UTN uW Translation Notes:

1 Samuel 17 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter continues the part of the book that describes how David became king (chapters 16–31). It describes how he fought and killed a Philistine giant named Goliath. This shows that even as a young man, David had strong faith in God and great courage. David was motivated by a desire for the glory of God. He said that when he killed Goliath, “all of the earth will know that there is a God to Israel,” in other words, that the God of Israel is the only true God.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Single combat

In this chapter, Goliath, a great Philistine warrior, challenges any Israelite to fight him in single combat in order to determine the outcome of the war between the two peoples. Single combat between warrior champions like this was a significant practice in ancient warfare. It served both practical and symbolic purposes. Rather than risk heavy casualties in a full battle, armies would sometimes agree to let individual warriors fight as representatives of their armies. The outcome of this combat would often determine the larger conflict, with the losing side agreeing to surrender or accept terms. This practice helped reduce overall casualties while still establishing military dominance. Champions who participated in single combat were typically the most skilled and physically imposing warriors, chosen to represent their army’s strength. The practice also had important cultural and religious significance, as the outcome was often seen as indicating which army’s god was greater and stronger. So David's confrontation with Goliath was not just military combat, it was also a spiritual contest between the God of Israel and the gods of the Philistines, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, won decisively.

Why does Goliath refer to the Israelites as “servants of Saul”?

In 17:8, Goliath challenges the army of Israel to send a champion down into the Valley of Elah to fight with him in single combat. He says, “Am I not the Philistine, and you, servants of Saul? Choose for yourselves a man, and let him come down to me.” It is likely that by calling himself “the Philistine,” he is identifying himself as the designated warrior champion of the Philistines. The implications of what he is saying is that Saul ought to come and fight with him as the Israelite champion. Saul was much taller than other Israelites (although not nearly as tall as Goliath), and the Israelites had wanted someone like him as their king specifically so that he would lead them into battle. So we would expect Goliath to have said something like, “Am I not the Philistine, and is not Saul the Israelite? Choose him as a man for yourselves” (that is, as your champion) “and let him come down to me.” However, by saying something slightly different, Goliath may be implicitly suggesting that Saul would be afraid to fight him, and so he is willing to fight any other Israelite. In ancient single combat, warrior champions would usually only fight opposing warriors of equal rank and status. Some interpreters infer from the context that Goliath was a prince among the Philistines; some suggest that he could have been the king of the city of Gath. In any event, he was a great warrior of high standing. But by addressing the Israelites as “servants of Saul,” he is indicating that if Saul will not come down and fight him (as he tauntingly suggests he will not), he will fight any Israelite, even a mere “servant.” His words might be understood to mean, “Even though I am the Philistine champion, and you are only servants of Saul, nevertheless, choose for yourselves a man, and let him come down to me, and I will fight with him in single combat, no matter what his rank or status.” Goliath would be boasting that he could defeat any soldier in the Israelite army. But since this meaning is already discernible in the narrative, and since this interpretation is probable but not certain, it may be best to represent Goliath’s actual words in your translation and not interpret them by using an expression such as “even though … nevertheless.”

What was the “evil” that Eliab believed was in David’s “heart”

In 17:28, David’s eldest brother Eliab tells him that he knows “the evil” of David’s “heart.” Eliab is at least accusing David of abandoning his family responsibilities in order to have the thrill of watching a battle (“for you have come down in order to see the battle”). However, his reference to the “evil” in David’s “heart” may suggest something further. Some interpreters believe that Eliab thinks David has been going around asking about the reward for killing Goliath in order to get some soldier or another to take up Goliath’s challenge in the hopes of getting the reward. If that happened, then David would be able to “see” a ”battle” between two warrior champions.

Why did David choose smooth stones?

David chose five smooth stones from a nearby brook because that type of stone would fly freely, directly, and forcefully when he slung it. It turned out that he only needed to use one stone to knock Goliath unconscious so that he could run over to him and cut off his head with his own sword.