The First Book of Samuel, otherwise called the First Book of the Kings
1 Samuel 17
Chapter XVII · Vol. II, pp. 654–657
1 The armies of the Israelites and Philistines being ready to battle, 4 Goliath cometh proudly forth to challenge a combat. 12 David, sent by his father to visit his brethren, heareth the challenge. 28 Eliab chideth him. 30 He is brought to Saul. 32 He showeth the reason of his confidence. 38 Without armour, armed by faith, he slayeth the giant. 55 Saul taketh notice of David.
1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at aShochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in bEphes-dammim.
2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah,1 and set the battle in array2 against the Philistines.
1 About 10 miles west of Jerusalem. Dr. Richardson informs us that the place of the encampment of the two armies may be easily discovered from the description; and that the brook from which David selected the smooth stones is still pointed out to travellers.—C.
2 Heb. ranged the battle.
3 And cthe 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.3
c 1 Ki.20.29. ver.16. 2 Ch.13.3,4.
3 The valley of Elah, or of the 'terebinth,' now called Wady Musurr, 'the valley of the Acacia,' runs among the western spurs of the mountains of Judah down into the plain of Philistia. The site of the combat and victory is easily identified by the ruins of Shochoh, and the general topography of the valley. It is about 15 miles S.W. of Jerusalem. The valley is a quarter of a mile wide, and is shut in by ridges rising on each side with an easy slope to an elevation of about 500 ft. On these the rival armies were encamped, opposite to each other, at the distance of about a mile. The bottom of the valley is flat and rich; through it winds a torrent-bed covered with rounded 'smooth stones.' The rival armies could see distinctly every movement of their champions, their final struggle, and the fall of Goliath.—P.
4 And there went out a dchampion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was4 six cubits[≈ 2.7 m · 9 ft] and a span[≈ 23 cm · 9 in].5
d A dueller or treader down, Jos.11.21. ver.8-10. 1 Ch.20.5. Je.9.23. Zec.4.6.
A.M. 2944. B.C. 1060.
4 About 11½ feet.
5 According to Cumberland, 11 feet 10 inches: but Parkhurst estimates his height at 9 feet 6 inches. Pliny, in his Natural History (b. vi. 16), mentions one Gabara, an Arabian, in the days of Claudius, who was 9 feet 9 inches in height. Josephus mentions a Jew named Eleazar, whom Vitellius sent to Rome, who was 10 feet 2 inches (Ant. b. xviii. c. 6); and Middleton of Hale, in Lancashire, was 9 feet 3 inches in height.—C.
5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed6 with a coat of mail;7 and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels8 of brass[≈ 57 kg · 130 lb].
6 Heb. clothed.
7 Mail is of various kinds, but chiefly what is called chain and plate mail. The one a garment, composed of small strong rings. The other, a succession of small plates overlapping at the edges, after the manner of the scales of a shark. This last is the mail of Goliath.—C.
8 156¼ lbs.
6 And he had greaves9 of brass upon his legs, and a target1 of brass between his shoulders.
9 A species of boots without feet, for defence of the legs.—C.
1 Or, gorget.
7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam;2 and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels[≈ 6.8 kg · 15 lb]3 of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
2 Estimated by the other proportions at 26 feet.—C.
3 18¾ lbs.
8 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?4 Am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
4 Why should two whole armies engage, when the contest can as well be decided by two representatives? Such challenges and contests, either between one or more on each side, are frequent in the histories of all nations.—C.
9 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 And the Philistine said, eI defy the armies of Israel this day: give me a man, that we may fight together.
e Nu.23.7,8. 2 Sa.21.21. Ne.2.19.
11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
12 Now David was fthe son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah,5 whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
f Ru.4.18-22. Mat.1.6. Lu.3.31,32. ch.16.1,10. Ge.35.19. Mi.5.2. 1 Ch.2.13-15. Ps.132.6, with Mat.2.1,6.
5 The Vatican copy of the Septuagint does not contain this passage, and many Biblical critics of high name consider all from ver. 12 to 31 to be an interpolation; but all the most valuable Hebrew MSS. contain it as it is found in our English version, and these it is much safer to follow than imaginary emendations resting on mere critical suggestion.—C.
13 And gthe 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 first-born, and next unto him Abinadab; and the third hShammah.
15 But David went and returned7 fromk Saul to feed his father's sheep at Beth-lehem.
7 That is, David, after abiding some time with Saul as his chief musician, ch. 16. 23, had gone home, and returned to his duties as a shepherd.—C.
k ch.16.19,22.
