1 Samuel 17
17
David Kills Goliath
1#tc The content of 1 Sam 17ā18, which includes the David and Goliath story, differs considerably in the LXX as compared to the MT, suggesting that this story circulated in ancient times in more than one form. The LXX for chs. 17ā18 is much shorter than the MT, lacking almost half of the material (39 of a total of 88 verses). Many scholars (e.g., McCarter, Klein) think that the shorter text of the LXX is preferable to the MT, which in their view has been expanded by incorporation of later material. Other scholars (e.g., Wellhausen, Driver) conclude that the shorter Greek text (or the Hebrew text that underlies it) reflects an attempt to harmonize certain alleged inconsistencies that appear in the longer version of the story. Given the translation characteristics of the LXX elsewhere in this section, it does not seem likely that these differences are due to deliberate omission of these verses on the part of the translator. It seems more likely that the Greek translator has faithfully rendered here a Hebrew text that itself was much shorter than the MT in these chapters. Whether or not the shorter text represented by the LXX is to be preferred over the MT in 1 Sam 17ā18 is a matter over which textual scholars are divided. For a helpful discussion of the major textual issues in this unit see D. BarthĆ©lemy, D. W. Gooding, J. Lust, and E. Tov, The Story of David and Goliath (OBO). Overall it seems preferable to stay with the MT, at least for the most part. However, the major textual differences between the LXX and the MT will be mentioned in the notes that accompany the translation so that the reader may be alert to the major problem passages. The Philistines gathered their troops#tn Heb ācamps.ā for battle. They assembled at Socoh in Judah. They camped in Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the Israelite army#tn Heb āthe men of Israelā (so KJV, NASB); NAB, NIV, NRSV āthe Israelites.ā assembled and camped in the valley of Elah, where they arranged their battle lines to fight against#tn Heb āto meet.ā the Philistines. 3 The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites#tn Heb āIsrael.ā on another hill, with the valley between them.
4 Then a champion#tn Heb āthe man of the space between the two [armies].ā See v. 23. came out from the camp of the Philistines. His name was Goliath; he was from Gath. He was close to seven feet tall.#tc Heb āhis height was six cubits and a spanā (cf. KJV, NASB, NRSV). A cubit was approximately eighteen inches, a span nine inches. So, according to the Hebrew tradition, Goliath was about nine feet, nine inches tall (cf. NIV, CEV, NLT āover nine feetā; NCV ānine feet, four inchesā; TEV ānearly 3 metresā). However, some Greek witnesses, Josephus, and a manuscript of 1 Samuel from Qumran read āfour cubits and a spanā here, that is, about six feet, nine inches (cf. NAB āsix and a half feetā). This seems more reasonable; it is likely that Goliathās height was exaggerated as the story was retold. See P. K. McCarter, I Samuel (AB), 286, 291. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and was wearing scale body armor. The weight of his bronze body armor was five thousand shekels.#sn Although the exact weight of Goliathās defensive body armor is difficult to estimate in terms of modern equivalency, it was obviously quite heavy. Driver, following Kennedy, suggests a modern equivalent of about 220 pounds (100 kg); see S. R. Driver, Notes on the Hebrew Text and the Topography of the Books of Samuel, 139. Klein, taking the shekel to be equal to .403 ounces, arrives at a somewhat smaller weight of about 126 pounds (57 kg); see R. W. Klein, 1 Samuel (WBC), 175. But by any estimate it is clear that Goliath presented himself as a formidable foe indeed. 6 He had bronze shin guards#sn Or āgreaves.ā These were coverings (probably lined for comfort) that extended from about the knee to the ankle, affording protection for the shins of a warrior. on his legs, and a bronze javelin was slung over his shoulders. 7 The shaft#tn The translation follows the Qere and many medieval Hebrew mss in reading āwood,ā rather than the āarrowā (the reading of the Kethib). of his spear was like a weaverās beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed six hundred shekels.#sn That is, about fifteen or sixteen pounds. His shield bearer was walking before him.
