upon the altar [of incense], and laid the loaves upon the table [of shew-bread], and offered burnt-offerings upon the new altar [of burnt-offering]. Now it so fell out, that these things were done on the very same day on which their Divine worship had fallen off, and was reduced to a profane and common use, after three years' time; for so it was, that the temple was made desolate by Antiochus, and so continued for three years. And this desolation came to pass according to the prophecy of Daniel, which was given four hundred and eight years before; for he declared that the Macedonians would dissolve that worship [for some time]. 7. Now Judas celebrated the festival of the restoration of the sacrifices of the temple for eight days, and omitted no sort of pleasures thereon; but he feasted them upon very rich and splendid sacrifices; and he honored God, and delighted them by hymns and psalms. Nay, they were so very glad at the revival of their customs, when, after a long time of intermission, they unexpectedly had regained the freedom of their worship, that they made it a law for their posterity, that they should keep a festival, on account of the restoration of their temple worship, for eight days. And from that time to this we celebrate this festival, and call it Lights.
Abomination of desolation: Antiochus Epiphanes set up an altar to Zeus over the altar of burnt offering in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. He also scarified a pig on the altar in the temple. This event is known as the abomination of desolation. Daniel prophesied about this event in Daniel 11:31-33 "And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days."
Moreover, the abomination of desolation has happened again in Jewish history. In 70 AD, the Roman armies surround the Jewish temple in Jerusalem and destroyed it. After the temple was destroyed, the worship overseen by the High Priest ceased. The Temple Mount was covered over with rubble and a pagan temple dedicated to Jupiter was built when Hadrian became Caesar (117-138 AD). Hadrian installed on the mount two statues--one of Jupiter and another of himself. This was seen by the Jews as idolatry and abomination of desolation of their temple.
A problem arises with the Greek mindset: it believes once something happens it cannot happen again. Like a checklist, once something has been crossed off the list, it cannot be completed again. This is VERY different from the eastern (Jewish mindset). They believe if an event has happened, it WILL happen again. Everything happens in a circular fashion. As Josephus says, the abomination of desolation happened during Antiochus Epiphanes's reign. Jews also hold this view that the abomination of desolation has already occurred. As Jesus says in Matthew 24:15, the abomination of desolation will also occur in the future. Matthew 24:15 "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand)."
A summary of Jesus' words given in Matthew 24 regarding a future Chanukah which reminds the Jews of the events which happened during the 168 BC Chanukah:
Matthew 24:3 And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the world?
Matthew 24:15 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand).
Matthew 24:9,10 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matthew 24:16 Then let those in Judea flee into the mountains.
Matthew 24:20,21 But pray that your flight is not in the winter, nor on the sabbath day; for then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be.
Reasons for keeping Chanukah
1. Jesus kept Chanukah. Jesus went to the Temple to celebrate Chanukah. If Chanukah matters to Jesus, shouldn't it matter to us?
2. It's about re-dedicating God's temple. Chanukah means "dedication". It is a remembrance of when the Jews re-dedicated God's Holy Temple to serve only the LORD. Scripture tells us we are God's Temple. If Chanukah is a festival about the dedication of God's Temple, and we are God's Temple, shouldn't it matter to us?
3. It's about being persecuted for righteousness's sake. Chanukah is a story of religious persecution and standing up for faith in God. Jesus tells us that we can expect persecution, but He also tells us we must stand strong in our faith. If Chanukah is a story about being persecuted for one's faith, shouldn't it matter to us?
4. It's about not hiding your light under a bushel. Chanukah is the Festival of Light. It celebrates the re-lighting of the menorah lamp that burned in God's Holy Temple. In rabbinic terminology, the menorah was called the "light of the world". Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world," and another time He told His disciples, "You are the light of the world." If Chanukah is the Festival of the Light of the World, shouldn't it matter to us?
5. Prophetically Chanukah will happen again. Jesus talked about Chanukah. He warned His disciples that the things that happened in the story of Chanukah would happen again (see Mark 13 and Matthew 24). To understand what Jesus was saying, His disciples had to know the story of Chanukah. If Jesus talked about the story of Chanukah, and His disciples knew the story, shouldn't it matter to us?
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Chanukah! Chanukah! It's almost time for Chanukah! (Part One)
Chanukah is one of my favorite times of the year. It is a season of rejoicing, a season of thanksgiving, a season of praising the LORD. Chanukah begins at sundown on December 12.
Fast facts about Chanukah:
It occurs on the 25th of Kislev (the ninth month on the Jewish calendar)
It lasts eight days and eight nights
It is called the Festival of Lights or the Festival of Dedication
Chanukah means in Hebrew "dedication"
Chanukah spelled in Hebrew is chet-nun-vav-caf-hey
The root word of Chanukah is chet-nun-vav-caf (pronounced "Enoch" in English). Enoch was in the seventh generation from Adam. He lived 365 years before God took Enoch. "And Enoch walked with God, and he was no longer, for God had taken him" (Genesis 5:24).
Although many Christians believe Chanukah is not a biblical holiday, this is simply not true.
Chanukah has happened in the past and is prophesied to happen again in the future.
(Side note: In Judaism, everything happens in cycles. Things which have happened in the past will repeat themselves. This can be seen in the Torah reading in which the Torah is read through in a single year and then is rolled up to the beginning and started all over again. Additionally, this concept can been observed in Scripture: "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun" Ecclesiastes 1:9. Chanukah has happened in the past; thus, the events of Chanukah will repeat themselves and happen in the future.)
The Number Eight
In the Bible, the number eight often signifies dedication and new beginnings. This seems apropos since Chanukah lasts for eight days and eight nights.
2 Peter 2:5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly.
God saves Noah and eight people when God brings a flood to destroy the world. After the world has been washed cleaned, eight people are the start of a new beginning to the world's population.
Exodus 22:29-30 You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe fruits, and of your liquors: the firstborn of your sons shall you give unto me. Likewise shall you do with your oxen, and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eight day you shall give it to me.
For seven days a person may keep his firstborn sons and animals and first fruits of his produce, but on the eighth day, the items are to be dedicated to God.
Leviticus 9:1, 23, 24 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
It was on the eighth day after Aaron and his sons were consecrated to become priests to the LORD that the glory of the LORD appeared at the tabernacle in the wilderness.
Chanukah in the Bible
Many Christians believe Chanukah is not a biblical event and does not appear in the Bible. This is quite erroneous. The word Chanukah appears multiple times in the Tanakh (Old Testament). The word "Chanukah" does not appear in our English translations because like most Hebrew words in our Bible, it is translated into English. Chanukah is translated into the English word "dedication".
1500 BC: Moses Tabernacle: Moses chanukah (dedicates) the tabernacle to the LORD
Numbers 7:1 And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had appointed them, and sanctified them;
Numbers 7:88 And all the animals for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty goats, and sixty lambs of the first year. The was the dedication (chanukah) of the altar after it was anointed.
1000 BC: Solomon's Temple: On the eighth day Israel chanukah (dedicates) the altar to the LORD
2 Chronicles 7:1-2 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.
2 Chronicles 7:8-9 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt. And on the eighth day they held a sacred assembly, for they observed the dedication (chanukah) of the altar.
500 BC: Rebuilt Temple
Ezra 6:3a, 5a, 16 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication (chanukah) of this house of God with joy.
In short, Moses chanukah the tabernacle to the LORD in the wilderness, then Solomon's temple is chanukah to the LORD and when the temple is rebuilt in 500 BC it is chanukah to the LORD. Again and again, Israel has celebrated chanukah (dedication) of God's place of worship. When the future temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem, there is no doubt there will be another chanukah (dedication) celebration to the LORD.
Additionally, many Christians will protest Chanukah is not a biblical holiday because Jesus did not celebrate it. However, again, this is a fallacy. In John 10:22-24 we read, "Now it was the Feast of Dedication (chanukah) in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly"
Chanukah has happened in the past, and it will happen again in the future.
In the Gospel of Matthew in chapter 24, Jesus and His disciples sit on the Mount of Olives. Jesus' disciples ask about signs which are to come about Messiah's second coming. What most Christians do not understand is that Jesus is describing a future chanukah. By exploring texts about a previous chanukah which happened around 168 BC, we can understand Jesus' warning about the chanukah that is yet to come.
