David and Goliath

In short

1 Samuel 17. This is actually a very complicated story with a lot of subtleties. But yes, David kills a giant with a sling and a stone.

Why it is important

David. He truly sets himself apart in this story as a man of

• Great faith
• Great bravery
• Great confidence

And immediately after this, David rises to great fame (1Sa 18:5).

Main characters

• The Philistines, a perpetual enemy of Israel
• Goliath, a literal giant, who was the Philistines’ “champion” (v. 4)
• Saul, king of Israel
• David, a shepherd and servant of Saul
• David’s three oldest brothers, who were in the battle

What is in this story

This is described as a “battle” (vs. 1, 3) but before any fighting begins, the Philistines want to settle this gladiator-style (v. 4). Let’s get into the details, though.

1. On either side of a valley are a mountain with Philistia’s forces and a mountain with Saul and Israel’s forces (vs. 2-3)
2. Goliath steps forward on the Philistine side; he is 9’9” tall with the main armor weighing roughly 125 pounds, plus other armor (vs. 4-7)
3. The challenge: winner takes all (vs. 8-10)
4. Israel quakes in its boots (v. 11)
5. David’s older brothers are in the army (v. 13)
6. David’s father sends David to bring food to the brothers and their division commander (vs. 17-18)
7. David hears the taunt and despises Goliath (vs. 23, 26)
8. David’s oldest brothers think little David should run along now and let the big boys play (vs. 28-30)
9. Word of David’s bravado reaches Saul, and Saul sends for him (v. 31)
10. David’s swagger on full display for the king (vs. 32-36), but he does credit the LORD with his accomplishments.
11. Saul tries to give David his armor, but David is skittish (vs. 38-39)
12. Goliath mocks and taunts David (vs. 41-44)
13. David’s speech: My God will save me (vs. 45-47)
14. David strikes Goliath with a stone (vs. 48-49)
15. Goliath falls and David cuts off Goliath’s head with Goliath’s sword (vs. 49-51)

Things that are not so well-known

• David apparently kept his day job, even after being recruited into Saul’s service (v. 15)
• It seems that there is some fighting in the valley (v. 19). Yet it disperses easily.
• Verses 24-27 – Is David deaf or something? Why is the story so circular here? Also, is David doing this for the rewards to be given to the victor? I think he has righteous indignation, but he does ask about the prize. Maybe multiple times (see v. 30).
• David RUNS toward Goliath (v. 48)
• Was David short? There is actually zero evidence that he was. In fact, his brothers are tall.

What killed Goliath?

The stone, right?

• In verse 51, the sword killed him: “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.”
• But verse 50, is it saying the stone killed him?
• You might argue that verse 50 is a summary, saying that the stone disabled Goliath and THEN David “struck” Goliath with his sword
• In the end, I don’t know if it is relevant, but it does make the story less extraordinary, if the stone wasn’t what took his life.

Theology and doctrine

As famous as this story is to us, it’s never mentioned again in Scripture*. Sure, we can draw plenty of inspiration from it; there’s a popular song about it. But I don’t have anything profound to add from Scripture to this discussion.

Footnote

* Not explicitly, anyway. Perhaps the story is referenced in some implied way, but I am not aware of it.