I Think He’s Stoned Dude!

1 Samuel 17

The battle between David and Goliath another part of the Israelite history that is covered 

ad nauseam, but we still get some of it wrong or we tend to skip over and ignore some of the account.

- the war between Israel and philistine had each army encamped one on a hill with a valley in the middle as the dividing line. Instead of an all out battle, a warrior from one side, usually their best would come out and offer a challenge to the opposing army. A man named Goliath, a man of war was itching for battle.

- Some texts have Goliath at six cubits, well the Septuagint, Dead Sea scroll and Josephus have him at four. This would make Goliath six feet, nine inches or 2.057 metres. Goliath was not only a big guy, but he was a warrior from his youth. If your looking for mental picture think of the Icelandic gentleman Hafthor the actor from Game of Thrones known as the Mountain.

- The other important thing to remember about Goliath is he’s a descendent of the Rephaim or the Nephilim from before the flood. His linage is part of an unclean mixture that was in direct rebellion to GOD. Is it not a wonder that Goliath of Gath would “defy the armies of the living GOD”, in David’s words.

- Take note of Goliath’s challenge and consequences or spoils of victory. “Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” 

- Day and night for forty days Goliath came out and taunted the Israelite army.

- a couple of questions for me at least spring to mind, King Saul who was arguably the biggest/ tallest of all of them, possibly being almost as tall as Goliath. Saul was a seasoned warrior too, and most definitely someone with anger management issues. Next was Abner his uncle and commander of the army, a seasoned, cunning fighter, but the text tells us - 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

- We are told that three of David’s older brothers were part of Saul’s army during this point. David was also in Saul’s employment, he was the young lad that played music whenever the King lost his mind, so to speak. The text even mentions that David went back and forth between working for Saul and tended or overseeing his Father’s sheep in Bethlehem.

- On David’s trip back to Saul and the army his father tasks David with checking on his older brothers giving them some food and also taking a gift of cheese to the brothers commanding officer. Jesse was obviously concerned for his boys.

- David returns to the encampment just in time to hear one of Goliath's challenges. One of the men from the camp tell David what’s been happening and King Saul’s solution to his Gigantic problem. Whoever defeats the philistine will get wealth, his own daughters hand in marriage (he will be related to the King and all that entails) and his father’s house will not be required to pay any taxes.

- David asks the question a second time, as if to say, could you repeat that again.

- David’s brother gets mad at him and questions his motives for coming to camp.

- David keeps talking to anyone willing to listen and eventually word gets back to King Saul about David trying to rally support in the camp and he sent for David. 

-David offers to go fight Goliath, King Saul tries to appeal to David by getting him to see the imbalance in this fight, David is a small youth and Goliath is a seasoned man of war, a professional fighter. David tells Saul that GOD was with him when he killed a bear and also a lion and he will do the same to this Philistine with GOD’s help.

- Notice what Saul does next, it it similar to when Saul received the credit for what Johnathan did at the Philistine garrison. He wanted David to wear his Armour to appear to be Saul. Maybe if David was struck down the Israelite’s would be enraged and fight for revenge for their King and Saul wouldn't have to risk his own life to test his theory.

Also on the incredibly silly notion that David won, he would also get that victory too, but that is just way to far fetched. Really what was Saul thinking?

- In the end the Armour is to big and cumbersome for David so he declines Saul’s offer.

- He arms himself with his staff, sling and picks out five smooth stones. Why five? Why not more than that? Why not one, after all GOD was with him. Why not two or three? Could he hope to get off that many shots if it came to close combat? There is no exact answer to this question other than a man of Goliath’s renown was well know and most people knew that he had brothers who could have been part of the army that day and they may want revenge. Either way David came prepared with all he needed.

- Notice that Goliath comes at David with curses by his gods, but David comes at Goliath in “the name” (Sem) of the LORD of hosts. It’s not a curse, it’s a promise that GOD will defeat his enemies.

- The rest is as they say his-story, the stone hit, sunk, and Goliath was flat on the ground. David who didn’t have a sword used Goliath's and cut his head off with his own weapon.

- As you might expect the camp of Israel exploded with amazement and shouting. The Philistine camp recoiled in amazement fear and they fled before Israel.

- the question of King Saul or Abner not knowing who David’s family was is not surprising, he was employed by Saul’s court as a musician who was a Bethlehemite. They didn’t need or want to know anymore about him at that time, but now his Father’s house would be tax exempt and Saul would have to get use to calling this boy, Son-in-law. Now it became very important to know all about this musician/giant killer.

What happened to the reward of the victor according to Goliath’s terms? If the Israelite's champion won,  “we will be your servants”, they didn’t submit, but fled. This is a snapshot of some people and elohim who will never submit to GOD.

Next – Friendship, Father-in-law foe, and flight