1 Samuel 17:33 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth."

NIV: Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth."

NASB: But Saul said to David, 'You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight him; for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior since his youth.'

CSB: But Saul replied, "You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young."

NLT: Don’t be ridiculous!' Saul replied. 'There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.'

KJV: And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

NKJV: And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”

David has come to the Valley of Elah to visit his brothers and the Israelite army. The Philistines and Israelites are gathered for war, but not currently fighting. Instead, a Philistine champion, Goliath, has been challenging Israel to send a representative for a duel. The loser's nation would be subject to the victor's (1 Samuel 17:8–10). The issue is that Goliath is nearly ten feet tall, or three meters, clad in protective gear, and equipped with the latest technology in weaponry (1 Samuel 17:4–7). The Israelites respond in fear (1 Samuel 17:11, 24). But they regularly form their battle lines every morning, and Goliath regularly taunts them (1 Samuel 17:16). David has heard the champion's challenge (1 Samuel 17:23). He's asked the soldiers what will be done for the man who removes this shame from Israel (1 Samuel 17:26). The answer: he will be rewarded with wealth, marriage to the king's daughter, and freedom from taxes for his family (1 Samuel 17:25).

David's questions, including his bold statements about the Philistine's lack of standing before the living God, have been reported to Saul (1 Samuel 17:31). Saul calls for the young man, and David volunteers to fight Goliath (1 Samuel 17:32). Saul already knew each other. In fact, the king loved David; he employed the young man as a musician to calm his troubled spirit and as his own armor-bearer (1 Samuel 16:21–23). David was well respected (1 Samuel 16:18), but it may be a sign of just how desperate Saul was for a solution to his Goliath problem that he was having this conversation with David, at all.

Saul tells David why him taking on Goliath is a terrible idea. David is just a youth, likely barely old enough to be Saul's official armor bearer. David was evidently not part of the regular Israelite army, leading many to think he was under the age of twenty at this time (1 Samuel 17:13–14). David was still the family shepherd, going back and forth between Bethlehem and serving Saul (1 Samuel 17:15). Goliath, the giant champion of the Philistines, is presumably experienced in battle. In human terms, only one outcome seemed likely: Goliath would quickly and easily destroy the brave shepherd boy.

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.