1 Samuel 17: A Giant Win

The story found in 1 Samuel 17 isn’t a new one for anyone who has grown up in church. It’s the story of David and Goliath. If you grew up in church and Sunday school, you probably learned this story early in your childhood. As a child, the Sunday school teacher kept moral of the story pretty simple: little guys can do big things too (thank you Veggie Tales). As you grow up, the Sunday achool teacher uses more adult language, but if you think about it, the message virtually stays the same: You are like David, facing the “giants,” which are the stressors and problems in your life, both internally and externally. David becomes the example that Christians should follow when facing such “giants.” When facing the problems and stressors of life, we need to step up to them, act courageously and use whatever skills, talents and resources we’re good at manipulating (like David was a slingshot expert). The main character in the story is David and so the main character in the application is the self. I’m not satisfied with this interpretation. As a Cristocentric reader of the Bible, for the Bible to be Christ-centered, or at least God-centered, God needs to be the main character, not David or one’s self. So let’s re-examine the story of David and Goliath again, this time putting the Lord as the main character, and let’s see what kind of interpretation we will get.*

1 Samuel 17:1 begins with a very familiar scene. The Israelites are at war with the Philistines… again. This has been a war that’s been on and off from the time of the Judges through the reign of King Saul. But the author wants this battle to stand out as more important than any old battle, so he specifically describes this battle, beginning with the location. This is the Israelite vs. Philistine battle that happened in the Valley of Elah, between Socoh and Azekah.

 

This setting is the perfect setting for a battle. The Valley of Elah is the border of the Israelite territory and Philestine territory. Philistine camp, in Ephes Dammin, is the Philistine territory side and the Israelite camp, in Socoh, is the Israelite territory side. The two hills, with a valley in between, allows the camps to stay a safe distance from one another, while providing a field below to engage in battle. It’s the perfect place to draw lines for a battle.

The author has already described in detail the location of battle, now the author will describe in-depth the description of the Philistine champion Goliath. First off, let me define “champion.” We may think of champion as the winner of a competition, but it’s not the case in Hebrew. In Hebrew, the word literally means “man between the two,” as in, “man between two armies.” In ancient warfare, the army would choose a man to lead the rest of the army out into battle. He was the “man between the two [armies]” because he would run out ahead, and for a split second, he seemed be out there, between two armies. That’s what the “champion” is. Now, similar to our term champion, this leading man was usually the strongest man in the army. So in that sense, both meanings mean “the strongest man” but the meanings are still far apart.

The first thing to know about Goliath’s appearance is that Goliath is tall, very tall. The Bible, in its original Hebrew, records Goliath’s height to be “six cubits and a span.” “Spans” were roughly between ¼ to ½ cubit. A cubit is roughly 18 inches, or 1 ½ feet. Do the math, and you find out  that Goliath is about 9 to 9 ¾ feet tall. Now of course you have your skeptics who will tell you that the average height of males  from that region and that time were about 5 ½ feet tall, so Goliath was most likely only 6 ½ feet tall, and to 5 ½ feet tall Israelites, Goliath seemed like a 9 ½ foot giant. I think the author saw that coming, for he provided that proof that Goliath was 9 ¾ feet tall in the description of his armor. Most soldiers during this time simply wore regular clothes, or at the most, pads. This giant is covered in bronze. His biggest and heaviest piece, the coat of scale armor, weighs about 125 pounds! For the normal man, this armor would be too heavy to move around in, and thus would be a detriment to his fighting ability in battle. Goliath, on the other hand, is big and strong, and it’s only another advantage that makes him seem invincible. Furthermore, Goliath’s iron spear, his weapon of choice, weighs in at 15 pounds. Most soldiers would struggle to wield a 15 pound melee weapon. It further goes to show Goliath’s great strength that goes along with his great height.

Goliath calls upon an ancient warfare tradition. A battle will ensue between the champion, or strongest man, of the Philistine army and the champion of the Israelite army. A wager is made. The losing champion’s people will serve the winning champion’s people. Like I said, nothing new to ancient warfare. In essence, it does make sense. If their strongest man can beat our strongest man, he’s going to beat everyone else, you might as well just forfeit. This option is perfect for people tired of war, for it quickly decides a victor. Also, the method plummets the death rate of a battle. Goliath quickly volunteers himself to be the Philistine representative. How do the Israelites respond? 1 Samuel 17:11 tells us, “Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.”

