1 Samuel 17:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years.

NIV: Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s time he was very old.

NASB: Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, the man whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men.

CSB: Now David was the son of the Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah named Jesse. Jesse had eight sons and during Saul’s reign was already an old man.

NLT: Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. Jesse was an old man at that time, and he had eight sons.

KJV: Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.

NKJV: Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul.

The Philistines have come against Israel for war (1 Samuel 17:1–3). They have sent their imposing champion to challenge the Israelites to a representative combat. Goliath of Gath (1 Samuel 17:4–9) would fight an Israelite to the death. The people of the deceased would become the servants of the people of the survivor (1 Samuel 17:4–10). The Israelite army responds in terror (1 Samuel 17:11).

Here, Scripture re-introduces David and his father, Jesse. Perhaps this is so the account of this battle could be repeated as a standalone narrative. Within the broader account, Samuel had secretly anointed David as the next king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:1–13), and then David had become Saul's musician and armor-bearer (1 Samuel 16:14–23). It is also possible that the account of the last chapter included the fight with Goliath, saving those details for this section.

This time, David's father Jesse is introduced as an Ephrathite. The people of the region of Ephrathah in Judea may have been part of the larger tribe of Caleb's descendants. Jesse and his eight sons lived in Bethlehem, a small village made famous as the birthplace of King David and, later, of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesse is said to be old and advanced in years by the time Saul was king. The point of describing Jesse's age may be to explain why David's father did not go to the battle with the Philistines along with some of his sons (1 Samuel 17:13).

First Samuel 17:12–23 re-introduces David (1 Samuel 16:11–13), who travels between shepherding and playing music for King Saul. This chapter seems to add detail to the earlier description of David in Saul's service (1 Samuel 16:18–21). David's father sends the young man on an errand to his three oldest brothers, camped with the rest of Israel's army in a faceoff with the Philistines. While there, David hears one of the daily challenges from Goliath, the enormous Philistine champion.

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.