1 Samuel 17:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And David said to Saul, "Let no man 's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

NIV: David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."

NASB: And David said to Saul, 'May no one’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!'

CSB: David said to Saul, "Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!"

NLT: Don’t worry about this Philistine,' David told Saul. 'I’ll go fight him!'

KJV: And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

NKJV: Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

David has gone to the battlefield at the Valley of Elah where the Israelites and Philistines are standing off (1 Samuel 17:1–3, 19). The young man is there to deliver food and check on his brothers (1 Samuel 17:17–18). While there, he has heard the challenge of the Philistine champion, Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4–10, 23). Goliath calls for man-to-man combat between him and an Israelite as representatives of their nations. The survivor's nation would be the victor of the war. The giant has taunted Israel for forty days (1 Samuel 17:16), and Israel has responded in fear (1 Samuel 17:11, 24).

When David hears the challenge, he asks what will be done for the Israelite who defeats the Philistine (1 Samuel 17:26). David indicates that the Philistine is bringing shame on Israel and that the uncircumcised man has no standing to defy the armies of the living God. David's oldest brother, Eliab, is greatly angered by David's question (1 Samuel 17:28). Perhaps he thought David was just grandstanding, calling attention to himself by suggesting that he would be brave enough to fight Goliath. David is not deterred by his brother's anger, and he keeps talking to the soldiers about the situation (1 Samuel 17:30). David's words are reported to King Saul, who summoned the youth to see him (1 Samuel 17:31).

When David arrives at the king, he tells Saul that his words are not empty boasts. He is prepared to fight Goliath on behalf of Israel. David starts by saying that nobody's heart should fail because of Goliath. In truth, David was telling Saul that his own heart, or courage, should not fail.

It may be that Saul was visibly anxious by the threat of Goliath's challenge. It's possible some thought that Saul, as Israel's king, should be the one to accept Goliath's call for a champion of Israel to fight him (1 Samuel 8:20). Saul, despite being the tallest of the Israelites (1 Samuel 9:2), appeared to be no match for the gigantic, Philistine warrior covered head-to-toe in the latest battle armor (1 Samuel 17:4–7). Even with Saul's promises of great reward (1 Samuel 17:25), no Israelite had volunteered (1 Samuel 17:24).

Now David, just a youth, insists that the king need not worry because he will fight the giant.

First Samuel 17:31–40 sets the stage for a famous battle. The enormous Philistine champion, Goliath, has been taunting the Israelite army. David, though likely only in his early teenaged years, insists that the Philistine can be defeated. As a shepherd, David has killed bears and lions who attacked the flock. More importantly, David believes that God will punish the Philistine's defiance. King Saul agrees to let David try; he declines to use Saul's armor (1 Samuel 16:21) because he has no experience with it. Instead, he carefully selects stones for his sling and heads out 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.