17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah[≈ 22 litres · 4.8 gallons] of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;
18 And carry these ten cheeses8 unto the captain of their thousand,9 and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.1
8 Heb. cheeses of milk.
9 Heb. captain of a thousand.
1 Bring a token of their welfare.
19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting2 with the Philistines.3
2 Skirmishing.
3 Not fighting in general battle, but by outposts and skirmishers. Such is still the character of Bedouin warfare.—C.
20 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 mtrench4 as the host was going forth to the nfight, and shouted for the battle.
A.M. 2944. B.C. 1060.
m Or, place of the carriage, ch.26.5.
4 The translation would suggest the idea of an intrenched camp; but the marginal reading, what is much more likely, an appointed place for the friends of the soldiery to deposit their rations.—C.
n Or, battle array; or, place of fight, Ec.3.12. Ps.46.1. Phi.4.4,13. 2 Co.2.14.
21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
22 And David left his carriage5 in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and osaluted his brethren.
5 Load of provisions.
o Heb. asked his brethren of peace, Ge.37.14; 41.16. Mat.10.12,13. Lu.19.42.
23 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 paccording to the same words: and David heard them.
p ver.8-10.
24 And all the men of Israel,6 when they saw the man, fled qfrom him, and were sore 7afraid.
6 Not the whole army; for they retained the position where David found them; but the light troops and skirmishers that usually precede all armies. Saul, it will be recollected, was now an experienced leader, and would not go to battle without such advanced guards.—C.
q Heb. from his face, ch.13.6,7. De.32.30. Is.30.17.
7 It is a universal practice to this day in Arab warfare for one or two men of name and prowess to dash out to the front and challenge a champion among the enemy to single combat. In feudal times it was also a custom of European warfare.—P.
25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and rit 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.8
26 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 sreproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of tthe living God?9
s 2 Ki.19.4. Nu.14.15-19. Jos.7.8,9.
t De.5.26. 1 Th.1.9. Je.10.10. Jn.5.26. 1 Jn.5.20.
9 The distinctive character of Jehovah is that he is the living God—God living in personality of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—by which character of living he is also distinguished from the idols of heathenism, and the mere First Cause of some systems of philosophy.—C.
27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's uanger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness?1 xI know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
u ch.1.14. Mar.3.21. Mat.16.22. Pr.18.19. Ec.4.4.
1 They could not have been many, as one keeper sufficed for their protection, ver. 20; and Eliab foolishly expresses the contempt of a soldier for the peaceful profession of a shepherd.—Note, Professional contempt for others is a sign of great ignorance of the relative use of all lawful professions, and of vanity and pride in him that feels and expresses it.—C.
x ch.16.7. 1 Ti.6.4,5. Ps.35.11. Jude 10.
30 And he turned from him toward another,3 and spake after the same manner:4 and the people answered him again after the former manner.
3 A proof of youthful wisdom: he turns away from an offended brother, to avoid new cause of irritation.—Note, If with all men we must 'give place unto wrath,' how much more with a brother, to whom we are bound by ties of nature or of grace?—C.
4 Heb. word.
31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul; and he sent for him.5
5 Heb. took him.
32 And David said to Saul, zLet no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant awill go and fight with this Philistine.
33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth,6 and he ba man of war from his youth.
34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion and a bear,7 and took a lamb8 out of the flock;
A.M. 2944. B.C. 1060.
7 Each at a different time; for he does not say he smote them, but him.—C.
8 Or, kid.
35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose9 against me, I caught him by his beard, cand smote him, and slew him.
9 The act of rising against him seems to refer to the bear, which stands up when it assails a man; in which attitude the bold peasant of the north of Europe assails him with a spear, the cross of which holds him at a distance, while the iron head pierces his breast.—C.
c Ju.14.6. 1 Jn.3.8. Col.2.14,15. He.2.14.
36 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 said moreover, dThe LORD that delivered me1 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 And Saul armed2 David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
2 Heb. clothed David with his clothes.
39 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.3 And David eput them off him.4
3 'I have not been accustomed to them;' a circumstance very intelligible; for even a new ordinary dress is found at first embarrassing to the wearer—how much more the heavy armour of a soldier of ancient times to one accustomed to the loose eastern garments, and the free movements of a shepherd.—C.
e Ho.1.7. Zec.4.6. 2 Co.10.4,5.
4 An admirable lesson to all who are engaged in defence of the truth never to attempt the use of carnal weapons, such as anger, wrath, strife, hatred, evil speaking, but to hold fast by gentleness, meekness, and charity, the accustomed weapons of the great shepherd, 2 Co.10.4. Col.3.8. Ep.4.31. 2 Ti.2.25.—C.
40 And he took his fstaff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook,5 and put them in a shepherd's bag6 which he had, even in a scrip, and his sling was in his hand;7 and he drew near to the Philistine.