Fast facts about Chanukah:
It occurs on the 25th of Kislev (the ninth month on the Jewish calendar)
It lasts eight days and eight nights
It is called the Festival of Lights or the Festival of Dedication
Chanukah means in Hebrew "dedication"
Chanukah spelled in Hebrew is chet-nun-vav-caf-hey
The root word of Chanukah is chet-nun-vav-caf (pronounced "Enoch" in English). Enoch was in the seventh generation from Adam. He lived 365 years before God took Enoch. "And Enoch walked with God, and he was no longer, for God had taken him" (Genesis 5:24).
Although many Christians believe Chanukah is not a biblical holiday, this is simply not true.
Chanukah has happened in the past and is prophesied to happen again in the future.
(Side note: In Judaism, everything happens in cycles. Things which have happened in the past will repeat themselves. This can be seen in the Torah reading in which the Torah is read through in a single year and then is rolled up to the beginning and started all over again. Additionally, this concept can been observed in Scripture: "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun" Ecclesiastes 1:9. Chanukah has happened in the past; thus, the events of Chanukah will repeat themselves and happen in the future.)
The Number Eight
In the Bible, the number eight often signifies dedication and new beginnings. This seems apropos since Chanukah lasts for eight days and eight nights.
2 Peter 2:5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly.
God saves Noah and eight people when God brings a flood to destroy the world. After the world has been washed cleaned, eight people are the start of a new beginning to the world's population.
Exodus 22:29-30 You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe fruits, and of your liquors: the firstborn of your sons shall you give unto me. Likewise shall you do with your oxen, and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eight day you shall give it to me.
For seven days a person may keep his firstborn sons and animals and first fruits of his produce, but on the eighth day, the items are to be dedicated to God.
Leviticus 9:1, 23, 24 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
It was on the eighth day after Aaron and his sons were consecrated to become priests to the LORD that the glory of the LORD appeared at the tabernacle in the wilderness.
Chanukah in the Bible
Many Christians believe Chanukah is not a biblical event and does not appear in the Bible. This is quite erroneous. The word Chanukah appears multiple times in the Tanakh (Old Testament). The word "Chanukah" does not appear in our English translations because like most Hebrew words in our Bible, it is translated into English. Chanukah is translated into the English word "dedication".
1500 BC: Moses Tabernacle: Moses chanukah (dedicates) the tabernacle to the LORD
Numbers 7:1 And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had appointed them, and sanctified them;
Numbers 7:88 And all the animals for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty goats, and sixty lambs of the first year. The was the dedication (chanukah) of the altar after it was anointed.
1000 BC: Solomon's Temple: On the eighth day Israel chanukah (dedicates) the altar to the LORD
2 Chronicles 7:1-2 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.
2 Chronicles 7:8-9 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt. And on the eighth day they held a sacred assembly, for they observed the dedication (chanukah) of the altar.
500 BC: Rebuilt Temple
Ezra 6:3a, 5a, 16 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication (chanukah) of this house of God with joy.
In short, Moses chanukah the tabernacle to the LORD in the wilderness, then Solomon's temple is chanukah to the LORD and when the temple is rebuilt in 500 BC it is chanukah to the LORD. Again and again, Israel has celebrated chanukah (dedication) of God's place of worship. When the future temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem, there is no doubt there will be another chanukah (dedication) celebration to the LORD.
Additionally, many Christians will protest Chanukah is not a biblical holiday because Jesus did not celebrate it. However, again, this is a fallacy. In John 10:22-24 we read, "Now it was the Feast of Dedication (chanukah) in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly"
Chanukah has happened in the past, and it will happen again in the future.
In the Gospel of Matthew in chapter 24, Jesus and His disciples sit on the Mount of Olives. Jesus' disciples ask about signs which are to come about Messiah's second coming. What most Christians do not understand is that Jesus is describing a future chanukah. By exploring texts about a previous chanukah which happened around 168 BC, we can understand Jesus' warning about the chanukah that is yet to come.
Sunday, November 26, 2017
1 Samuel Chapter 17 Part Three (Verses 45-58)
2. (1 Sam 17:45-47) David, full of faith, replies to Goliath
Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and He will give you into our hands."
You come to me with a sword, spear and javelin: David makes a contrast between himself and Goliath without giving credit to Goliath. David recognizes that Goliath has some of the best weapons of the time, but David knows his victory will come from God.
This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands: David speaks with as much courage as Goliath had done, but David has better grounds, confiding not in his own strength, but in the Divine, and expecting through it, certain victory, not only over Goliath, but over the whole army of the Philistines. David was careful to say, "The LORD will deliver you up into my hands." David was bold, but bold in God and not in himself. He knew the battle belonged to the LORD.
That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel: This whole incident made David famous. But that is not why he did it. He did it for the fame and the glory of the LORD, not for his own glory. He wanted all the earth to know that there is a God in Israel.
For the battle is the LORD'S: Although we possess no special psalm composed by David on this occasion of his battle with Goliath, we find in many of the psalms David trusts in God to deliver him from all his enemies. ("For I will not trust in my bow, nor will my sword save me. But You have saved us from our adversaries, and You have put to shame those who hate us. In God we have boasted all day long, and we give thanks to Your name forever" Psalm 44:6-8.) ("The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield" Psalm 33:16-20.)
He will give you into our hands: Again, notice David's humility. It isn't, "He will give you into my hands." David knows this was a battle he was fighting on behalf of Israel. It they were not trusting in the LORD, David would trust for them.
3. (1 Sam 17:48-49) David kills Goliath
Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.
When the Philistine rose: Goliath was seated, as was the custom with armies in ancient times when they were not engaged in conflict. When Goliath saw David emerge from the ravine, he rose, and carrying his vast load of armor, moved slowly towards his enemy.
David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine: Many Christians struggle at this point. Is God supposed to do it or am I supposed to do it? The answer is, "Yes!" God does it, and we do it. Trust God, rely on Him, and then get to work. Work as hard as you can and run right at the enemy. That is how the work of God is done.
David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it: Slinging stones had been practiced among the Israelites to a masterful perfection. Many years before this time, we read: "Out of all these people 700 choice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss" Judges 20:16. It appears this skill had been passed down through the ages to David.
Struck the Philistine on his forehead: Goliath's helmet had no visor protecting his forehead. (That form of protection had yet to be invented.) Instead, Goliath's only protection came from his armor-bearer in front of him. Since Goliath was a giant, and his armor-bearer was just average height, Goliath's face was exposed to an assault by David. While the rest of the Israeli army thought, "Goliath is so big, I cannot beat him." David thought, "Goliath is so big, I cannot miss him." A man of less faith might have been too nervous to take proper aim.
The stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground: Just as the Philistine god Dagon fell on his face before the LORD (1 Samuel 5:2-5), so now the worshiper of Dagon falls on his face.
4. (1 Sam 17:50-54) David beheads Goliath, and Israel romps over the Philistines
Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David's hand. 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 with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. The men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the slain Philistines lay along the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and Ekron. The sons of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and plundered their camps. Then David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent.
David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone: David's great victory was extraordinary. It required immense courage as well as perfect skill. Only the front of Goliath's head would have been exposed. If David would have hit Goliath on any other part of his body, the blow would have had no avail due to Goliath's body armor. Using just a sling, which was probably not considered as deadly of a weapon as a sword, David subdues the giant.
Then David ran...and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him: Like many other times in the Bible, God uses the enemy's own weapon to slay the enemy. When Gideon and his 300 men blow the trumpets around the outskirts of the Midianite's camp, God uses the Midianites' own swords to slay the Midianites (Judges 7:21-22). Throughout the Psalms, we read of how God uses the enemy's own snare to cause destruction on the enemy. ("They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down. They have dug a put before me; into the midst of it they themselves have fallen" Psalm 57:6.) God loves to use the enemy to bring destruction on himself. This is another incredible reminder that we do not need fancy weapons or heavy armor to defeat the enemy. All we need is faith in God, and He will provide the victory.
And cut off his head: This was not done to show Goliath's death, but it was done as a trophy to be shown to King Saul. The heads of the slain enemies were regarded in the East as tokens of victory. A very similar scene is played out when King Saul dies during a battle with the Philistines. ("It came about on the next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. They cut off his head and stripped off his weapons, and sent them throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people" 1 Samuel 31:8-10.)
When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled: The Philistines had agreed to consider this single fight as decisive. They had no fears as to its result, and when they saw their highly exalted champion fall, they were seized with sudden panic. Their adversaries, the Israelites, on the other hand, seeing the unarmed shepherd boy with the head of the great warrior who had so long defied them in his hand, felt that the old power had come back to them. At last, their Invisible King was back with them. At once, with a triumphal shout, the Israelites charged their defeated foes, and the battle, as far as the Philistines were concerned, became a total rout.
