1 Samuel 17:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

NIV: They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines."

NASB: For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the Valley of Elah, fighting the Philistines.'

CSB: They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines."

NLT: David’s brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.

KJV: Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

NKJV: Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

Some translations take this verse as the end of Jesse's instructions to David about the delivery of the food to his brothers and their division (1 Samuel 17:17–18). Others understand it to be a bit of narrative restating the setting of the story as the battle at the Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:1–3). In either case, David would need to know where to take the food for his brothers and their unit.

The army of the Israelites was not actively fighting with the army of the Philistines at this time, but they were camped against one another for war. The Philistine champion Goliath would come out to taunt and challenge the Israelites every day, daring them to send a champion of their own to fight him. The enormous, well-armored man suggested that if the Israelite representative killed Goliath, the Philistines would serve Israel. But if Goliath prevailed, Israel would be the servants of the Philistines. This had gone on for forty days without any kind of progress (1 Samuel 17:8–10, 16).

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.

Accessed 3/28/2025 6:17:26 PM