41 And the Philistine came on, and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he gdisdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
g ch.14.11,12; 16.12; ver.33.
43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine hcursed David by his gods.
44 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 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but iI come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46 Thisk day will the LORD deliver8 thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses 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.9
k Mat.17.20. Ro.4.19,20. Re.19.17. De.28.26. Ps.58.11; 115.3. Da.2.47; 6.26. 2 Ki.13.5.
8 Heb. shut up.
9 The attention of different persons is fixed by different objects. A warlike and idolatrous nation, like the Philistines, must be taught the being and perfections of Jehovah in their own favourite school—war. So have nations that delight in war ever been taught—their lesson being derived from the indulgence and punishment of their own unhallowed propensities.—C.
47 And all this assembly1 shall know lthat the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.2
1 Goliath and David evidently met and spoke within hearing of both armies—at least of their chiefs—and the noble and pious sentiment of David is a lesson of truth to all.—C.
l Ps.44.6; 33.16,17. Ho.1.7. 2 Ch.20.15. Zec.4.6. ch.14.6.
A.M. 2944 B.C. 1060.
2 This is the first example of David's exercise of the prophetic office, in which he was afterwards so eminent a preacher, as well as type of Christ.—C.
48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted,3 and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
3 This carries the narrative back to ver. 41, detailing the additional circumstance, that, after the dialogue, David came nearer to his adversary, neither terrified by him nor the presence of the Philistine army.—C.
49 And mDavid put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone 4sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.5
m Ju.3.31; 15.15. Je.9.23. Zec.4.6. Mat.19.26. 1 Co.1.27.
4 Heb. sunk as a stone in the water.
5 The sling was a very powerful weapon. The stone might pierce the helmet, or pass through the hole left for sight, or Goliath might have lifted up the part of his helmet that covered his forehead (as he did when speaking), in contempt of David.—I.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone,6 and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
6 Hence we learn that victory over the enemies of truth depends neither on the strength nor preparation of its advocates and champions, but upon the blessing of God upon the humblest and most unlikely means. Twelve men, comparatively unlearned, refuted all the philosophy of Greece, and overturned, without a sword, the gigantic empire of Rome.—C.
51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and nslew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
52 Ando the men of Israel and of 7Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou pcome 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.8
o ch.14.21,22. 2 Sa.23.10.
7 Judah is distinguished as David's own tribe, who would, no doubt, show special zeal to follow their youthful hero.—C.
p Jos.15.33,36,45-47. ch.v.; 6.17.
8 They chased them about twenty-four miles.
53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
54 And David qtook the head of the Philistine, and brought it to rJerusalem; but he put his armour in shis tent.9
q Ex.16.33. Jos.4.7-9. ch.7.12; 31.9, with 2 Sa.4.7,8; 1.10.
s In God's tabernacle at Nob, ch. 21. 1,9.
9 Having spoiled the tents of the Philistines, ver. 53, it is most probable that one was assigned to David; the armour, at least the sword, was subsequently placed in the tabernacle.—C.
55 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?1 And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
1 Great men quickly forget their servants; and David, by further age, and his shepherd's dress, made a different appearance from what he had done before Saul.
56 And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.
57 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 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, tI am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.
t ch.16.1,18,19. Ru.4.18-22. 1 Ch.2.13-15.
Notes
[Ver. 8. Goliath was not a Philistine by genealogy, though he lived among them and was naturalized. He was descended from those Rephaim who in primeval times occupied the whole country, but were conquered by the Caphtorim or Philistines, De. 2. 21. A family of them remained in Gaza, and became the champions of the nation in the days of Saul and David, 2 Sa. 21. 22. P.]
Ver. 12. [The incidents and structure of this whole narrative require a few words of explanation. Many difficulties have been thrown around it by the conjectures of critics and expositors. These, I think, all disappear before the light of a sound interpretation. The object of the author of this book is to give an outline of national history in connection with biographical sketches of leading men. In carrying out this object he is obliged to bring forward at different times his different heroes—going back in the midst of the general narrative to explain the cause of each one's sudden appearance. Saul and David are now the most prominent men in Israel. The leading incidents of their lives are set forth in a series of graphic pictures, brought out as it were to the foreground of the national history. The first picture from the life of David is the anointing by Samuel, ch. 16. 1-13. The second is his brief residence at Saul's court, ch. 16. 14-23. The third is his appearance in the army, and encounter with Goliath. In all probability some years elapsed between the second and third. To explain the cause of his sudden appearance on the battle-field, and of the incidents which followed, ver. 12-31 are introduced, in accordance with the dramatic style of the book. After this the general history of the battle proceeds—David's victory; the flight of the Philistines; and the presentation of the giant's head to Saul. To have interrupted such a story in order to introduce Saul's question to Abner would have spoiled the dramatic effect. P.]