Then David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem: There are no indications that Jerusalem had yet attained any importance either as a political or religious center. The citadel still remained in the hands of the Jebusites, but the lower part of the city had been captured by Israel. ("Now as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the sons of Judah could not drive them out; so the Jebusites live with the sons of Judah at Jerusalem to this day" Joshua 15:63.) Some historians believe David deposited Goliath's head at some "place of arms" located in Jerusalem. Other historians believe David deposited Goliath's head as a votive offering in the tabernacle at Nob which was close to Jerusalem.
He put his weapons in his tent: The Hebrew word ohel rendered as "tent" here, can also mean "dwelling". Some believe David took Goliath's weapons back to his home in Bethlehem, and at some later time presented them to the tabernacle at Nob. Other historians believe this is a future action. When David has made Jerusalem his royal seat, he orders the skull of Goliath to be set up as a victory trophy. The expression "in his tent" refers to the tent of God. God's tabernacle is referred to as "the tent of David" in Acts 15:16. David is given such a claim to fame since in 2 Samuel 6:17, he pitches a tent for the Ark of the Covenant in his own city, Jerusalem. ("So they brought the Ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD" 2 Samuel 6:17.)
5. (1 Sam 17:55-58) Saul meets a victorious David
Now when Saul saw David going out against the Philistines, he said to Abner the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this young man?" And Abner said, "By you life, O king, I do not know." The king said, "You inquire whose son the youth is." So when David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine's head in his hand. Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."
Whose son is this young man: This phrase does not necessarily mean that Saul did not recognize David. Saul is simply asking about David's family background. Saul promised his daughter to the man who killed Goliath, and Saul may just have wanted to know something about his future son-in-law. It is also quite possible that Saul indeed did not recognize David. Some historians believe that David played his music behind a screen or curtain. So, Saul may have never seen David's face. Others believe that since a distressing spirit was upon Saul, he was not entirely in his right mind.
Moreover, Saul may not have recognized David because David did not spend all his time in Saul's court. In 1 Samuel 17:15, we read that David went home to tend the sheep. It is very possible David's appearance changed during his time away from Saul. David would have been in his teens or 20's and easily could have grown in height and matured into a young man. Additionally, it is sometimes hard to recognize people when they are out of place. I know it has happened to me many times when I see someone, perhaps a grocery store clerk at the doctor's office or my doctor at the grocery store, and I simply do not recognize the person. Saul may not have recognized David outside his palace and without a musical instrument in his hand.
Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and He will give you into our hands."
You come to me with a sword, spear and javelin: David makes a contrast between himself and Goliath without giving credit to Goliath. David recognizes that Goliath has some of the best weapons of the time, but David knows his victory will come from God.
This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands: David speaks with as much courage as Goliath had done, but David has better grounds, confiding not in his own strength, but in the Divine, and expecting through it, certain victory, not only over Goliath, but over the whole army of the Philistines. David was careful to say, "The LORD will deliver you up into my hands." David was bold, but bold in God and not in himself. He knew the battle belonged to the LORD.
That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel: This whole incident made David famous. But that is not why he did it. He did it for the fame and the glory of the LORD, not for his own glory. He wanted all the earth to know that there is a God in Israel.
For the battle is the LORD'S: Although we possess no special psalm composed by David on this occasion of his battle with Goliath, we find in many of the psalms David trusts in God to deliver him from all his enemies. ("For I will not trust in my bow, nor will my sword save me. But You have saved us from our adversaries, and You have put to shame those who hate us. In God we have boasted all day long, and we give thanks to Your name forever" Psalm 44:6-8.) ("The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield" Psalm 33:16-20.)
He will give you into our hands: Again, notice David's humility. It isn't, "He will give you into my hands." David knows this was a battle he was fighting on behalf of Israel. It they were not trusting in the LORD, David would trust for them.
3. (1 Sam 17:48-49) David kills Goliath
Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.
When the Philistine rose: Goliath was seated, as was the custom with armies in ancient times when they were not engaged in conflict. When Goliath saw David emerge from the ravine, he rose, and carrying his vast load of armor, moved slowly towards his enemy.
David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine: Many Christians struggle at this point. Is God supposed to do it or am I supposed to do it? The answer is, "Yes!" God does it, and we do it. Trust God, rely on Him, and then get to work. Work as hard as you can and run right at the enemy. That is how the work of God is done.
David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it: Slinging stones had been practiced among the Israelites to a masterful perfection. Many years before this time, we read: "Out of all these people 700 choice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss" Judges 20:16. It appears this skill had been passed down through the ages to David.
Struck the Philistine on his forehead: Goliath's helmet had no visor protecting his forehead. (That form of protection had yet to be invented.) Instead, Goliath's only protection came from his armor-bearer in front of him. Since Goliath was a giant, and his armor-bearer was just average height, Goliath's face was exposed to an assault by David. While the rest of the Israeli army thought, "Goliath is so big, I cannot beat him." David thought, "Goliath is so big, I cannot miss him." A man of less faith might have been too nervous to take proper aim.
The stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground: Just as the Philistine god Dagon fell on his face before the LORD (1 Samuel 5:2-5), so now the worshiper of Dagon falls on his face.
4. (1 Sam 17:50-54) David beheads Goliath, and Israel romps over the Philistines
Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David's hand. 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 with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. The men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the slain Philistines lay along the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and Ekron. The sons of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and plundered their camps. Then David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent.
David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone: David's great victory was extraordinary. It required immense courage as well as perfect skill. Only the front of Goliath's head would have been exposed. If David would have hit Goliath on any other part of his body, the blow would have had no avail due to Goliath's body armor. Using just a sling, which was probably not considered as deadly of a weapon as a sword, David subdues the giant.
Then David ran...and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him: Like many other times in the Bible, God uses the enemy's own weapon to slay the enemy. When Gideon and his 300 men blow the trumpets around the outskirts of the Midianite's camp, God uses the Midianites' own swords to slay the Midianites (Judges 7:21-22). Throughout the Psalms, we read of how God uses the enemy's own snare to cause destruction on the enemy. ("They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down. They have dug a put before me; into the midst of it they themselves have fallen" Psalm 57:6.) God loves to use the enemy to bring destruction on himself. This is another incredible reminder that we do not need fancy weapons or heavy armor to defeat the enemy. All we need is faith in God, and He will provide the victory.
And cut off his head: This was not done to show Goliath's death, but it was done as a trophy to be shown to King Saul. The heads of the slain enemies were regarded in the East as tokens of victory. A very similar scene is played out when King Saul dies during a battle with the Philistines. ("It came about on the next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. They cut off his head and stripped off his weapons, and sent them throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people" 1 Samuel 31:8-10.)
When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled: The Philistines had agreed to consider this single fight as decisive. They had no fears as to its result, and when they saw their highly exalted champion fall, they were seized with sudden panic. Their adversaries, the Israelites, on the other hand, seeing the unarmed shepherd boy with the head of the great warrior who had so long defied them in his hand, felt that the old power had come back to them. At last, their Invisible King was back with them. At once, with a triumphal shout, the Israelites charged their defeated foes, and the battle, as far as the Philistines were concerned, became a total rout.
Then David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem: There are no indications that Jerusalem had yet attained any importance either as a political or religious center. The citadel still remained in the hands of the Jebusites, but the lower part of the city had been captured by Israel. ("Now as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the sons of Judah could not drive them out; so the Jebusites live with the sons of Judah at Jerusalem to this day" Joshua 15:63.) Some historians believe David deposited Goliath's head at some "place of arms" located in Jerusalem. Other historians believe David deposited Goliath's head as a votive offering in the tabernacle at Nob which was close to Jerusalem.
He put his weapons in his tent: The Hebrew word ohel rendered as "tent" here, can also mean "dwelling". Some believe David took Goliath's weapons back to his home in Bethlehem, and at some later time presented them to the tabernacle at Nob. Other historians believe this is a future action. When David has made Jerusalem his royal seat, he orders the skull of Goliath to be set up as a victory trophy. The expression "in his tent" refers to the tent of God. God's tabernacle is referred to as "the tent of David" in Acts 15:16. David is given such a claim to fame since in 2 Samuel 6:17, he pitches a tent for the Ark of the Covenant in his own city, Jerusalem. ("So they brought the Ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD" 2 Samuel 6:17.)