8 Goliath#tn Heb āheā; the referent (Goliath) has been specified in the translation for clarity. stood and called to Israelās troops,#tn The Hebrew text adds āand said to them.ā āWhy do you come out to prepare for battle? Am I not the Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose#tc The translation follows the ancient versions in reading āchoose,ā (from the root ×××Ø, bkhr), rather than the MT. The verb in MT (××Ø×, brh) elsewhere means āto eat foodā; the sense of āto choose,ā required here by the context, is not attested for this root. The MT apparently reflects an early scribal error. for yourselves a man so he may come down#tn Following the imperative, the prefixed verbal form (either an imperfect or jussive) with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose/result here. to me! 9 If he is able to fight with me and strike me down, we will become your servants. But if I prevail against him and strike him down, you will become our servants and will serve us.ā 10 Then the Philistine said, āI defy Israelās troops this day! Give me a man so we can fight#tn Following the imperative, the cohortative verbal form indicates purpose/result here. each other!ā 11 When Saul and all the Israelites#tn Heb āall Israel.ā heard these words of the Philistine, they were upset and very afraid.
12#tc Some mss of the LXX lack vv. 12-31. Now David was the son of this Ephrathite named Jesse from Bethlehem#map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4. in Judah. He had eight sons, and in Saulās days he was old and well advanced in years.#tc The translation follows the Lucianic recension of the LXX and the Syriac Peshitta in reading āin years,ā rather than MT āamong men.ā 13 Jesseās three oldest sons had followed Saul to war. The names of the#tn Heb āhis.ā three sons who went to war were Eliab, his firstborn, Abinadab, the second oldest, and Shammah, the third oldest. 14 Now David was the youngest. While the three oldest sons followed Saul, 15 David was going back and forth#tn Heb āwas going and returning.ā from Saul in order to care for his fatherās sheep in Bethlehem.
16 Meanwhile for forty days the Philistine approached every morning and evening and took his position. 17 Jesse said to his son David, āTake your brothers this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread; go quickly#tn Heb ārun.ā to the camp to your brothers. 18 Also take these ten portions of cheese to their commanding officer.#tn Heb āofficer of the thousand.ā Find out how your brothers are doing#tn Heb āand your brothers, observe with respect to welfare.ā and bring back their pledge that they received the goods.#tn Heb āand their pledge take.ā This probably refers to some type of confirmation that the goods arrived safely. See R. W. Klein, 1 Samuel (WBC), 177. Cf. NIV ābring back some assuranceā; NCV āsome proof to show me they are all rightā; NLT ābring me back a letter from them.ā 19 They are with Saul and the whole Israelite army#tn Heb āall the men of Israel.ā in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.ā
20 So David got up early in the morning and entrusted the flock to someone else who would watch over it.#tn Heb āto a guardā; KJV, NASB, NRSV āwith a keeperā; NIV āwith a shepherd.ā Since in contemporary English āguardā sounds like someone at a military installation or a prison, the present translation uses āto someone else who would watch over it.ā After loading up, he went just as Jesse had instructed him. He arrived at the camp#tn Or āentrenchment.ā as the army was going out to the battle lines shouting its battle cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines drew up their battle lines opposite one another. 22 After David had entrusted his cargo to the care of the supply officer,#tn Heb āthe guard of the equipment.ā he ran to the battlefront. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing. 23 As he was speaking with them, the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, was coming up from the battle lines of the Philistines. He spoke the way he usually did,#tn Heb āaccording to these words.ā and David heard it. 24 When all the men of Israel saw this man, they retreated#tn Or āfled.ā from his presence and were very afraid.
25 The men of Israel said, āHave you seen this man who is coming up? He does so#tn Heb āhe is coming up.ā to defy Israel. But the king will make the man who can strike him down very wealthy! He will give him his daughter in marriage, and he will make his fatherās house exempt from tax obligations in Israel.ā
26 David asked the men who were standing near him, āWhat will be done for the man who strikes down this Philistine and frees Israel from this humiliation?#tn Heb āand turns aside humiliation from upon Israel.ā For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he defies the armies of the living God?ā 27 The soldiers#tn Heb āpeople.ā told him what had been promised, saying,#tn Heb āaccording to this word, saying.ā āThis is what will be done for the man who can strike him down.ā
28 When Davidās#tn Heb āhisā; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity. oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, he became angry#tn Heb āthe anger of Eliab became hot.ā with David and said, āWhy have you come down here? To whom did you entrust those few sheep in the desert? I am familiar with your pride and deceit!#tn Heb āthe wickedness of your heart.ā You have come down here to watch the battle!ā
29 David replied, āWhat have I done now? Canāt I say anything?ā#tn Heb āIs it not [just] a word?ā 30 Then he turned from those who were nearby to someone else and asked the same question,#tn Heb āand spoke according to this word.ā but they#tn Heb āthe people.ā gave him the same answer as before. 31 When Davidās words were overheard and reported to Saul, he called for him.#tn Heb āhe took him.ā
32 David said to Saul, āDonāt let anyone be discouraged.#tn Heb āLet not the heart of a man fall upon him.ā The LXX reads āmy lord,ā instead of āa man.ā Your servant will go and fight this Philistine!ā 33 But Saul replied to David, āYou arenāt able to go against this Philistine and fight him! Youāre just a boy! He has been a warrior from his youth!ā
34 David replied to Saul, āYour servant has been a shepherd for his fatherās flock. Whenever a lion or bear would come and carry off a sheep from the flock, 35 I would go out after it, strike it down, and rescue the sheep from its mouth. If it rose up against me, I would grab it by its jaw, strike it, and kill it. 36 Your servant has struck down both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be just like one of them.#tc The LXX includes here the following words not found in the MT: āShould I not go and smite him, and remove today reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised one?ā For he has defied the armies of the living God!ā 37 David went on to say, āThe Lord who delivered me from the lion and the bear will also deliver me from the hand of this Philistine!ā Then Saul said to David, āGo! The Lord will be with you.ā#tn Or āGo, and may the Lord be with youā (so NASB, NCV, NRSV).
