1 Samuel 17:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

NIV: On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

NASB: When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and very fearful.

CSB: When Saul and all Israel heard these words from the Philistine, they lost their courage and were terrified.

NLT: When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.

KJV: When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

NKJV: When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

The Philistines and Israelites are camped on two opposite mountains overlooking the Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:1–3). A Philistine champion, Goliath of Gath, has come to challenge the Israelites to a one-man-to-one-man fight to determine the battle. If Goliath prevails, the Israelites will serve the Philistines. If whichever Israelite they choose to send prevails, the Philistines will serve the Israelites (1 Samuel 17:8–10).

This would not be a fair fight. Goliath has been described as nearly ten feet—almost three meters—tall, clad in body army from head to foot, equipped with javelin and spear, and accompanied by a shield-bearer (1 Samuel 17:4–7). He is physically imposing and has technologically advanced gear. It seems unsurprising, then, that Saul and the fighting men of Israel are dismayed and terrified.

Often, the king would be considered the champion of a nation. The elders of Israel had wanted a king to go out before them and fight their battles (1 Samuel 8:19–20). Saul and his armies had experienced much victory over enemies before (1 Samuel 14:47–48). In a previous event, Saul's son Jonathan had gone against the Philistines accompanied only by his armor-bearer (1 Samuel 14). It might be reasonable to think that either Saul or Jonathan would volunteer.

But King Saul does not offer to go fight Goliath to the death. He, along with all his troops, are said to be dismayed and terrified. Perhaps even his advisors agreed that it would be foolish to send the king to a likely death that would result in Israel becoming the willing servants of the Philistines. Saul's son Jonathan, the bold warrior who trusted the Lord to give the victory in an earlier battle (1 Samuel 14), is not mentioned. Scripture does not say whether he was present, if he volunteered and Saul said no, or what may have transpired.

First Samuel 17:1–11 introduces a Philistine champion called Goliath. The armies of Israel and Philistia face off across a valley. Goliath is massive, towering over every other warrior, with gigantic weapons to match. Day after day (1 Samuel 17:16), he taunts the Israelite army. Goliath dares them to send their own champion to face him in single combat; the winner will determine which army is victorious. The Israelite soldiers are too intimidated to fight.

David, delivering food to his brothers at the Israelite army camp, hears the Philistine Goliath's defiant challenge. Single man combat could decide the battle, but no Israelite wanted to face the massive warrior. David is appalled that a Philistine would defy the armies of the living God. He volunteers to fight, and King Saul agrees. Before the battle, David declares that the Lord will give victory and thereby show the world that there is a God in Israel. David quickly kills and beheads Goliath. The Israelites chase the Philistines back to their own territory and plunder their camp. David brings Goliath's head to Saul.

Saul was made king of Israel (1 Samuel 9—10) and had many early successes (1 Samuel 11—14). However, his disobedience resulted in God's plan for a different king (1 Samuel 15). The prophet Samuel anointed David as this future monarch (1 Samuel 16:11–13). David has been serving as a musician for Saul (1 Samuel 16:18–21) and comes visit his brothers during a standoff between Israelite and Philistine forces. This leads to the famous story of David and Goliath. David's victory publicly triggers his rise to power, paralleled by Saul's collapse. In the end, Saul will die in disgrace (1 Samuel 31:4–7) and David will be appointed the new king of Israel (1 Samuel 2:45:1–3).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.