1 Samuel 17:37 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And David said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you!"

NIV: The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you."

NASB: And David said, 'The Lord who saved me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, He will save me from the hand of this Philistine.' So Saul said to David, 'Go, and may the Lord be with you.'

CSB: Then David said, "The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and may the Lord be with you."

NLT: The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!' Saul finally consented. 'All right, go ahead,' he said. 'And may the Lord be with you!'

KJV: David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

NKJV: Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

David is merely a youth, the youngest brother of actual soldiers in Saul's army (1 Samuel 17:12–14). He is old enough to be Saul's armor-bearer, but not quite old enough to get out of the duty of guarding sheep instead of fighting Philistines (1 Samuel 16:21–23; 17:15).

David is at this battlefield now to deliver food to his brothers (1 Samuel 17:17–18). For forty days, Israel has been forming its battle lines and hearing the challenge of a Philistine champion (1 Samuel 17:8–10, 16). A representative from Israel could fight this champion, Goliath, to determine the victor. Given the imposing size and weaponry of the Philistine (1 Samuel 17:4–7), