CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
1 Samuel 17
Chapter 17 of 31
Chapter Overview
What happens in 1 Samuel 17
The Philistines send out a giant warrior named Goliath to challenge Israel. For forty days no one dares to fight him. Then a young shepherd named David arrives, trusting in God rather than armor and weapons. With a sling and a stone, David defeats the giant and becomes a hero.
Scripture
1 Samuel 17
Goliath Challenges Israel
Study note
The Philistine and Israelite armies faced each other across the Valley of Elah. Instead of a full battle, the Philistines sent out a champion named Goliath from the city of Gath. He stood over nine feet tall, wore bronze armor weighing about 125 pounds, and carried a spear with an iron point weighing about 15 pounds. For forty days, morning and evening, Goliath challenged Israel to send one man to fight him in single combat, with the losing side becoming servants of the winners. Saul and all his men were terrified.
1 The Philistines pulled their armies together for war. They set up camp at Socoh in Judah, in a spot between Socoh and Azekah called Ephes-dammim. Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.
2 Saul and the Israelite army gathered and camped across from them in the Valley of Elah. They formed their battle lines to face the Philistines. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.
3 The Philistines stood on one hillside and the Israelites stood on the other. A valley separated the two armies. And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
4 Out from the Philistine camp stepped their champion fighter, a giant named Goliath from the city of Gath. He towered over nine feet tall. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
5 He wore a bronze helmet on his head and a heavy bronze coat of armor that weighed around one hundred and twenty-five pounds. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
6 Bronze guards covered his legs, and he carried a bronze javelin slung across his back. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
7 The wooden shaft of his spear was as thick as a weaver's beam. The iron spearhead alone weighed about fifteen pounds. A soldier walked ahead of him carrying his shield. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
8 Goliath planted himself in front of the Israelite army and bellowed, "Why have you all come out here to line up for a fight? I represent the Philistines. You are all servants of Saul. Pick one of your men and send him down here to face me." And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
9 "If he can beat me and kill me, we Philistines will become your servants. But if I win and kill him, you Israelites become our servants and work for us." If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
10 The Philistine taunted them, "I challenge the armies of Israel today! Give me one man, and we will settle this fight one on one!" 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 the Israelite soldiers heard Goliath's words, fear shot through them. They were terrified. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
David Arrives at the Battlefield
Study note
David was Jesse's youngest son. His three oldest brothers were serving in Saul's army. David went back and forth between tending his father's sheep and the army camp. Jesse sent David to the battlefield with food for his brothers and their commander. When David arrived, he heard Goliath's challenge and saw the Israelites run away in fear. The soldiers told David that the king had promised great wealth, his daughter's hand in marriage, and tax-free status for the family of whoever killed Goliath. David was outraged that an uncircumcised Philistine dared to defy the armies of the living God.
12 Now David was the son of a man named Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons and by this time was already quite elderly. Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
13 Jesse's three oldest boys had marched off to war with Saul: Eliab the firstborn, Abinadab the second, and Shammah the third. And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
14 David was the baby of the family. While his three oldest brothers served in Saul's army, And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.
15 David went back and forth between serving Saul and going home to Bethlehem to take care of his father's sheep. But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Beth-lehem.
16 For forty days, the giant came out each morning and evening. He shouted his dare every time. And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
17 One day, Jesse told David, "Take this bag of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread. Run them down to your brothers at the army camp." And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;
18 "Also bring these ten blocks of cheese to the officer in charge of their unit. Check on your brothers and see how they are doing, then bring me back news." And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
19 At that time, Saul and the army of Israel were camped in the Valley of Elah. They were in a standoff with the Philistines. Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
20 David got up at the crack of dawn, left the sheep with someone to watch them, loaded up, and headed out exactly as Jesse told him. He reached the camp just as the army was heading out to their battle positions with war cries ringing through the air. And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
21 Both armies formed their lines and faced each other, ready for battle. For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
22 David left the supplies he had brought with the man in charge of the baggage. Then he sprinted over to the battle line and found his brothers to see how they were doing. And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
23 While David was talking to them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from the Philistine ranks and shouted his usual challenge. David heard every word. And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
24 When the Israelite soldiers saw Goliath, they all turned and ran, scared out of their minds. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
25 The soldiers around David were saying, "Have you seen that man who keeps coming out? He comes to mock and insult Israel. Whoever kills him will get a great reward from the king: lots of money, the king's daughter as a wife, and his whole family will never have to pay taxes again." And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
26 David asked the soldiers near him, "What does the man get who kills this Philistine and ends this disgrace against Israel? Who does this Philistine think he is? He doesn't even know God, and he dares to mock the armies of the living God?" And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
27 The men told David the same news. They told him what the king would give the man who killed Goliath. And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
David Volunteers to Fight Goliath
Study note
David's oldest brother Eliab was angry at David for coming to the battlefield, accusing him of pride and curiosity. But David's words reached Saul, who sent for him. David told Saul not to lose heart and volunteered to fight the giant. Saul objected that David was just a boy, but David described how he had killed a lion and a bear while protecting his father's sheep. David said the God who rescued him from those animals would rescue him from this Philistine. Saul put his own armor on David, but David could not move in it because he was not used to it. Instead, David chose five smooth stones from a stream and took his shepherd's sling.
28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why have you come down here? and with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart; for you have come down that you might see the battle. And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
29 David responded, "What did I do wrong now? I was only asking a question!" And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
30 David turned to someone else nearby and asked the same thing. And once again, the people gave him the same answer. And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
31 Word of what David was saying got around, and someone reported it to Saul. Saul sent for David. And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
32 David told Saul, "Nobody should lose heart over this Philistine. I, your servant, will go fight him." And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
33 Saul objected, "You cannot go up against this Philistine. You are just a boy! He has been fighting in wars since he was your age." And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
34 But David pressed on. He said to Saul, "I have been taking care of my father's sheep for a long time. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off one of the lambs, And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
35 "I chased it down, attacked it, and pulled the lamb right out of its mouth. If the animal turned on me, I grabbed it by the jaw, hit it, and killed it." And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36 "I have killed both a lion and a bear. This Philistine who insults the armies of the living God will end up the same way. He does not know God." Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37 David added, "The Lord who saved me from the claws of the lion and the claws of the bear will save me from this Philistine too." Saul finally said, "Go then, and may the Lord go with you." David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
38 Saul dressed David in his own armor. He strapped a bronze helmet on David's head and fitted him with a coat of armor. And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
39 David buckled the sword over the armor and tried walking around, but he could hardly move. He was not used to any of it. David told Saul, "I cannot fight in all this gear. I have never worn anything like it." He took it all off. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
40 Instead, David grabbed his shepherd's staff. He went to a nearby stream, picked out five smooth stones, and dropped them into his shepherd's bag. Then, with his sling in hand, he walked straight toward the Philistine. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
David Defeats Goliath
Study note
Goliath was insulted that Israel sent a boy to fight him. He cursed David by his gods and threatened to feed his body to the birds. But David responded with one of the most powerful faith statements in the Bible: 'You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Heaven's Armies.' David declared that the whole world would know there is a God in Israel. David ran toward Goliath, slung a stone that struck the giant in the forehead, and Goliath fell face down. David then used Goliath's own sword to cut off his head. When the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
41 Goliath moved steadily closer to David with his shield-bearer out in front. And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
42 When Goliath got a good look at David, he saw that he was just a young, healthy, good-looking kid. He sneered at David and looked down on him. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
43 Goliath mocked David, "What am I, a dog? You come at me with sticks?" Then Goliath cursed David by the names of his own gods. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44 Goliath snarled, "Come over here, and I will feed your body to the birds and the wild animals." And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
45 David fired back, "You come at me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin. But I come at you in the name of the Lord of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel's armies, the God you have been insulting." Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46 "Today the Lord is going to hand you right over to me. I will strike you down and cut off your head. And before this day is over, I will feed the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds and wild animals. Then the whole world will know that Israel has a God." This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47 "Everyone gathered here will see that the Lord does not need swords and spears to win battles. This fight belongs to the Lord, and he is going to deliver every one of you into our hands." And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.
48 As Goliath closed in for the attack, David broke into a sprint, running straight at the giant to meet him. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49 David reached into his bag, pulled out a stone, loaded his sling, and let it fly. The stone hit Goliath square in the forehead and sank deep into his skull. The giant crashed face-first into the dirt. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
50 That is how David defeated the Philistine champion: with nothing more than a sling and a stone. He struck the giant down and killed him without even holding a sword. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
51 David ran over and stood on top of the fallen giant. He pulled Goliath's own sword from its sheath and used it to cut off his head. When the Philistine army saw that their champion was dead, they panicked and ran. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
The Aftermath of David's Victory
Study note
The Israelites chased the fleeing Philistines all the way to the gates of Ekron and Gath, killing many along the way. Then they came back and plundered the Philistine camp. David took Goliath's head to Jerusalem and kept Goliath's weapons in his own tent. Saul asked Abner, his army commander, whose son the young man was, and Abner brought David before Saul. David identified himself as the son of Jesse of Bethlehem.
52 The soldiers of Israel and Judah let out a war cry and charged after the retreating Philistines. They chased them all the way to the gates of Gath and Ekron. Dead Philistines littered the road from Shaaraim to Gath and Ekron. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
53 After chasing the Philistines, the Israelites came back and looted their empty camp. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
54 David took Goliath's head and brought it to Jerusalem. He kept the giant's weapons in his own tent. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
55 Earlier, when Saul had watched David walk out to face the Philistine, he turned to Abner, his army commander, and asked, "Abner, whose son is that young man?" Abner answered, "I swear on your life, O king, I have no idea." And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
56 The king said, "Find out who his father is." And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.
57 The moment David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner brought him straight to Saul. David was still holding Goliath's severed head. And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58 Saul asked him, "Whose son are you, young man?" David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse, from the town of Bethlehem." And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.
Key Themes
Themes in 1 Samuel 17
Trusting God against impossible oddsPast faithfulness building confidence for present battlesThe name of the Lord as the true weaponGod using the weak to shame the strong
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
1 Samuel 17:45-47 1 Corinthians 1:27-29
David defeating the mighty Goliath with a sling and stone illustrates Paul's teaching that God chooses the foolish and weak things of the world to shame the wise and strong, so that no one may boast before Him.
Apply This Today
Living 1 Samuel 17
David's victory over Goliath is the ultimate story of faith overcoming fear. While Saul and the army saw a giant too big to fight, David saw a giant too big to miss. The difference was perspective. David drew confidence from past experiences of God's faithfulness with the lion and bear. Your past victories with God are training for your present challenges.
Go Deeper
Study 1 Samuel in Covenant Path
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