1 Samuel 17:32-58
17:32 a I’ll go fight him! David’s courage stands in contrast to Saul’s fear (17:11 b).17:40 c A stream flowed through the valley of Elah (17:2 d).
• 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 e).
17:42 f ruddy-faced: The same Hebrew word is translated “dark” (16:12 g) and “very red” (Gen 25:25 h). Here, it emphasizes David’s youthfulness and inexperience.
• boy: Saul had expressed similar disbelief (1 Sam 17:33 i). As a champion, Goliath expected to be met by an Israelite warrior of similar rank.
17:43 j a dog: A metaphor for a compliant, bowing servant (cp. 2 Sam 9:8 k).
• 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 l, 5 m).
17:44 n A corpse left to scavengers such as birds and wild animals was grievously cursed (cp. Deut 21:23 o; 28:26 p).
Summary for 1Sam 17:45-47: 17:45-47 q 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 r 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 s).
17:52 t 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 u).
17:53 v Unless expressly prohibited (e.g., 15:3 w; Josh 6:18 x), victory in battle allowed for the taking of war spoils (Deut 2:35 y; Josh 8:2 z).
17:54 aa Jerusalem became an Israelite city later, when David captured it from the Jebusites (2 Sam 5:6-7 ab). 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 ac In light of 16:14-23 ad, it is surprising that neither Saul nor Abner knew who David was. It is possible that the events of ch 17 ae happened either before or long after David’s tenure of intermittent service mentioned in ch 16 af (Saul probably served as king for forty-two years, 13:1 ag).
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