Ver. 17. [Take now for thy brethren an ephah[≈ 22 litres · 4.8 gallons] of this parched corn. In all countries where standing armies were not organized, the military retainers were bound to provide their own subsistence, and to follow their chiefs or king to the field for a certain number of days, when called upon, but no longer. C.]
Ver. 50. [David and Goliath were not so unequally matched as is generally supposed. David was a shepherd, but not a shepherd of the modern type. From early youth he had kept his sheep amid the mountains of Judah. In glen, on cliff, on hill-side, his physical powers had been fully developed, and with the strength he had acquired all the energy and agility of the mountaineer. Warfare, too, was not new to him. The wilderness was infested with wild beasts. With these David had often to fight single-handed. It was also infested by robber bands; and the shepherds of Bethlehem were thus inured to sudden attack and determined resistance. Every shepherd was a trained warrior. David was fully conscious of his own prowess. With equal modesty and confidence he told Saul of his combats with lion and bear. A man so gifted with natural courage and strength, so inured to danger, so trained to every species of conflict, and animated besides with implicit faith in the God of battles, was no unworthy antagonist even for the giant Goliath. His skill and activity were more than a match for brute strength. The Lord was with him; his hand sustained him; but there was no miracle in the victory. Human skill and courage were by the divine blessing made to triumph. The sling was a favourite weapon with the shepherds of the mountains. David's trust in it, and the unerring accuracy of his aim, though strange to us, was nothing wonderful in those days, or in the region in which he was trained. We read that among the adjoining tribe of Benjamin were 700 men, 'every one of whom could sling stones at an hair and not miss,' Ju. 20. 16. David's sling gave him great advantage over the giant. P.]
Ver. 52. [The men of Israel and of Judah arose. In ver. 48, as well as in this, the mention of arising gives a curious internal evidence of the eastern origin of the Bible. The eastern Asiatics sit much more than the people of western Europe, many work sitting, who, at correspondent trades, stand in Europe; bargains are made sitting; and the walking for pleasure, in which Europeans delight, is almost totally unknown. Here the whole army seems to have continued sitting, to witness the encounter that was to decide for slavery or liberty. C.]
Ver. 55. [When Saul saw David. From ver. 54 to ver. 6 of the next chapter is rejected by Boothroyd and A. Clarke as an interpolation, on the ground of the improbability of the narrative. Such criticism is worse than dangerous. It sets an example that justifies every cavil of infidelity against the sacred history. Besides, there is not a circumstance narrated in the least degree improbable.—Whose son is this youth? Where is the improbability of any man forgetting a youth when near manhood, whom he had known when a boy, and whom, in the intermediate time, he had not seen? C.]
Reflections.—It was a great mercy that God suspended this invasion till Saul had recovered from his distraction, and David was prepared to encounter this giant. And often, though unnoticed, God manifests peculiar mercy in the timing of our troubles. Pride naturally establishes itself upon bulk, bodily strength, and other weak endowments of human nature: and relying upon these, the enemies of God earnestly watch for advantages against his people. But when God leaves them to themselves, not only individuals but armies become mean-spirited and terrified on every approach of danger: their strength is turned into weakness, and their courage into shame. If we would be good soldiers of Jesus Christ, it is necessary that we endure hardness; and it bodes well when God endows us with a deep regard for his honour. Yet how often those whom God calls out to glorious exploits meet with much discouragement from a carnal world: particularly their own relations. But let them in patience possess their souls, and in meekness instruct those that oppose themselves. A soft answer turneth away wrath. And we must not be discouraged in well-doing because our good intentions are misrepresented and abused. What God has done for us ought to be improved, as an encouragement to do more and more for him at his call. They are well armed that go forth with a good conscience in a good cause. The righteous are bold as a lion; but they need never be ashamed of an honest calling, however mean. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. The curse that is causeless falls on the head of him that utters it; and the presumption of the proud destroys him. How vain is the arm of flesh against the power of God! the mightiest enemies are easily defeated when we go forth against them strong in the Lord and in the power of his might; while they who trust in man find their dependence at last but as a broken reed. It is not high birth, but deeds of high desert, that constitute true nobility. But of how little avail is the notice of earthly courts, where one may be so soon forgotten or so quickly hated.
Measures in square brackets are modern equivalents added for this edition. They are not in the King James text or in Brown’s notes. They use common scholarly estimates: a cubit is about 45.7 cm (18 in), a shekel about 11.4 g (0.4 oz), an ephah about 22 litres. Money values give the worth of the silver or gold at spot prices on 28 October 2026, not what the sum would buy in the ancient world.