1Sa 17 | TNotes | STEP | 17:1 The Philistines presented an ongoing threat throughout Saul’s reign (see 14:47-52 ). • Socoh in Judah was fourteen miles west of Bethlehem toward Philistine territory. • Azekah was a few miles northwest of Socoh (the precise location of Ephes-dammim is unknown). The Philistines were encroaching on Israelite territory.

17:1 ^a The Philistines presented an ongoing threat throughout Saul’s reign (see 14:47-52 ^b).

• Socoh in Judah was fourteen miles west of Bethlehem toward Philistine territory.

• Azekah was a few miles northwest of Socoh (the precise location of Ephes-dammim is unknown). The Philistines were encroaching on Israelite territory.
17:2 ^c The valley of Elah was a fertile area that ran east–west, fifteen miles southwest of Bethlehem.
17:4 ^d champion: In ancient times, rival forces would sometimes agree to let selected individuals from each side decide a conflict. This reduced casualties and other costs. The same kind of combat is reflected in 2 Sam 2:12-17 ^e.

• Gath was one of five Philistine cities with a reputation for having giants as citizens (2 Sam 21:15-22 ^f).
Summary for 1Sam 17:5-7: 17:5-7 ^g Although Goliath was a fully armored warrior of terrifying size, he did not have God—a far mightier warrior—on his side (17:45-47 ^h).
17:12 ⁱ Ephrathite: Ephrath is a name for Bethlehem (Gen 35:19 ^j; 1 Chr 4:4 ^k).
17:15 ^l went back and forth: David apparently served as a musician and armor bearer in Saul’s court (see 16:19-23 ^m) while maintaining his duties at home. The intermittent nature of David’s service might explain why Saul was unfamiliar with David during the encounter with Goliath (see 17:55-58 ⁿ).
17:26 ^o What will a man get: Cp. 18:17-27 ^p. David’s interest in a reward was overshadowed by his determination to silence Goliath’s defiance of God (17:45-47 ^q).

• pagan: Literally uncircumcised. See study note on 14:6.
17:28 ^r Eliab ... was angry, perhaps resentful that David, rather than he, was anointed to be king (16:6-13 ^s).
17:32 ^t I’ll go fight him! David’s courage stands in contrast to Saul’s fear (17:11 ^u).
17:40 ^v A stream flowed through the valley of Elah (17:2 ^w).

• A sling was a leather pouch attached to two leather thongs. When the sling containing a stone was whirled rapidly, one of the thongs could be released, sending the stone toward its target. David probably became deadly accurate with a sling as a shepherd, but the sling was used by warriors as well (Judg 20:16 ^x).
17:42 ^y ruddy-faced: The same Hebrew word is translated “dark” (16:12 ^z) and “very red” (Gen 25:25 ^aa). Here, it emphasizes David’s youthfulness and inexperience.

• boy: Saul had expressed similar disbelief (1 Sam 17:33 ^ab). As a champion, Goliath expected to be met by an Israelite warrior of similar rank.
17:43 ^ac a dog: A metaphor for a compliant, bowing servant (cp. 2 Sam 9:8 ^ad).

• a stick: David had concealed his sling, and Goliath could see only his staff.

• by the names of his gods: Since Goliath appealed to his gods, David’s victory over Goliath would also symbolize God’s victory over Dagon, the chief god of the Philistines (1 Sam 5:2 ^ae, 5 ^af).
17:44 ^ag A corpse left to scavengers such as birds and wild animals was grievously cursed (cp. Deut 21:23 ^ah; 28:26 ^ai).
Summary for 1Sam 17:45-47: 17:45-47 ^aj the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: See study note on 1:3. Despite the Philistines’ apparent military advantage, David knew that Israel had the supreme advantage in the one true God.
17:49 ^ak Goliath’s forehead remained exposed beneath his enormous helmet.

• stumbled and fell face down: The stone only incapacitated Goliath; David killed him by decapitating him (17:51 ^al).
17:52 ^am The Israelites chased the Philistines to Gath, some six miles to the west.

• Ekron was a Philistine city five miles north of Gath.

• Shaaraim was a city of Judah near Azekah (17:1 ^an).
17:53 ^ao Unless expressly prohibited (e.g., 15:3 ^ap; Josh 6:18 ^aq), victory in battle allowed for the taking of war spoils (Deut 2:35 ^ar; Josh 8:2 ^as).
17:54 ^at Jerusalem became an Israelite city later, when David captured it from the Jebusites (2 Sam 5:6-7 ^au). Jerusalem was probably the final destination of Goliath’s head, after David had become king. But David might have taken it to Jerusalem earlier to intimidate the non-Israelite occupants.
Summary for 1Sam 17:55-58: 17:55-58 ^av In light of 16:14-23 ^aw, it is surprising that neither Saul nor Abner knew who David was. It is possible that the events of ch 17 ^ax happened either before or long after David’s tenure of intermittent service mentioned in ch 16 ^ay (Saul probably served as king for forty-two years, 13:1 ^az).