38 Then Saul clothed David with his own fighting attire and put a bronze helmet on his head. He also put body armor on him. 39 David strapped on his sword over his fighting attire and tried to walk around, but he was not used to them.#tn Heb āhe had not tested.ā David said to Saul, āI canāt walk in these things, for Iām not used to them.ā So David removed them. 40 He took his staff in his hand, picked out five smooth stones from the stream, placed them in the pouch#tn This Hebrew word occurs only here and its exact meaning is not entirely clear. It refers to a receptacle of some sort and apparently was a common part of a shepherdās equipment. Here it serves as a depository for the stones that David will use in his sling. of his shepherdās bag, took his sling in hand, and approached the Philistine.
41#tc Most LXX mss lack v. 41. The Philistine kept coming closer to David, with his shield bearer walking in front of him. 42 When the Philistine looked carefully at David, he despised him, for he was only a ruddy and handsome boy. 43 The Philistine said to David, āAm I a dog, that you are coming after me with sticks?ā#sn Sticks is a pejorative reference to Davidās staff (v. 40); the same Hebrew word (×ַקֵּ×, maqqel) is used for both. Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, āCome here to me, so I can give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the field!ā#tc Many medieval Hebrew mss have āthe earthā here, instead of the MTās āthe field.ā
45 But David replied to the Philistine, āYou are coming against me with sword and spear and javelin. But I am coming against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israelās armies, whom you have defied! 46 This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand! I will strike you down and cut off your head. This day I will give the corpses of the Philistine army to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the land. Then all the land will realize that Israel has a God 47 and all this assembly will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves! For the battle is the Lordās, and he will deliver you into our hand.ā
48 The Philistine drew steadily closer to David to attack him, while David quickly ran toward the battle line to attack the Philistine.#tc Most LXX mss lack the second half of v. 48. 49 David reached his hand into the bag and took out a stone. He slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank deeply into his forehead, and he fell down with his face to the ground.
50#tc Most LXX mss lack v. 50. David prevailed over the Philistine with just the sling and the stone. He struck down the Philistine and killed him. David did not even have a sword in his hand.#tn Verse 50 is a summary statement; v. 51 gives a more detailed account of how David killed the Philistine. 51 David ran and stood over the Philistine. He grabbed Goliathās#tn Heb āhisā; the referent (Goliath) has been specified in the translation for clarity. sword, drew it from its sheath,#tc Most LXX mss lack the words ādrew it from its sheath.ā killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they ran away.
52 Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward, shouting a battle cry.#tn Heb āarose and cried out.ā They chased the Philistines to the valley#tc Most of the LXX ms tradition has here āGath.ā and to the very gates of Ekron. The Philistine corpses lay fallen along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites returned from their hot pursuit of the Philistines, they looted their camp. 54 David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem,#map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. and he put Goliathās#tn Heb āhisā; the referent (Goliath) has been specified in the translation for clarity. weapons in his tent.
55#tc Most LXX mss lack 17:55ā18:5. Now as Saul watched David going out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the general in command of the army, āWhose son is this young man, Abner?ā Abner replied, āAs surely as you live, O king, I donāt know.ā 56 The king said, āFind out whose son this boy is!ā
57 So when David returned from striking down the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul. He still had the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 Saul said to him, āWhose son are you, young man?ā David replied, āI am the son of your servant Jesse in Bethlehem.ā#map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.
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