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.
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