1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 17:1 David has been chosen by the Lord,
anointed as king privately, and has been serving in Saul’s court.
Now, he defeats Goliath and, as a result, becomes publicly known.
David’s victory leads to Saul’s jealousy, which drives the plot of
the rest of the book. David shows h... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 17:4 A CHAMPION in ancient Near Eastern
literature is a man who steps out to fight between two battle lines.
Here Goliath offers to fight, on behalf of his side, against any
champion that Israel will put forward. A champion’s personal victory
would amount to victory for his... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 17:11 It was Saul’s job to accept the
challenge on behalf of Israel. Instead he was GREATLY AFRAID (see 1
Samuel 15:24), along with everyone else.
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1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 17:12 EPHRATHITE refers to a man from
Judean Ephrathah, around BETHLEHEM (see Ruth 1:2; Ruth 4:11; Micah
5:2).
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1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 17:18 THEIR THOUSAND. The Hebrew term
usually means “thousand,” but in the present context it probably
refers to a military unit of undetermined size.
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1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 17:25 HAVE YOU SEEN? “You” is plural;
the question is not directed toward David. ARMIES OF THE LIVING GOD.
To David, this battle is fundamentally spiritual (see vv. 1 Samuel
17:45; see Ephesians 6:12). HIS FATHER’S HOUSE refers to a
person’s extended family, smaller than a... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 17:34 A LION, OR A BEAR. Both lions and
bears were common in the land during this time.
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1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 17:43 STICKS. Goliath sees David’s staff
(v. 1 Samuel 17:40) but not the true weapon, the sling. Goliath’s
GODS are probably Dagon (1 Samuel 5:2) and Ashtaroth (1 Samuel 31:10).
⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 17:44, 1 SAMUEL 17:46 In Israel, being
unburied and exposed to BIRDS and BEASTS was considered worse than
death itself (see 1 Samuel 31:8; 2 Samuel 21:1; Psalms 79:2).
⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 17:52 MEN OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. There were
divisions between Judah and the rest of Israel from the earliest time
of the Davidic monarchy (see 1 Samuel 11:8; 1 Samuel 15:4; 2 Samuel
19:41).
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1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 17:54 JERUSALEM refers to a suburb in the
area around Jerusalem, not the Jebusite walled city that David
captured later (see 2 Samuel 5:6).
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1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 17:55 Immediately after his defeat of
Goliath, everyone loves David. Saul takes him into his service. All of
Saul’s officials love David, even though they are potentially his
rivals. Even members of Saul’s own family welcome David into the
royal court. Jonathan becomes an e... [ Continue Reading ]