1 Samuel 17:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul,

NIV: David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul,

NASB: So David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul,

CSB: and David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul,

NLT: David was the youngest son. David’s three oldest brothers stayed with Saul’s army,

KJV: And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.

NKJV: David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul.

Israelite and Philistine armies prepare for war (1 Samuel 17:1–3). An imposing and well-armored Philistine champion has challenged the Israelites to a winner-takes-all duel (1 Samuel 17:4–10). The Israelites are terrified. With that as a backdrop, the passage reintroduces David (1 Samuel 16). He is the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse who lives in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 17:12). David's three oldest brothers are at the battle (1 Samuel 17:13). David was the youngest of Jesse's eight sons.

This fact was also highlighted in the previous chapter. After rejecting Saul as king, God told the prophet Samuel to go to Bethlehem to anoint the next king of Israel from Jesse's sons (1 Samuel 16:1). The Lord sequentially rejected seven of the sons of Jesse. So, Samuel asked if Jesse had any more boys (1 Samuel 16:5–10). The youngest was out in the fields watching the sheep, apparently not invited to participate in the feast with the rest of the family (1 Samuel 16:11). When young David finally arrived, the Lord confirmed to Samuel that this was His choice for Israel's next king. Samuel anointed the boy and the Spirit of the Lord came on David (1 Samuel 16:12–13). No mention is made of Samuel telling Jesse, David, or anyone else that the anointing was about becoming Israel's next king.

Shortly after this, David entered King Saul's service, helping ease the discomfort caused by a harmful spirit (1 Samuel 16:14–23). Evidently David went between tending sheep and helping the king (1 Samuel 17:15). It may even be that the brief description of David's service in the prior chapter (1 Samuel 16:21) included the fight with Goliath but saved the details for a separate account.

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.