1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

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66 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 EditionThe writer mentioned Saul's fits of terror, in addition to his deteriorating mental state, toexplain why Saul called for a musician and how David gained access to the royal court. Itis tempting to suggest that Saul's mental problems may have resulted from his spiritualrebellion, which is common, but the text does not state that connection outright.Apparently some people already regarded David as a mighty man of valor and a warrior(v. 18) because he had single-handedly defeated lions and bears (17:34-35). Mostimportant, the Lord was with David. 201 The fact that Jesse could provide a donkeysuggests that he was fairly prosperous since this is how the more wealthy classes traveledin Israel (v. 20). Yet David's family was not outstanding in Israel (cf. 18:18).Initially Saul loved David greatly, as Jonathan did (cf. 18:1, 3; 20:17). However, Saul'sattitude would change. The king appointed an armor-bearer to that position because of hiscourage, his ability to handle weapons, and his ability to get along with the king. Davidwas probably a teenager at this time since he was 30 when he began to reign (2 Sam. 5:4).He was not Saul's bodyguard. He just helped the king handle his armor. Whatever kind ofspirit afflicted Saul, David's sweet music reduced its ill effects. Saul was becomingdependent on the one who would replace him.God was elevating David from the ranks of a shepherd of sheep (v. 11) to become theshepherd of His people, and David's musical ability (v. 18) enabled him to lead theIsraelites in the worship of Yahweh later."This story of how David first met Saul and how he came to the royalcourt makes two points. The first is that David did not engineer it. Davidwas no ruthlessly ambitions man, determined to rise up the social ladder—any more than Saul himself had been (cp. chapter 9). David's hands wereclean. The second point is that God overruled to bring David to court,through the sheer chance (as it seemed) that one of Saul's courtiers knewsomething about him and brought him to Saul's attention [cf. Joseph]. So itwas God, not David, who was responsible for the young man's first stepstowards the throne." 2022. The reason for God's selection of David ch. 17The exciting story of David and Goliath illustrates what it was that God saw in David'sheart that led Him to choose David for the position of king. It also shows how and whyothers in Israel began to notice David. David fought the Lord's battles, as Samuel did (ch.7). He also did so as Saul, God's previously anointed king, had done (chs. 10—11, 14—15).Saul's defeat of the Ammonites (11:1-11) followed Saul's anointing (10:1). SimilarlyDavid's defeat of the Philistines (ch. 17) follows the record of his anointing (16:13). Bothvictories demonstrate God's blessing on His newly anointed leaders. 203201 Walters, pp. 570-71, and Gordon, p. 160, identified the Lord being with David as another leitmotif forDavid (cf. 17:37; 18:12, 14, 28; 2 Sam. 5:10).202 David Payne, p. 85.203 For a brief discussion of the problem of the shorter Septuagint version of chapters 17 and 18, see TheNET Bible note on 1 Sam. 17:1.
2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 67The Philistine challenge 17:1-11The Elah (Oak) Valley is an S-shapedvalley just south of the Sorek Valley. Itruns east and west parallel to it. Socohstood to the east and Azekah to the west.Some authorities believe Ephes-dammimstood west of Socoh and south of Azekah,but its location is debated. Gath was 7miles to the west and was the closestPhilistine town."That Saul now came to meet thePhilistines, even at the west end ofthe Elah Valley—and so before theenemy could penetrate Israelitecountry very far—shows that he had not given up in his rule just becausehe had been rejected. As far as he was concerned, apparently, he was stillking and he was going to carry on as though nothing had changed." 204Goliath was apparently 9 feet 9 inches tall. 205 He was probably a descendant of theAnakim who had moved to Philistia after Joshua drove them out of Hebron (Josh. 11:21-22). Five thousand shekels weight equal 125 pounds (v. 5). Goliath's spearhead weighed15 pounds (v. 7), about the weight of a standard shot-put. This is an unusually longdescription of an individual for the Old Testament. The writer evidently wanted toimpress Goliath's awesome power and apparent invulnerability on the readers so wewould appreciate David's great courage and faith.The Philistines proposed a battle in which two representative champions from Israel andPhilistia would duel it out, a not uncommon method of limiting war in the ancient world(cf. 2 Sam. 2). 206 However the Israelites had no one who could compete with Goliathphysically. That was the only dimension to the conflict that Saul and his generals saw.Since Saul was the tallest Israelite and the king, he was the natural choice for anopponent. However, as earlier (14:1-2), Saul was staying in the background when heshould have been leading the people.The reason for David's presence at the battle 17:12-25Sorek ValleyElah ValleyAzekah BethlehemGath * * *Socoh **HebronPLACES MENTIONEDIN 1 SAMUEL 17At this time in his life David was assisting Saul as his armor-bearer when he was nottending his father's sheep (v. 15). Moses too had been tending sheep before God called204 Wood, Israel's United . . ., p. 151.205 Another view is that he was 6 feet 9 inches tall. See the note on verse 4 in the NET Bible, and J. DanielHays, "Reconsidering the Height of Goliath," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 48:4(December 2005):701-14.206 Harry A. Hoffner Jr., "A Hittite Analogue to the David and Goliath Contest of Champions?" CatholicBiblical Quarterly 30 (1968):220. See also George I. Mavrodes, "David, Goliath, and Limited War,"Reformed Journal 33:8 (1983):6-8.
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