01-21-2024 - 1 Samuel 17

1 Samuel 17

1 Samuel 17 (NKJV)

-----Setting the stage -----

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 17:1–51

Sometime after David commenced his role of court musician, Israel was again in peril at the hands of the Philistines. The armies were drawn up on opposite sides of the Valley of Elah, a few miles southwest of Jerusalem (vv. 2–3). Apparently intimidated by each other, they decided that the outcome should be determined by a contest of champions who would engage each other in combat.

1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim.

Sochoh & Azekah were towns in Judah (Josh. 15:20, 35 ; Jer. 34:7). They were approximately 15 miles west and seventeen miles northwest of Bethlehem.

Ephes Dammim was the camp of the Philistines, it probably was 1 mile south of Azekah.

2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines.

The Valley of Elah was where the camp of Israel was, about 3 miles east of Ephes Dammin and few miles from Jerusalem.

Ephes Dammin means “boundary of blood” b/c of blood spilled their in battles.

3 The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.

4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

Champion here means “a man between two.” Two armies.

Meaning Goliath was about 9’ 9” tall.

Sometimes a champion from each army would fight, and the war’s outcome was decided by which champion won the battle. This approach minimized bloodshed.

5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.

Five thousand shekels of bronze would weight about 125 pounds.

6 And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders.

7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him.

The tip of his spearhead weighed about 15 pounds.

8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.

9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.”

10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”

11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

Holman Illustrated Bible Commentary D. David’s Victory over Goliath (17:1–58)

The heartland of Benjamin and Judah was approachable from the coast through six valleys. The Philistines already had come up the Aijalon Valley (13:23). During the days of Samson (Jdg 13–16), they had come up the Sorek Valley. Now they were coming up the Valley of Elah and already controlled Socoh and Azekah. If they got much farther up the valley, they could come up the ridge route into the hill country and threaten Bethlehem, Hebron, and Saul’s capital, Gibeah. The situation was desperate for Saul and his army.

Saul was the obvious choice but he was cowardly towards the idea:

Saul was a head taller then anyone else so he was closer in height to Goliath.

Saul had bronze armor similar to Goliath.

In addition the people believed Saul’s job as king was to “go out before us and fight our battles” 1 Samuel 8:20 “that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

-----A Warrior Steps Into The Scene-----

12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul.

Ephrathite is another name for Bethlehem.

13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14 David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul.

15 But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

David still had responsibilities to go tend his fathers flock at Bethlehem but would come back and play for Saul or act as his armorbearer.

16 And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.

40 days this was going on.

17 Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp.

God knew just what He was doing by sending David down at this exact time.

God’s timing is never off.

God never puts you at the wrong place or the wrong time. You ever wonder why? Start asking why, God why do you have me here, what do you want to accomplish with me here?

An Ephah was about 3/4 of a bushel

Unlike modern armies, soldiers in ancient armies had to provide their own rations and help provide for others.

18 And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them.”

19 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

20 So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle.

21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army.

22 And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers.

23 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them.

Goliath, their champion for 40 days kept challenging them to send just one of Israels champions to fight him.

24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid.

25 So the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.”

Since Israel had come to a crisis in this confrontation, Saul made a generous offer to the man who would silence Goliath: he would marry one of the king’s daughters, receive great riches from the king, and take his father’s house off the tax rolls. Saul hoped that somebody would be tempted by the offer and try to defeat Goliath.

-----A Warrior Steps Forward For Israel-----

26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall 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 defy the armies of the living God?”

David young, and loving God and his country, stepped forward. He asked a few questions.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary 3. David, the Warrior of the Lord (17:1–58)

David knew that, although Goliath’s challenge had been issued to (any) individual of the camp of Israel, Goliath’s defiant attitude was a reproach to all Israel.

David essentially was calling Goliath a filthy sinful, shameful man.

The Moody Bible Commentary c. David Answers Goliath’s Challenge (17:20–30)

Calling him uncircumcised was not merely addressing a physical characteristic but indicated that Goliath was a pagan and, unlike Israel, did not have any covenant promises upon which to rely.

