1 Samuel 17-19 David and Goliath(s)

Thoughts

Samuel 17

Israel and Philistines on two separate hills with Valley of Elah beneath (see map below)

Goliath was 8.5 feet to a little over 9 feet. He could have been Anakim as Joshua 11:22 said they were in Gath (where Goliath was from)

Saul was old and afraid of Goliath’s taunts. He taunted them for 40 days.

David’s father sends him with food to bring to his brothers. When he arrives, he questions who Goliath is, which angers his brother Eliab. Eliab accuses David of ‘wanting to see a battle’

• In 2025 language: Eliab:“Why are you even here? And who’s watching those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of out in the hills? I know you just came down here to watch the fight.” David: “What did I do this time?! I was only talking!”

David reminded Saul he was able to take down bears and lions to protect his sheep.

Saul gives David his armor which is too heavy, so David declines. He chooses instead his staff, sling, and five smooth stones.

David runs toward Goliath and strikes him with a stone to the forehead. Goliath falls and David kills him with Goliath’s own sword.

David eventually takes his head to Jerusalem…but Jerusalem doesn’t belong to Israel yet. H.L. Ellison suggests “Presumably David had the head pickled and hung it in his banqueting hall after he had captured Jerusalem.” oh my

Samuel 18

After David finishes speaking with Saul, Jonathan’s soul is “knit” to David’s soul.

This covenant is unusual: Jonathan, the crown prince, willingly recognizes David as God’s chosen. Jonathan strips off his robe and gives it, along with his armor, sword, bow, and belt to David.

Saul sets David over the men of war and David succeeds in every mission.

Women sang “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

“The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house” – some translations use ‘prophesy’ which isn’t a good translation. The Hebrew for harmful spirit is ruach Elohim ra‘ah ר֤וּחַ אֱלֹהִים֙ רָעָ֔ה

While David plays the harp for him, Saul hurls his spear at David twice, trying to pin him to the wall. David escapes both times.

He sends David away, making him commander over a thousand…perhaps hoping battle will kill him. Saul promises his elder daughter, Merab, to David if he will fight valiantly.
But when the time comes, Saul gives Merab to another man (Adriel the Meholathite).

Saul’s younger daughter, Michal, loves David. Saul is pleased and he thinks she will be “a snare” to him. He offers David marriage again, demanding 100 Philistine foreskins 

David not only accepts, he brings back 200 foreskins

Samuel 19

Saul openly tells Jonathan and his servants to kill David, but Jonathan loves David and warns him of Saul’s plan.

Jonathan pleads with Saul and Saul listens and swears: “As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death.”

Again an evil spirit falls on Saul and he tries to spear David.

Saul sends messengers to watch David’s house and kill him in the morning. Michal warns him and lowers him out the window so he escapes.

Michal places an idol in David’s bed, covers it, and says he is sick.

David flees to Samuel at Ramah, telling him everything.

Saul sends messengers to capture David, but when they arrive and see the company of prophets prophesying with Samuel, the Spirit of God comes upon them, and they too prophesy.

This happens three times: every group Saul sends ends up prophesying instead of arresting David.

Finally, Saul himself goes to Ramah. The Spirit of God comes upon him too, and he prophesies all the way to Naioth. He strips off his clothes, falls down, and lies naked all that day and night.

Questions

Why did they offer Saul’s armor to David when Saul was ‘the tallest man’ in Israel- wouldn’t they have chosen someone smaller?

“As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”- What does that look like?

Why would they dare say “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

“The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul” again how does a harmful spirit come FROM God?

Did Saul count the foreskins

Why would Saul tell Jonathan he wanted to kill David when he knew they were best friends?

What does prophesying mean here?

Application

When David rose to fame, Saul and Jonathan had very different reactions. Saul let jealousy consume him ,even though he was still king, he couldn’t stand that someone else was praised more. His envy turned into rage, fear, and eventually hatred. Jonathan, on the other hand, chose humility. He didn’t cling to his title as prince or fight for the throne. Instead, he celebrated David’s victories, even when it meant stepping aside. When others get recognition, do we secretly resent it? Or do we thank God for blessing them and celebrate with them? True humility is being able to rejoice in someone else’s success without feeling threatened.Saul’s envy consumed him, even when he was still king. How do we celebrate other;s successes?

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