CH 17: David and Goliath! The Philistines were at it again. Their army was camped and ready for battle near Judah, so Saul went to the other side of the valley with the Israelite army. They were facing each other with a valley in between them. In those days they could choose a "champion" to fight. It was one Philistine soldier who would fight one Israelite soldier, and who ever won, won the battle. Goliath was chosen on the Philistine side. He was huge, over 9 feet tall and nothing but muscle with a bad reputation for being brutal. Goliath would come out and taunt the Israelites to choose a soldier to fight him. He would curse their God and continue this rant for hours each day. Saul and the Israelite army were terrified of him, and this went on for 40 days!
Side Note: The promised land was still occupied with foreigners that the Israelites were having issues getting out- the Philistines were the worst.
Enter David... a teenage shepherd herder, son of Jesse. David was the youngest of 8 sons (the prophet Samuel had already anointed him as the next king in ch 16). Jesse told David to take some provisions to his other sons who were in the Israelite army, and bring back word on how they were doing, and news of the battle. But when David got there and heard Goliath cursing God and ranting slurs to the Israelites, he got angry! He started talking with the men and questioning why they were allowing this uncircumcised Philistine to curse their God! Saul, by this time, had offered an award for anyone who would volunteer to defeat Goliath.
David told Saul (the king at that time, and he did not know David had been anointed by Samuel yet) that he would take care of that pagan Philistine! Of course Saul told him it was ridiculous! David a boy, Goliath a man of war. David told him although he was a shepherd, he had killed lions and bears rescuing sheep from their mouths, and killed these bears and lions with nothing but his staff and hands. So, finally Saul relented and told him to go - fight Goliath. (But even David's brothers were angry with David for even talking to the men about fighting Goliath).
David refused the armor as it was way too big and constricting for him. All he took with him, was his sling shot, and 5 rocks. (the theory here is that he knew Goliath had brothers there and was prepared to kill them as well)
As you can imagine, when Goliath saw little David approaching him, he roared with contempt! But David replied to him: "...I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven's Armies..." vs45b Because Goliath was approaching him with his sword, javelin, shield, and armor. David wanted to make sure they all recognized he had nothing but his God for protection! David came at a run up to Goliath at this point and drew out 1 rock from his shepherd's pouch, aimed and fired it right into Goliath's forehead. It sunk in deep and Goliath fell face down. David ran up to him, drew out Goliath's own sword, and cut off his head. The Israelite army then shouted with joy and rushed the Philistine army, who turned and ran from them, all the way back to Gath.
Afterwards, Saul got David to come to his tent. David still holding Goliath's head, came and answered Saul's questions on whose son he was, and he responded: "His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem." vs58b
Side Note: The promised land was still occupied with foreigners that the Israelites were having issues getting out- the Philistines were the worst.
Enter David... a teenage shepherd herder, son of Jesse. David was the youngest of 8 sons (the prophet Samuel had already anointed him as the next king in ch 16). Jesse told David to take some provisions to his other sons who were in the Israelite army, and bring back word on how they were doing, and news of the battle. But when David got there and heard Goliath cursing God and ranting slurs to the Israelites, he got angry! He started talking with the men and questioning why they were allowing this uncircumcised Philistine to curse their God! Saul, by this time, had offered an award for anyone who would volunteer to defeat Goliath.
David told Saul (the king at that time, and he did not know David had been anointed by Samuel yet) that he would take care of that pagan Philistine! Of course Saul told him it was ridiculous! David a boy, Goliath a man of war. David told him although he was a shepherd, he had killed lions and bears rescuing sheep from their mouths, and killed these bears and lions with nothing but his staff and hands. So, finally Saul relented and told him to go - fight Goliath. (But even David's brothers were angry with David for even talking to the men about fighting Goliath).
David refused the armor as it was way too big and constricting for him. All he took with him, was his sling shot, and 5 rocks. (the theory here is that he knew Goliath had brothers there and was prepared to kill them as well)
As you can imagine, when Goliath saw little David approaching him, he roared with contempt! But David replied to him: "...I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven's Armies..." vs45b Because Goliath was approaching him with his sword, javelin, shield, and armor. David wanted to make sure they all recognized he had nothing but his God for protection! David came at a run up to Goliath at this point and drew out 1 rock from his shepherd's pouch, aimed and fired it right into Goliath's forehead. It sunk in deep and Goliath fell face down. David ran up to him, drew out Goliath's own sword, and cut off his head. The Israelite army then shouted with joy and rushed the Philistine army, who turned and ran from them, all the way back to Gath.
Afterwards, Saul got David to come to his tent. David still holding Goliath's head, came and answered Saul's questions on whose son he was, and he responded: "His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem." vs58b