I believe there’s a reason that 1 Samuel 17:11 says “Saul and the Israelites.” It’s separating Saul from the rest of the Israelites. Believe it or not, the champion from Israel should be a no brainer. Saul’s the champion! Remember that 1 Samuel earlier pointed out that Saul was a head taller than everyone else. If everyone is 5 ½ feet tall, then Saul is at least 5 ¾, if not more. In this chapter, we see height is associated with strength. If Saul is the tallest, he’s most likely the strongest (although I know it’s not necessarily true). Even if he’s not the strongest, remember that Saul is supposed to be the leader and the example. Both the leader and the example the people look up to. Saul should have said, “God has anointed me king over Israel, and with God’s help, I will fight you and I will win!” Instead, Saul cowers in fear and dismay. When the men of Israel see Saul, their leader and example, dismayed and terrified, they too become dismayed and terrified. Even Goliath recognizes this. Goliath rhetorically asks, “Are you not the subjects of Saul?” What he means is, “Where is your king, King Saul? My team sends out the MVP, and all your team sends out is the third string?!” So Goliath heaps insult after insult on them.

The story is going to shift away from Saul and back towards David. So first, the author has to explain why David’s not there form day 1. The text seems to say that Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah, Jesse’s 3 oldest sons, are the only full time soldiers in Saul’s army (perhaps that’s are why those 3 sons are mentioned in 1 Samuel 16; they are known for fighting in Israel’s army). Some scholars have suggested that the other sons are merely too young to fight, while other scholars suggest that King Saul only required three men per household to enlist in the army. The text seems to hint that the rest of Jesse’s sons rotate between shepherding the flocks and fighting in the army.

On this particular day, it’s David’s turn to go out to the army and send back a report to Jesse. Between the beginning of the stand off and this day, 40 days have passed. Such a stand off was detrimental to Israel, both the soldiers and their families. Rations had to be running low. These family men were needed at home to help take care of the farms, but were instead sitting in a camp. So Saul has been bargaining with his soldiers to get someone to fight Goliath. First, he simply offers great wealth. Next, Saul offers to give the man his daughter’s hand in marriage, making the man part of the royal family, which comes with special benefits. Then, the Hebrew says that Saul promises to make “his father’s house free in Israel.” Most likely, it means that the man’s family would be tax free, but it could also mean that every man in the family would be exempt from military service from then on. Still, no one is biting at any of the offers. Even when the soldiers are trying to push one other to go to Saul to fight Goliath, no one budges.

On this day, whether it’s the first time David is there or not, it’s the first time that David sees and hears Goliath. As David hears Goliath publicly insulting the Lord and his people, he looks around the camp and sees everyone running and hiding in fear. This behavior puzzles David, so he asks the men of Israel about it, but in a very odd way. It’s recorded 1 Samuel 17:26, and a lot of scholars differ on how to take it. In no way does it look like David is sincerely interesting in the rewards. Some have simply suggested David is asking for a verification of the offers Saul is giving, but the text seems to be more than just that. Others have suggested David is trying to encourage at least one soldier to stand up to Goliath by reminding the soldiers of the great rewards they will receive from the king for fighting Goliath. But the answer I like goes even deeper than that. Notice how David uses phrases like, “this disgrace from Israel,” “this uncircumcised Philistine” and “the living God.” On the surface, it might just seem like David has joined in the name calling that Goliath is bantering in, but it has so much more significance. David is subtly reminding the Israelites that Goliath is a Gentile worshipper of idols, who are powerless. The army of Israel is on the true, living God’s side. And God will remember his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and will fight with his chosen people. Pretty much, it’s like David is saying, “Who does this guy think he is?"