5. (1 Sam 17:55-58) Saul meets a victorious David
Now when Saul saw David going out against the Philistines, he said to Abner the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this young man?" And Abner said, "By you life, O king, I do not know." The king said, "You inquire whose son the youth is." So when David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine's head in his hand. Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."
Whose son is this young man: This phrase does not necessarily mean that Saul did not recognize David. Saul is simply asking about David's family background. Saul promised his daughter to the man who killed Goliath, and Saul may just have wanted to know something about his future son-in-law. It is also quite possible that Saul indeed did not recognize David. Some historians believe that David played his music behind a screen or curtain. So, Saul may have never seen David's face. Others believe that since a distressing spirit was upon Saul, he was not entirely in his right mind.
Moreover, Saul may not have recognized David because David did not spend all his time in Saul's court. In 1 Samuel 17:15, we read that David went home to tend the sheep. It is very possible David's appearance changed during his time away from Saul. David would have been in his teens or 20's and easily could have grown in height and matured into a young man. Additionally, it is sometimes hard to recognize people when they are out of place. I know it has happened to me many times when I see someone, perhaps a grocery store clerk at the doctor's office or my doctor at the grocery store, and I simply do not recognize the person. Saul may not have recognized David outside his palace and without a musical instrument in his hand.
Saturday, November 18, 2017
1 Samuel Chapter 17 Part Two (Verses 31-44)
C. David prepares to fight Goliath
1. (1 Sam 17:31-32) David's confident words become known to Saul
When the words which David spoke were heard, they told them to Saul, and he sent for him. David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."
They told them to Saul: It was not as if David's words were all that bold. He never said, "If I went out to fight against that Philistine, I would easily defeat him!" David did not talk like that, but at least he stood up to Goliath. David did not show a lot of backbone, but at least he showed more courage than anyone else in Israel. So it was worth reporting to Saul.
Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine: These are bold words! This is the first time David specifically volunteers to go in to battle with Goliath. It is one thing to say, "Someone someone should do something about the enemy." It is entirely another matter to say, "I will do something about the enemy."
Saul waited a long time (at least 40 days) for someone to say these words. But to hear them now from the mouth of this young shepherd boy probably seemed like a cruel joke. "The good news is that someone is finally willing to fight Goliath. The bad news is that he is a young shepherd boy." David's words to Saul almost made the matter worse. "Let no man's heart fail on account of him." These words almost seem like David says, "All right everyone. Calm down. I have the situation completely under control." It seemed ridiculous coming from such a youth. It probably seemed like boastful pride and overconfidence, but it was not.
2. (1 Sam 17:33-37) David's training as a shepherd prepared him
Then Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth." But David said to Saul, "Your servant was tending his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God." And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go and may the LORD be with you."
You are not able...you are but a youth: Saul thought David was disqualified because of his age, size and inexperience. Saul thought David was but a novice when it came to his military skills. Saul thought David was no match to Goliath's long standing war record. Saul essentially told David, "He's been a soldier longer than you have been alive. How can you defeat him?" Again, this shows that Saul only looked at outward appearances and not at the spiritual dimension of this battle.
Your servant was tending his father's sheep: Here follows a conversation between the king and a young boy. It is a simple, brave narrative in which many children listen with wide-eyed anticipation. Fierce wild animals, the terror of every Mid-Eastern shepherd, had attacked David's father's flock. And David met and slayed these fierce beasts, almost without any arms.
When a lion or a bear came: In these ancient times, when the forests of Israel had not been cleared, it was the habitat of wild animals which usually frequented the mountains of Lebanon and the thickets of the Jordan River valley. From Lebanon, bears descended the heights into the lowlands of Israel. From the Jordan River region, the lion prowled the plains of Israel. The bears in this region are said to have been especially ferocious and appears to have been more dreaded than the lion. Currently, it is rare to find lions and bears in Israel.
God prepared David for this battle when David was a lowly shepherd. A lion attacked his father's sheep, and David fought the lion. A bear came against the defenseless sheep, and David battled the bear. All along, God prepared David to fight Goliath. David had been preparing for this battle for his entire life. This generally is God's pattern for preparation. He calls us to be faithful right where we are. Then, He uses our faithfulness to accomplish greater things. If David ran scared at the lion or the bear, he would have never been ready to fight Goliath.
I seized him by his beard: Neither the bear nor the lion in this part of the world has a beard. The literal Hebrew translation is "the chin" or "the place where the beard grows". It is clear from this description that David grabbed the beast by its chin and slew it with his shepherd's staff.
This uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them: Goliath degraded himself below a wild beast by his blasphemy, and therefore, he now carried no more terror with him to David than a lion or a bear.
He has taunted the armies of the living God: Here we see the foundation of David's confidence and success. The Philistine had defiled the living God in defying His armies and had openly avowed himself to be God's enemy. David therefore comes forward, as God's friend, to support God's cause. It is as if David said, "The lion and the bear were only enemies to me and to my father's sheep. And it was only in defense of them that I attacked these beasts. But this Philistine is an enemy to God and His people. And it is for their honor that I attack him."
The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion: As a shepherd facing bears and lions, David had no idea he was being trained to fight a giant. In the midst of our preparation, we rarely see how God will use it. Yet now, David can look back and know that the same God who delivered him before will also deliver him now. David knew that God's help in times past is a prophecy of His help in the future.
And Saul said to David, "Go...: The king's consent was necessary before David could act as the champion of the Israelites. It was a courageous act in Saul to give his permission, considering the dangerous combat conditions. But the two arguments given by David persuaded Saul. The first argument being David's strong confidence in God, insuring his courage. And secondly, the coolness and bravery David had shown in these dangerous encounters with savage beasts.
3. (1 Sam 17:38-40) David prepared to fight Goliath
Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor. David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." And David took them off. He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.
Then Saul clothed David...with armor: King Saul was determined to omit no earthly means of securing victory to his young champion. Saul made David try on his own various pieces of fighting array, doubtless the best and costliest that Israel possessed. Saul's "garments" is a dress worn beneath the mail. Upon this was buckled on a heavy armor suit, which included a large fighting sword and a bronze helmet. It is not necessary to suppose David was at all the same proportions as Saul, for much of the dress could have been speedily adjusted to one shorter or thinner than the king. The results show that the armor was far too heavy and cumbersome for David to wear.
David...tried to walk, for he had not tested them: Saul tried to put his armor on David, but it did not work. It did not work because it was far too cumbersome for David. Moreover, it did not work because Saul's armor did not spiritually fit David. Armor, military technology or human wisdom could not win this battle. The LORD God of Israel would win this battle.
Often, people try to fight with another person's armor. They see God do something wonderful through someone else, and they try to copy it without making adjustments for their own strengths and weaknesses. God's work is never most effectively done in this way. Sadly, many people say the same thing about God's armor, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." Are you more familiar with the weapons and armor of the flesh or with the weapons and armor of the Spirit?
And David took them off: David had to renounce Saul's armor. He desired to go forth into battle with the lightest possible armor--strong in the LORD and not in himself, armed not with heavy metal but with faith. Often we want a safe middle ground where we try to wear both kinds of armor. God wants us to trust in Him and Him alone.
He took his stick...five smooth stones...the shepherd's bag which he had, even his pouch, and his sling: David uses the same tools he used before as a shepherd to kill the lion and the bear. What God used before, He will use again. Why did David choose five stones? He only needed one to kill Goliath. Perhaps it was because Goliath had four brothers. (Now it came about after this that there was war again with the Philistines at Gob; then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was among the descendants of the giant. There was war with the Philistines again at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. There was war at Gath again, where there was a man of great stature who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also had been born to the giant. When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David's brother, struck him down. There four were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants" 2 Samuel 21:18-22.).
And he approached the Philistine: This is where it mattered. David could have said bold words, renounced Saul's armor, trusted in God's armor and gathered his shepherd's tools. But, if he never went into battle, what would it have mattered? Ultimately, David had the faith not just to talk, not just to renounce, not just to prepare, but to actually draw near the Philistine. That is real faith.
D. David defeats Goliath
1. (1 Sam 17:41-44) Goliath curses David and his God
Then the Philistine came on and approached David, with the shield-bearer in front of him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance. The Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine also said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field."
Then the Philistine came on...with the shield-bearer in front of him: Besides Goliath's height and military experience, Goliath also had with him an armor-bearer. Now the fight was two against one, making David's victory even more miraculous.