27 And the people answered him in this manner, saying, “So shall it be done for the man who kills him.”

28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”

David’s older brother Eliab was angry, perhaps still feeling the sting or rejections of having his “little” brother chosen over himself by God for the throne.

29 And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?”

David questions his brother Eliab. Why are you questioning me? There is a cause here and someone has to do something about this!

One commentator paraphrased David here by saying it this way, “What have I done to offend you now? I happen to have been asking about a very important matter.”

30 Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did.

The Moody Bible Commentary c. David Answers Goliath’s Challenge (17:20–30)

David understood the spiritual heart of the matter: Goliath’s taunt was not merely about Israel, but the God of Israel.

-----Saul Hears of David & Calls Him Over, DAVID GIVES GLORY TO GOD-----

31 Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him.

32 Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

David was stepping up as a man of God and was willing to fight Goliath.

33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”

The MacArthur Bible Commentary 3. David, the Warrior of the Lord (17:1–58)

David’s faith, like that of Joshua and Caleb, was met with disbelief on the part of Saul. By all outward appearances, Saul was correct in his assessment, but he failed to consider the Lord’s presence in David’s life.

Saul knew David didn’t have the combat training.

Saul trained much for this and he wasn’t even ready and willing to go out there.

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,

35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.

36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”

David made a case for himself, handed in his resume.

-----Saul Suits David Up-----

37 Moreover 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 the Lord be with you!”

38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail.

39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.

David didn't fit into the kings armor. Besides he didn't need them, he had God and his weapons that he was familiar with.

40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.

David took what he was familiar with, what he knew would get the job done.

The Moody Bible Commentary d. David Kills Goliath (17:31–58)

A master slinger could sling a tennis-ball sized stone that traveled at the speed of well over one hundred miles an hour, faster than most professional baseball pitchers can throw a fastball today. David then approached the Philistine.

41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him.

42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained (Despised) him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking.

43 So 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 MacArthur Bible Commentary 3. David, the Warrior of the Lord (17:1–58)

Goliath uttered a statement of ironic truth about himself of which even he was unaware. As a wild dog can be a threat to the flock and must be chased away or killed, so must Goliath.

44 And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

The Moody Bible Commentary d. David Kills Goliath (17:31–58)

In antiquity warriors talked to each other before they fought, lacing their speeches with curses and expletives.

This is kinda like in an old gun slinging cowboy movie. They always stand in the street and talk smack before they draw. People still do this today in sporting events and in gangs...

48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

David Hurried into danger to fight the wicked and prevail for His God.

We too should not run away from but into evil to fight it off, but only when we are equipped and aligned like David was with God.

49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David.

51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

David hit Goliath with the stone but then went and cut off Goliath's head with Goliath's sword, this killed him.

The Moody Bible Commentary d. David Kills Goliath (17:31–58)

David’s purpose was also to help God’s people see that human weaponry alone was not the means of deliverance, because the battle is the LORD’s

-----The Hot Pursuit-----

52 Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.

53 Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents.

54 And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

-----Going back a few steps and picking up again where Vs. 54 left off-----

55 When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.”

56 So the king said, “Inquire whose son this young man is.”

57 Then, as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58 And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” So David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”

A few things to consider about Vs. 55-58

In Vs. 55, the narator takes us back a few verses but then as he goes through vs. 58, he brings us back to where vs. 54 left off.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 17:52–58

Another and perhaps better solution is that David’s previous service had been brief and intermittent and now several years had passed since Saul had last seen him. If, for example, David had been only 12 years old when he came as Saul’s musician and had stayed off and on for only a year or so, he might have been 17 or 18 by the time of the Philistine episode and no longer recognizable to Saul.

The Moody Bible Commentary d. David Kills Goliath (17:31–58)

The dramatic narrative shows why the Lord had David anointed: the youth had a distinct quality that made him more suitable to be king than either Saul or his brothers. This quality was that David cared more for the honor of God than his own safety or security. When applying this passage today, it is best not to allegorize it with discussions of how to overcome the giants in life. Rather it is appropriate to ask, what kind of people does God choose to use? The answer, of course is, people who care more about honoring the Lord than preserving their own safety and security.

-----------God instructs Samuel--------------