 

Now Eliab, David’s oldest brother and the firstborn of Jesse, realizes that David must be getting pumped to fight Goliath himself. So Eliab rebukes David for abandoning the sheep, accusing him of only wanting to be entertained by watching a battle. Why Eliab said this, no one knows, but I can’t help but feel that Eliab still might be a little upset that he, the firstborn of the family, was not anointed the next king of Israel, but rather, the youngest one, the baby of the family. Perhaps Eliab was afraid his baby brother was about to show him up again. David simply replies, in Hebrew, “What I have done now? Was it not but a word?” Most translations agree on the first sentence, but it’s the second sentence that throws them off. The majority of translators translate it as, “I was only asking a question.” What David means is that the Israelites have a very important matter on their hands.

David’s persistent asking gets word floating around camp. When the word reaches Saul, he requests that this curious man be brought to him. What a surprise when it’s only a boy. What more surprise when the first thing David says to Saul, “Don’t worry, I got this.” Saul reminds David of another important reality that important to this story. Goliath challenging Israel to and 1 vs. 1 fight against their strongest man wasn’t an idea on a whim. This has been the plan since day 1. Goliath has been training for this one day. Surely no shepherd boy can take on such a trained man. David reminds Saul, in turn, that being a shepherd is no easy job. Wild animals, like lion, bears and wolves like attacking and eating little sheep. David presents a résumé of killing a lion and a bear to save merely save sheep. David reduces this giant, an “uncircumcised Philistine” to an animal. David has convinced Saul to let him fight, but Saul doesn’t really hear the whole thing and get the message. Saul puts his armor on David, relying more on the armor than on God to protect David (some scholars have also suggested that this is done for great irony: King Saul is putting the king’s armor on the future anointed king). David simply suggests the obvious, that a small man like him cannot maneuver in armor meant for a tall man, like Saul. But what David wants to do is go, depending on the Lord for protection, not armor, weapons on any other earthly object. So David decides to go with the weaponry he knows best from his job as shepherd: a staff and a slingshot. But this is no child’s toy slingshot. This is a battle weapon, with stones the size of tennis balls!

So David steps out to approach Goliath for battle. When Goliath sees him, his reaction is somewhat along the liens of “You’ve got to be kidding me.” In fact, Goliath is a little bit insulted. He’s expecting their tallest, strongest man, and all he sees in front of him is a short, ruddy pretty boy; the last person you’d expect to be a solider. Goliath’s famous words, “Am I dog that you come at me with sticks” is an insult to both David and Goliath. Remember in Bible times dogs weren’t man’s cute and cuddly companion. Rather, they were almost like giant rodents. To be called a dog was a derogatory term, even a curse word. Please excuse me language, but Goliath is pretty much saying, “Am I your bitch? Because you seem to think so! That weapon couldn’t even hurt a dog.” Then Goliath proceeds to curse David and say, “Come here and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” David turns it around and pretty much says to Goliath, “Oh no sir, you have it mixed up. I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field, and the same goes for all of your Philistine friends in the camp!” Yet David’s motive is as pure as his heart. This battle isn’t for him. This battle is for the Lord. Goliath has mocked, insulted and despised the name of the Lord. David won’t put up with it, and neither will God. That’s why David is so sure about his victory.

The battle ensure in 1 Samuel 17:48-51! The Hebrew text of 1 Samuel 17:48 reveals that Goliath merely walked towards David, but David came running towards Goliath. Now military speaking, David already has an advantage. Goliath’s weapons are all melee weapons, but David has a range weapon. In essence, Goliath brought a knife to a gun fight. But we all know that not the reason David won. The real reason, as the children’s story version tell us, is that Goliath was big, but God was bigger. Of course, skeptic will claim that the stone merely knocked Goliath unconscious and it wasn’t David cut off Goliath’s head with Goliath’s sword that Goliath died. They are wrong. They need to re-read 1 Samuel 17:48-51 over again. I at least see 3 times the text verifies the sling and stone killed him. First, the text says the stone sank into his forehead. No one will survive a stone sunk into the forehead. Second, the text tells the reader in verse 50 that David was triumphant with only the sling and the stone. Third, in the same verse, the text even goes to say Goliath was dead without the sword. (Some people would suggest, for a fourth proof, that David fulfilled Leviticus 24:16, by stoning a blasphemer.) Cutting off Goliath’s head was following the custom of the day. It was proof to the Philistines that Goliath was indeed dead, and probably also part of a “victory dance.”