He disdained him: Goliath looked around, expecting to meet someone tall, someone with an extensive military career. But when he saw a young boy, he despised him. Goliath thought he was below his caliber to even enter into a fight with David. Fighting someone so insignificant would lessen the glory of Goliath's assumed victory. There was nothing in David which struck fear in Goliath's heart. Proverbs 16:18 seems fitting here: "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Am I a dog: Dogs in our current society are seen as man's best friend. They are cute, cuddly and many folks spend a fortune on them for food, clothing and other luxury items. In ancient times in the Mid-East, dogs were despised. They were not pets; they were free roaming nuisances. They attacked people and livestock. They were filthy creatures known to carry fleas and other diseases. So, being called a dog, was quite an insult.
The Philistine cursed David by his gods: Goliath invokes the vengeance of his idols against David, wishing that Dagon, Ashtaroth and the rest of his gods would confront and destroy David. The Romans used to curse their enemies in the same manner, saying, "All the gods and goddesses of Roman destroy my enemy!"
1. (1 Sam 17:31-32) David's confident words become known to Saul
When the words which David spoke were heard, they told them to Saul, and he sent for him. David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."
They told them to Saul: It was not as if David's words were all that bold. He never said, "If I went out to fight against that Philistine, I would easily defeat him!" David did not talk like that, but at least he stood up to Goliath. David did not show a lot of backbone, but at least he showed more courage than anyone else in Israel. So it was worth reporting to Saul.
Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine: These are bold words! This is the first time David specifically volunteers to go in to battle with Goliath. It is one thing to say, "Someone someone should do something about the enemy." It is entirely another matter to say, "I will do something about the enemy."
Saul waited a long time (at least 40 days) for someone to say these words. But to hear them now from the mouth of this young shepherd boy probably seemed like a cruel joke. "The good news is that someone is finally willing to fight Goliath. The bad news is that he is a young shepherd boy." David's words to Saul almost made the matter worse. "Let no man's heart fail on account of him." These words almost seem like David says, "All right everyone. Calm down. I have the situation completely under control." It seemed ridiculous coming from such a youth. It probably seemed like boastful pride and overconfidence, but it was not.
2. (1 Sam 17:33-37) David's training as a shepherd prepared him
Then Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth." But David said to Saul, "Your servant was tending his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God." And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go and may the LORD be with you."
You are not able...you are but a youth: Saul thought David was disqualified because of his age, size and inexperience. Saul thought David was but a novice when it came to his military skills. Saul thought David was no match to Goliath's long standing war record. Saul essentially told David, "He's been a soldier longer than you have been alive. How can you defeat him?" Again, this shows that Saul only looked at outward appearances and not at the spiritual dimension of this battle.
Your servant was tending his father's sheep: Here follows a conversation between the king and a young boy. It is a simple, brave narrative in which many children listen with wide-eyed anticipation. Fierce wild animals, the terror of every Mid-Eastern shepherd, had attacked David's father's flock. And David met and slayed these fierce beasts, almost without any arms.
When a lion or a bear came: In these ancient times, when the forests of Israel had not been cleared, it was the habitat of wild animals which usually frequented the mountains of Lebanon and the thickets of the Jordan River valley. From Lebanon, bears descended the heights into the lowlands of Israel. From the Jordan River region, the lion prowled the plains of Israel. The bears in this region are said to have been especially ferocious and appears to have been more dreaded than the lion. Currently, it is rare to find lions and bears in Israel.
God prepared David for this battle when David was a lowly shepherd. A lion attacked his father's sheep, and David fought the lion. A bear came against the defenseless sheep, and David battled the bear. All along, God prepared David to fight Goliath. David had been preparing for this battle for his entire life. This generally is God's pattern for preparation. He calls us to be faithful right where we are. Then, He uses our faithfulness to accomplish greater things. If David ran scared at the lion or the bear, he would have never been ready to fight Goliath.
I seized him by his beard: Neither the bear nor the lion in this part of the world has a beard. The literal Hebrew translation is "the chin" or "the place where the beard grows". It is clear from this description that David grabbed the beast by its chin and slew it with his shepherd's staff.
This uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them: Goliath degraded himself below a wild beast by his blasphemy, and therefore, he now carried no more terror with him to David than a lion or a bear.
He has taunted the armies of the living God: Here we see the foundation of David's confidence and success. The Philistine had defiled the living God in defying His armies and had openly avowed himself to be God's enemy. David therefore comes forward, as God's friend, to support God's cause. It is as if David said, "The lion and the bear were only enemies to me and to my father's sheep. And it was only in defense of them that I attacked these beasts. But this Philistine is an enemy to God and His people. And it is for their honor that I attack him."
The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion: As a shepherd facing bears and lions, David had no idea he was being trained to fight a giant. In the midst of our preparation, we rarely see how God will use it. Yet now, David can look back and know that the same God who delivered him before will also deliver him now. David knew that God's help in times past is a prophecy of His help in the future.
And Saul said to David, "Go...: The king's consent was necessary before David could act as the champion of the Israelites. It was a courageous act in Saul to give his permission, considering the dangerous combat conditions. But the two arguments given by David persuaded Saul. The first argument being David's strong confidence in God, insuring his courage. And secondly, the coolness and bravery David had shown in these dangerous encounters with savage beasts.
3. (1 Sam 17:38-40) David prepared to fight Goliath
Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor. David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." And David took them off. He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.
Then Saul clothed David...with armor: King Saul was determined to omit no earthly means of securing victory to his young champion. Saul made David try on his own various pieces of fighting array, doubtless the best and costliest that Israel possessed. Saul's "garments" is a dress worn beneath the mail. Upon this was buckled on a heavy armor suit, which included a large fighting sword and a bronze helmet. It is not necessary to suppose David was at all the same proportions as Saul, for much of the dress could have been speedily adjusted to one shorter or thinner than the king. The results show that the armor was far too heavy and cumbersome for David to wear.
David...tried to walk, for he had not tested them: Saul tried to put his armor on David, but it did not work. It did not work because it was far too cumbersome for David. Moreover, it did not work because Saul's armor did not spiritually fit David. Armor, military technology or human wisdom could not win this battle. The LORD God of Israel would win this battle.
Often, people try to fight with another person's armor. They see God do something wonderful through someone else, and they try to copy it without making adjustments for their own strengths and weaknesses. God's work is never most effectively done in this way. Sadly, many people say the same thing about God's armor, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." Are you more familiar with the weapons and armor of the flesh or with the weapons and armor of the Spirit?
And David took them off: David had to renounce Saul's armor. He desired to go forth into battle with the lightest possible armor--strong in the LORD and not in himself, armed not with heavy metal but with faith. Often we want a safe middle ground where we try to wear both kinds of armor. God wants us to trust in Him and Him alone.
He took his stick...five smooth stones...the shepherd's bag which he had, even his pouch, and his sling: David uses the same tools he used before as a shepherd to kill the lion and the bear. What God used before, He will use again. Why did David choose five stones? He only needed one to kill Goliath. Perhaps it was because Goliath had four brothers. (Now it came about after this that there was war again with the Philistines at Gob; then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was among the descendants of the giant. There was war with the Philistines again at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. There was war at Gath again, where there was a man of great stature who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also had been born to the giant. When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David's brother, struck him down. There four were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants" 2 Samuel 21:18-22.).
And he approached the Philistine: This is where it mattered. David could have said bold words, renounced Saul's armor, trusted in God's armor and gathered his shepherd's tools. But, if he never went into battle, what would it have mattered? Ultimately, David had the faith not just to talk, not just to renounce, not just to prepare, but to actually draw near the Philistine. That is real faith.
D. David defeats Goliath
1. (1 Sam 17:41-44) Goliath curses David and his God
Then the Philistine came on and approached David, with the shield-bearer in front of him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance. The Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine also said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field."
Then the Philistine came on...with the shield-bearer in front of him: Besides Goliath's height and military experience, Goliath also had with him an armor-bearer. Now the fight was two against one, making David's victory even more miraculous.
He disdained him: Goliath looked around, expecting to meet someone tall, someone with an extensive military career. But when he saw a young boy, he despised him. Goliath thought he was below his caliber to even enter into a fight with David. Fighting someone so insignificant would lessen the glory of Goliath's assumed victory. There was nothing in David which struck fear in Goliath's heart. Proverbs 16:18 seems fitting here: "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Am I a dog: Dogs in our current society are seen as man's best friend. They are cute, cuddly and many folks spend a fortune on them for food, clothing and other luxury items. In ancient times in the Mid-East, dogs were despised. They were not pets; they were free roaming nuisances. They attacked people and livestock. They were filthy creatures known to carry fleas and other diseases. So, being called a dog, was quite an insult.
