1 Samuel 17:1-19

Goliath's Challenge

1 Now ¹the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between ²Socoh and ³Azekah, in ⁴Ephes-dammim.

2 Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in ⁵the valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines.

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

4 Then a champion * came out from the armies of the Philistines named ⁶Goliath, from ⁷Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze.

6 He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a ⁸bronze javelin slung between his shoulders.

7 ⁹The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; ¹⁰his shield-carrier * also walked before him.

8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, "Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you ¹¹servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.

9 "¹²If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us."

10 Again the Philistine said, "¹³I defy the ranks 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.

12 Now David was ¹⁴the son of the ¹⁵Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and ¹⁶he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men.

13 The three older sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. And ¹⁷the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14 ¹⁸David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed * Saul,

15 ¹⁹but David went * back and forth from Saul ²⁰to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem.

16 The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand.

17 Then Jesse said to David his son, "²¹Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers.

18 "²²Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand, ²³and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them.

19 "For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines."

1 Samuel 17:1-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 17

This chapter relates how the armies of Israel, and of the Philistines, prepared for battle, and where, 1Sa 17:1-3, describes a champion of the Philistines, who defied the armies of Israel, 1Sa 17:4-11, and while he was so doing, it informs us that David came into the camp, and he heard his words, and signified to one and another his inclination to fight with him, 1Sa 17:12-30, which being reported to Saul, David was sent for by him, and much discourse passed between them about it, 1Sa 17:31-37 when we are told the manner in which he engaged with the Philistine, and the victory he obtained over him, 1Sa 17:38-51 upon which the Philistines fled, and Israel pursued them; and on account of this action David was taken notice of by Saul, and brought to court again, as the following chapter shows, 1Sa 17:52-58.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Samuel 13:5
• 2. Joshua 15:35; 2 Chronicles 28:18
• 3. Joshua 10:10
• 4. 1 Chronicles 11:13
• 5. 1 Samuel 21:9
• 6. 2 Samuel 21:19
• 7. Joshua 11:22
• 8. 1 Samuel 17:45
• 9. 2 Samuel 21:19; 1 Chronicles 11:23
• 10. 1 Samuel 17:41
• 11. 1 Samuel 8:17
• 12. 2 Samuel 2:12-16
• 13. 1 Sam 17:26, 36, 45; 2 Samuel 21:21
• 14. Ruth 4:22; 1 Samuel 16:18
• 15. Genesis 35:19
• 16. 1 Samuel 16:10, 11; 1 Chronicles 2:13-15
• 17. 1 Sam 16:6, 8, 9
• 18. 1 Samuel 16:11
• 19. 1 Samuel 16:21-23
• 20. 1 Samuel 16:11, 19
• 21. 1 Samuel 25:18
• 22. 1 Samuel 16:20
• 23. Genesis 37:13, 14

Footnotes

• [a]. I.e. One cubit equals approx 18 in.
• [b]. Lit "and the weight of the armor" was
• [c]. Or "shin guards"
• [d]. Lit "smite"
• [e]. Lit "smite"
• [f]. Lit "this"
• [g]. Lit "the man"
• [h]. Lit "gone; they went"
• [i]. Lit "near"
• [j]. Lit "their pledge"