The Philistines react accordingly: they run in great fear. After all, if a little, ruddy, pretty boy can slay a giant, who knows what all the other man can do to their ordinary people?! The Israelites, following the example of their leader David (hint!) pursue their enemy, the Philistines. They chase them back all the way to their hometowns, and then some, killing everyone they can along the way.

Now the last paragraph has presented problems for Scripture readers. In 1 Samuel 16, the reader reads Saul meeting David for the first time when David plays the harp for him. In 1 Samuel 17, the reader reads Saul meeting David for the first time after killing the giant Goliath. Does Saul meet David for the first time twice? How can that be? A whole plethora of options have been presented. One suggests that 1 Samuel is not in chronological order, but in theological order. So David killing Goliath did happen before David played the harp for Saul; it only happens in reverse order in the text. Some suggests that Saul now wants to know more about David’s family, especially now that Saul owes David riches, a wife, and his family tax exemption. Others have suggested that it’s more of a rhetorical question. Saul might be rhetorically asking, “Is that really David, the kid who plays the harp for me?” or he may be wondering, “What potential greatness does this boy have?” There’s even a theory that says that Saul is so demon-possessed when David plays the harp for him, Saul doesn’t even know who’s playing the harp for him. Personally, I prefer the second option, but my point is that there should be no fear that the text is unreliable for what seems to be 2 greetings. It does make sense.

Before I conclude with the Theological Interpretation of Scripture’s interpretation of 1 Samuel 17, let’s first use discourse analysis, which looks how chapters in a Bible book relate to one another. So what does 1 Samuel 17 have to do with the last chapter, 1 Samuel 16? In the first half of 1 Samuel 16, we saw Samuel anoint David as the next king of Israel. By the halfway point of the chapter, the reader asks, “What proof do you have that David is the next king?” Two proofs already present themselves in 1 Samuel 16. First, the Holy Spirit leaves Saul and enters David. Second, David, with the help of the Holy Spirit, fights of the evil Spirit living in Saul. 1 Samuel 17 is the third proof, and what a strong proof it is! Remember we discussed earlier that Saul, as king, should have been the example and leader. He should have stepped up as Israel’s champion to fight Goliath. Instead, Saul is terrified and dismayed. Then comes along David. David is not terrified or dismayed. Rather, David is insulted that this Philistine giant mocks and defies God. So David, trusting in the Lord’s assistance to protect the Lord’s name, is the one to step up, slay the giant, and lead the Israelite army to victory. Look at these two kings. Which king did the better job leading the army? David did. Why did David do better? Because David trusted in the Lord so much, he believed God would protect his people and bring victory. Truly David is next king of Israel because he trusts in God, and God gives him victory. He is the better king. What makes this proof so great too is it’s the first public proof. The other proofs are only obvious to those understanding the spiritual warfare behind it. This proof is as clear as day to all the Israelite people.

And now, let’s close with the Theological Interpretation of Scripture (T.I.S., for short) to give us a better application for our lives. The first rule of T.I.S. is that God is always the main character. So first, let’s establish that God, not David, is the main character. It might seem a little tricky because we don’t see God explicitly speak or act in the text, but he is mentioned, so he must be at work. I think David himself would agree he’s not the main character either because I think David would not even say he won the battle. He would tell you that the Lord won the battle. He even says it twice, in verses 37 and 47. David did not win the battle, but the Lord did. If anything, all David did was trust in the Lord to give him victory. How was David so sure? He remembered the covenant that the Lord made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. David trusted in God’s promises, even if he wasn’t fully prepared like a warrior (compare David’s weaponry to Goliath’s), and God returned the faith with victory. That’s the lesson you can take home from 1 Samuel 17. Just like David, we need to trust in God, who promised us victory. He fulfilled that promise to David and the Israelites with a victory over the giant. And he fulfills the promise to us by giving us victory in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Another rule of T.I.S. is that a good interpretation produces a doctrine/theology that can be found elsewhere in the Bible. I think 1 Corinthians 15:57,58 is a good choice, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”*

*Billings, J. Todd. “How to Read the Bible.” Christianity Today. Oct 2011. Vol. 55, No. 10, Page 24. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/october/how-to-read-bible.html