The Philistine cursed David by his gods: Goliath invokes the vengeance of his idols against David, wishing that Dagon, Ashtaroth and the rest of his gods would confront and destroy David. The Romans used to curse their enemies in the same manner, saying, "All the gods and goddesses of Roman destroy my enemy!"
Sunday, November 12, 2017
1 Samuel Chapter 17 Part One (Verses 1-30)
DAVID AND GOLIATH
A. Goliath challenges Israel
1. (1 Sam 17:1-3) The Philistines gather for battle
Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammin. Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines. The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.
Now the Philistines gathered their armies: There is nothing to tell us how much time has elapsed since Saul fought the Amelekites and the other events which transpired in chapter 16. The compiler of this book is from this time forth mainly concerned with the story of David, and how he gradually rose to power and popularity with the people. The history presented in 1 Samuel does not profess to give anything like a consecutive account of the reign and wars of Saul.
Socoh: This was one of 14 villages located along the Shephelah, a region of low hills of limestone which created a boundary between the plain of the Mediterranean Sea and the higher mountains to the east. Socoh belonged to the tribe of Judah, which shows how strong a footing the Philistines had on Israel.
They camped between Socoh and Azekah: This location was about 12-15 miles southwest of Jerusalem and about 9-10 miles from Bethlehem, the home of Jesse and his family.
Ephes-dammin: The meaning of Ephes-dammin is the boundary of blood, so called from the continual fighting which took place there.
Valley of Elah: The Valley of Elah is now known as Wady-es-Sunt, which runs in a northwest direction from the hills of Judah near Hebron past Gath to the Mediterranean Sea near Ashdod. Elah is named after the terebinth tree which still can be found in a large quantity in this region. (The region's current name, es-Sunt, is named after the acacia trees found there.)
The Philistines stood on the mountain: The Israelites camped on the eastern slopes while the Philistines camped on the western slopes of the valley. In the middle of the broad, open valley, there is a deep stream-bed, which has deep vertical sides. This makes the valley impassable except in certain places, making it a valley within a valley and creating a natural barrier between the two hosts.
2. (1 Sam 17:4-10) The Philistine Goliath challenges Israel
Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze. He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, "Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us." Again the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together."
A champion: The literal Hebrew is "a man between two camps". It was a person who did not fight in the ranks like an ordinary soldier, but he came forth into the space between the two camps to challenge the mightiest man of his enemies to come forth and fight him.
Goliath from Gath: It is very likely that Goliath was a survivor of the ancient race of Anakim. A remnant found refuge in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod when they were exterminated by Joshua from the mountains of Judah. ("Then Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab and from all the hill country of Judah and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. There were no Anakim left in the land of the sons of Israel; only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod some remained" Joshua 11:21-22.)
(Side note: The Anakim were a race of giants, notorious for fighting wars (Deuteronomy 2:10, 2:21, 9:2). The Anakim's ancestry has been traced back to Anak, the son of Arba (Joshua 15:13, 21:11). Arba was regarded as the "greatest man among the Anakim" (Joshua 14:15).)
Six cubits and a span: The cubit, or the distance from the elbow to the middle finger, is variously estimated from 18-21 inches. A span is the distance between the thumb and the little finger in an outstretched hand. So, Goliath's height was between nine feet nine inches and eleven feet four inches. The most probable estimate is about ten feet three inches.
He had a bronze helmet on his head: The helmet was usually made of skins of beasts or of leather and covered in either iron or bronze.
He was clothed with scale-armor: More accurately, this was a breastplate of scales. The armor was made of metal scales, like those of a fish. This coat of mail was flexible and covered the back and the sides of the wearer.
Five thousand shekels of bronze: The common shekel was about a fourth of an ounce. So five thousand shekels would be 1250 ounces (or about 78 pounds).
Greaves: Armor that protected the shin. The coat of mail was usually long and covered the wearer's thighs. Greaves needed to be worn on the shins to protect the lower legs in battle.
His spear weighed 600 shekels of iron: This would be about 9.3 pounds.
However tall and strong Goliath might have been, with this vast array of heavy armor, his movements would have been slow and labored. Goliath might have been invincible if attacked with a sword or spear, but he was too encumbered with defensive armor to be capable of fighting someone lightly armed.
Am I not the Philistine: It is worthy to note the article "the" used for Goliath to describe himself. He is not "a" Philistine, but "THE" Philistine. The Hebrew is very forceful here and emphasizes Goliath's pride. Jewish tradition states that Goliath was the warrior who had slain Hophni and Phinehas (the sons of Eli the high priest) and had carried the Ark of the Covenant to the temple of Dagon.
3. (1 Sam 17:11) The fear of Saul and all Israel
When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly terrified.
When Saul...heard these words: Saul had special reason to be afraid. Goliath was the giant among the Philistines, and Saul was head and shoulders taller than the other Israelites ("He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people" 1 Sam 9:2.). Saul was the logical choice to pair up with Goliath.
They were dismayed and greatly terrified: This was Goliath's intention in issuing the challenge. Goliath came out in full battle armor and paraded around in front of the Israelite army. He wanted them to be "dismayed and greatly terrified". Goliath defeated the Israelites on fear alone.
In any contest, it is always useful to demoralize your opponent and strike fear in their hearts. It may keep you from ever going to battle with them because they are afraid. Additionally, if they do fight you in battle, they will do so with fear and apprehension. So with just using words, Goliath was able to win the battle against Saul and his army before it ever began. This is a significant strategy the devil uses against believers.
Dismayed and greatly terrified: As battle loomed, this was Saul's emotional state. At one time, he was known as a fierce and successful military leader. But that was before the Spirit of the Lord departed from him (1 Sam 16:14). As the Spirit left Saul, so too did his courage.
B. David comes to the camp of Israel
1. (1 Sam 17:12-15) David, the youngest of eight brothers, splits his time between the palace and the pasture
Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men. The three older 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 the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem.
The Ephrathite: Ephrath is an old name for the city of Bethlehem. ("Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (the same is Bethlehem)" Genesis 35:19.)
David went back and forth from Saul: David left Saul's court, with his permission, to tend his father's sheep. David most likely returned back to his father after his father sent his three oldest sons to serve Saul in his army. It seems David was only called to the palace as needed, when Saul was afflicted by the distressing spirit. Although David was appointed to be Saul's armor-bearer (1 Samuel 16:21), it probably was a nominal appointment. David was young and inexperienced. His attendance in camp was probably not required. Joab had ten armor-bearers ("And ten young men who carried Joab's armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him" 2 Samuel 18:15.). Saul probably had many more armor-bearers than this. Only the strongest and most loyal probably followed Saul into this battle.
2. (1 Sam 17:16-21) David brings gifts from home and comes into Israel's camp
The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand. Then Jesse said to David his son, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers. Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them. For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines." So David arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper and took the supplies and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the circle of the camp while the army was going out in battle array shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle array, army against army.
The Philistine came forward...for forty days: This verse picks back up the narrative, which was disturbed by the explanation about David's family relations. It is amazing that Goliath continues to taunt the Israelites for forty days, without either army advancing or retreating. Day after day, Goliath taunted and mocked the army of Israel, exposing them all (and especially Saul) to be cowards. In this time in history, most military battles lasted but a few days. It seems family and friends sought out to supply Israel's army with food during this long campaign.
Roasted grain: This was wheat or barley dried in a furnace or oven and ground into meal. The meal was then mixed with water, milk, butter, honey or oil and was very delicious. An ephah was as much as ten men could eat in a day.
Ten cuts of cheese to the commander: Jesse desired to give a gift to his son's commander, whose favor he might obtain with some dairy delights.
Left the flock with a keeper: This little observation shows the shepherd's heart of David. If he left the sheep to run an errand for his father, he made sure the sheep were still well cared for.
He came to the circle of the camp: This was the shape of camps in ancient times. They were protected against surprise attacks by having the wagons and baggage placed around them.
The army was going out in battle array shouting the war cry: This must have been the scene for forty days. The armies gathered on each hillside, screaming and shouting at each other across the valley. Goliath made his parade and shouted insults, and after a while, the Israelites walked back to their camp in shame.
3. (1 Sam 17:22-24) David sees Goliath's challenge and the fear of Israel's soldiers
Then David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper, and ran to the battle line and entered in order to greet his brothers. As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines and he spoke these same words; and David heard them. When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid.
When the men of Israel saw the man, they fled: Upon seeing Goliath, the men of Israel drew back in haste from the edge of the ravine. It is very likely, Goliath only came to the edge of the ravine. Weighed down in armor weighing several hundred pounds, Goliath would have had great difficulty trying to traverse the steep ravine. In verse 40, we read that it was out of the ravine that David selected his smooth small stones, and being encumbered with no armor, it was easy for him to climb up the other side of the ravine and attack his heavily armed opponent.
4. (1 Sam 17:25-27) David hears of Saul's reward to the man who beats Goliath, but he speaks of God's honor
The men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel. And it will be that the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel." Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" The people answered him in accord with this word, saying, "Thus it will be done for the man who kills him."
To defy Israel: Rather, a better translation would be "to cast scorn on" or "to dishonor Israel".
The king will enrich the man: The situation had become so desperate that King Saul needed to offer a three-part bribe--a cash reward, a princess and a tax exemption--to induce someone, anyone to fight and defeat Goliath.
Make his father's house free in Israel: Whoever fought and defeated Goliath, his father's house would be free from personal service in the army and from any other service due to the king. It also probably included exemption from taxation, contributions to war expenses and other contributions which may be required from the people of Israel.
And David spoke: Very vividly the historian depicts the scene that morning on the front lines. The dismayed soldiers of King Saul watch and listen to the boastful, impious words of Goliath as he shouted across the narrow ravine which separated the two armies. The young, enthusiastic shepherd boy, glowing with religious fervor, travels from group to group asking questions, and gleaning all the information he can about the insulter of his God.
Who is this uncircumcised Philistine: David expresses a high degree of indignation that Israel, who were the servants of the living God and fought under His banner, should be terrified of an idolater. The God of Israel was no match for a man who worshiped statues made with his own hands.
The living God: The god of the Philistines was a lifeless idol. The God of Israel was real and had performed countless miracles from leading Israel out of Egypt to providing manna from heaven to providing triumphal victories over Israel's enemies.
Other soldiers focused on the danger of the battle or the material rewards which could be won. It seems David alone focused on the reputation of Israel and the honor of the living God. This truly shows David to be a man after God's own heart. He cares about the things God cares about. He saw the problem in spiritual terms and not in material or fleshly terms.
5. (1 Sam 17:28-30) David is misunderstood and falsely accused by his brother
Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger burned against David and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle." But David said, "What have I done now? Was it not just a question?" Then he turned away from him to another and said the same thing; and the people answered the same thing as before.
Eliab's anger burned against David: We might have thought that David's visit would please Eliab, especially considering all the gifts David brought from home. But, David's words angered Eliab, and there are many reasons why. First, Eliab was angry because he felt David was an insignificant, worthless person who had no right to speak up. Second, Eliab was angry because he felt he knew David's motivation. But on the contrary, Eliab really did not know David's heart. Third, Eliab was angry because he thought David tried to provoke someone else into fighting Goliath just so he could see a battle. Eliab was a tall man of good appearance (1 Samuel 16:7), and he may have felt David was trying to push him into battle. Finally, Eliab was angry because David was right! When you are dismayed and greatly afraid, the last thing you want is someone telling you to be courageous and fight the enemy.
Additionally, there were probably many years between the ages of the eldest and youngest of these eight brothers, and this jealous anger was, no doubt, nothing new in Eliab. Probably, too, the envious older brother well remembered the visit of the great prophet, Samuel, to Bethlehem, and how Samuel had anointed his younger brother, for some mysterious, and as yet unknown, reason.
What have I done now? Was it just a question?: David answers his jealous and over-bearing brother with all gentleness and forbearance, and sticks to his position. There is no doubt that what his brother Eliab said hurt David, but he would not let it hinder him. David remained concerned with God's cause before everything else. Before his own personal safety, before his own personal glory, before his own person honor, he had a passionate concern for God's cause.
David was more concerned with God's cause than with his own feelings. When David was misunderstood and publicly rebuked, probably amid the laughter of other soldiers, he could have quit. But, he showed the strength and armor of God in his life and replied in a just fashion. He did not care about his glory or success, but he only cared for the glory and success of the LORD'S cause. If Eliab's hurtful words can get David in the flesh and out of step with the Spirit of the LORD, then David's strength is gone. But when David ruled his spirit and answered softly, he was more in step with the Spirit of the LORD than ever...and Goliath would be a dead man.
Then he turned away from him: Being moved by God's Spirit to undertake Goliath, David speaks with many people about it. And with much chatter, the matter soon reaches the king's ear.
A. Goliath challenges Israel
1. (1 Sam 17:1-3) The Philistines gather for battle
Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammin. Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines. The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.
Now the Philistines gathered their armies: There is nothing to tell us how much time has elapsed since Saul fought the Amelekites and the other events which transpired in chapter 16. The compiler of this book is from this time forth mainly concerned with the story of David, and how he gradually rose to power and popularity with the people. The history presented in 1 Samuel does not profess to give anything like a consecutive account of the reign and wars of Saul.
Socoh: This was one of 14 villages located along the Shephelah, a region of low hills of limestone which created a boundary between the plain of the Mediterranean Sea and the higher mountains to the east. Socoh belonged to the tribe of Judah, which shows how strong a footing the Philistines had on Israel.
They camped between Socoh and Azekah: This location was about 12-15 miles southwest of Jerusalem and about 9-10 miles from Bethlehem, the home of Jesse and his family.
Ephes-dammin: The meaning of Ephes-dammin is the boundary of blood, so called from the continual fighting which took place there.
Valley of Elah: The Valley of Elah is now known as Wady-es-Sunt, which runs in a northwest direction from the hills of Judah near Hebron past Gath to the Mediterranean Sea near Ashdod. Elah is named after the terebinth tree which still can be found in a large quantity in this region. (The region's current name, es-Sunt, is named after the acacia trees found there.)
The Philistines stood on the mountain: The Israelites camped on the eastern slopes while the Philistines camped on the western slopes of the valley. In the middle of the broad, open valley, there is a deep stream-bed, which has deep vertical sides. This makes the valley impassable except in certain places, making it a valley within a valley and creating a natural barrier between the two hosts.
2. (1 Sam 17:4-10) The Philistine Goliath challenges Israel
Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze. He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, "Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us." Again the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together."
A champion: The literal Hebrew is "a man between two camps". It was a person who did not fight in the ranks like an ordinary soldier, but he came forth into the space between the two camps to challenge the mightiest man of his enemies to come forth and fight him.
Goliath from Gath: It is very likely that Goliath was a survivor of the ancient race of Anakim. A remnant found refuge in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod when they were exterminated by Joshua from the mountains of Judah. ("Then Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab and from all the hill country of Judah and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. There were no Anakim left in the land of the sons of Israel; only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod some remained" Joshua 11:21-22.)
(Side note: The Anakim were a race of giants, notorious for fighting wars (Deuteronomy 2:10, 2:21, 9:2). The Anakim's ancestry has been traced back to Anak, the son of Arba (Joshua 15:13, 21:11). Arba was regarded as the "greatest man among the Anakim" (Joshua 14:15).)
Six cubits and a span: The cubit, or the distance from the elbow to the middle finger, is variously estimated from 18-21 inches. A span is the distance between the thumb and the little finger in an outstretched hand. So, Goliath's height was between nine feet nine inches and eleven feet four inches. The most probable estimate is about ten feet three inches.
He had a bronze helmet on his head: The helmet was usually made of skins of beasts or of leather and covered in either iron or bronze.
He was clothed with scale-armor: More accurately, this was a breastplate of scales. The armor was made of metal scales, like those of a fish. This coat of mail was flexible and covered the back and the sides of the wearer.
Five thousand shekels of bronze: The common shekel was about a fourth of an ounce. So five thousand shekels would be 1250 ounces (or about 78 pounds).
Greaves: Armor that protected the shin. The coat of mail was usually long and covered the wearer's thighs. Greaves needed to be worn on the shins to protect the lower legs in battle.
His spear weighed 600 shekels of iron: This would be about 9.3 pounds.
However tall and strong Goliath might have been, with this vast array of heavy armor, his movements would have been slow and labored. Goliath might have been invincible if attacked with a sword or spear, but he was too encumbered with defensive armor to be capable of fighting someone lightly armed.
Am I not the Philistine: It is worthy to note the article "the" used for Goliath to describe himself. He is not "a" Philistine, but "THE" Philistine. The Hebrew is very forceful here and emphasizes Goliath's pride. Jewish tradition states that Goliath was the warrior who had slain Hophni and Phinehas (the sons of Eli the high priest) and had carried the Ark of the Covenant to the temple of Dagon.
3. (1 Sam 17:11) The fear of Saul and all Israel
When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly terrified.
When Saul...heard these words: Saul had special reason to be afraid. Goliath was the giant among the Philistines, and Saul was head and shoulders taller than the other Israelites ("He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people" 1 Sam 9:2.). Saul was the logical choice to pair up with Goliath.
They were dismayed and greatly terrified: This was Goliath's intention in issuing the challenge. Goliath came out in full battle armor and paraded around in front of the Israelite army. He wanted them to be "dismayed and greatly terrified". Goliath defeated the Israelites on fear alone.
In any contest, it is always useful to demoralize your opponent and strike fear in their hearts. It may keep you from ever going to battle with them because they are afraid. Additionally, if they do fight you in battle, they will do so with fear and apprehension. So with just using words, Goliath was able to win the battle against Saul and his army before it ever began. This is a significant strategy the devil uses against believers.
Dismayed and greatly terrified: As battle loomed, this was Saul's emotional state. At one time, he was known as a fierce and successful military leader. But that was before the Spirit of the Lord departed from him (1 Sam 16:14). As the Spirit left Saul, so too did his courage.
B. David comes to the camp of Israel
1. (1 Sam 17:12-15) David, the youngest of eight brothers, splits his time between the palace and the pasture
Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men. The three older 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 the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem.
The Ephrathite: Ephrath is an old name for the city of Bethlehem. ("Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (the same is Bethlehem)" Genesis 35:19.)
David went back and forth from Saul: David left Saul's court, with his permission, to tend his father's sheep. David most likely returned back to his father after his father sent his three oldest sons to serve Saul in his army. It seems David was only called to the palace as needed, when Saul was afflicted by the distressing spirit. Although David was appointed to be Saul's armor-bearer (1 Samuel 16:21), it probably was a nominal appointment. David was young and inexperienced. His attendance in camp was probably not required. Joab had ten armor-bearers ("And ten young men who carried Joab's armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him" 2 Samuel 18:15.). Saul probably had many more armor-bearers than this. Only the strongest and most loyal probably followed Saul into this battle.
2. (1 Sam 17:16-21) David brings gifts from home and comes into Israel's camp
The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand. Then Jesse said to David his son, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers. Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them. For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines." So David arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper and took the supplies and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the circle of the camp while the army was going out in battle array shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle array, army against army.
The Philistine came forward...for forty days: This verse picks back up the narrative, which was disturbed by the explanation about David's family relations. It is amazing that Goliath continues to taunt the Israelites for forty days, without either army advancing or retreating. Day after day, Goliath taunted and mocked the army of Israel, exposing them all (and especially Saul) to be cowards. In this time in history, most military battles lasted but a few days. It seems family and friends sought out to supply Israel's army with food during this long campaign.
Roasted grain: This was wheat or barley dried in a furnace or oven and ground into meal. The meal was then mixed with water, milk, butter, honey or oil and was very delicious. An ephah was as much as ten men could eat in a day.
Ten cuts of cheese to the commander: Jesse desired to give a gift to his son's commander, whose favor he might obtain with some dairy delights.
Left the flock with a keeper: This little observation shows the shepherd's heart of David. If he left the sheep to run an errand for his father, he made sure the sheep were still well cared for.
He came to the circle of the camp: This was the shape of camps in ancient times. They were protected against surprise attacks by having the wagons and baggage placed around them.
The army was going out in battle array shouting the war cry: This must have been the scene for forty days. The armies gathered on each hillside, screaming and shouting at each other across the valley. Goliath made his parade and shouted insults, and after a while, the Israelites walked back to their camp in shame.
3. (1 Sam 17:22-24) David sees Goliath's challenge and the fear of Israel's soldiers
Then David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper, and ran to the battle line and entered in order to greet his brothers. As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines and he spoke these same words; and David heard them. When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid.
When the men of Israel saw the man, they fled: Upon seeing Goliath, the men of Israel drew back in haste from the edge of the ravine. It is very likely, Goliath only came to the edge of the ravine. Weighed down in armor weighing several hundred pounds, Goliath would have had great difficulty trying to traverse the steep ravine. In verse 40, we read that it was out of the ravine that David selected his smooth small stones, and being encumbered with no armor, it was easy for him to climb up the other side of the ravine and attack his heavily armed opponent.
4. (1 Sam 17:25-27) David hears of Saul's reward to the man who beats Goliath, but he speaks of God's honor
The men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel. And it will be that the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel." Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" The people answered him in accord with this word, saying, "Thus it will be done for the man who kills him."
To defy Israel: Rather, a better translation would be "to cast scorn on" or "to dishonor Israel".
The king will enrich the man: The situation had become so desperate that King Saul needed to offer a three-part bribe--a cash reward, a princess and a tax exemption--to induce someone, anyone to fight and defeat Goliath.
Make his father's house free in Israel: Whoever fought and defeated Goliath, his father's house would be free from personal service in the army and from any other service due to the king. It also probably included exemption from taxation, contributions to war expenses and other contributions which may be required from the people of Israel.
And David spoke: Very vividly the historian depicts the scene that morning on the front lines. The dismayed soldiers of King Saul watch and listen to the boastful, impious words of Goliath as he shouted across the narrow ravine which separated the two armies. The young, enthusiastic shepherd boy, glowing with religious fervor, travels from group to group asking questions, and gleaning all the information he can about the insulter of his God.
Who is this uncircumcised Philistine: David expresses a high degree of indignation that Israel, who were the servants of the living God and fought under His banner, should be terrified of an idolater. The God of Israel was no match for a man who worshiped statues made with his own hands.
The living God: The god of the Philistines was a lifeless idol. The God of Israel was real and had performed countless miracles from leading Israel out of Egypt to providing manna from heaven to providing triumphal victories over Israel's enemies.
Other soldiers focused on the danger of the battle or the material rewards which could be won. It seems David alone focused on the reputation of Israel and the honor of the living God. This truly shows David to be a man after God's own heart. He cares about the things God cares about. He saw the problem in spiritual terms and not in material or fleshly terms.
5. (1 Sam 17:28-30) David is misunderstood and falsely accused by his brother
Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger burned against David and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle." But David said, "What have I done now? Was it not just a question?" Then he turned away from him to another and said the same thing; and the people answered the same thing as before.
Eliab's anger burned against David: We might have thought that David's visit would please Eliab, especially considering all the gifts David brought from home. But, David's words angered Eliab, and there are many reasons why. First, Eliab was angry because he felt David was an insignificant, worthless person who had no right to speak up. Second, Eliab was angry because he felt he knew David's motivation. But on the contrary, Eliab really did not know David's heart. Third, Eliab was angry because he thought David tried to provoke someone else into fighting Goliath just so he could see a battle. Eliab was a tall man of good appearance (1 Samuel 16:7), and he may have felt David was trying to push him into battle. Finally, Eliab was angry because David was right! When you are dismayed and greatly afraid, the last thing you want is someone telling you to be courageous and fight the enemy.
Additionally, there were probably many years between the ages of the eldest and youngest of these eight brothers, and this jealous anger was, no doubt, nothing new in Eliab. Probably, too, the envious older brother well remembered the visit of the great prophet, Samuel, to Bethlehem, and how Samuel had anointed his younger brother, for some mysterious, and as yet unknown, reason.
What have I done now? Was it just a question?: David answers his jealous and over-bearing brother with all gentleness and forbearance, and sticks to his position. There is no doubt that what his brother Eliab said hurt David, but he would not let it hinder him. David remained concerned with God's cause before everything else. Before his own personal safety, before his own personal glory, before his own person honor, he had a passionate concern for God's cause.
David was more concerned with God's cause than with his own feelings. When David was misunderstood and publicly rebuked, probably amid the laughter of other soldiers, he could have quit. But, he showed the strength and armor of God in his life and replied in a just fashion. He did not care about his glory or success, but he only cared for the glory and success of the LORD'S cause. If Eliab's hurtful words can get David in the flesh and out of step with the Spirit of the LORD, then David's strength is gone. But when David ruled his spirit and answered softly, he was more in step with the Spirit of the LORD than ever...and Goliath would be a dead man.
Then he turned away from him: Being moved by God's Spirit to undertake Goliath, David speaks with many people about it. And with much chatter, the matter soon reaches the king's ear.
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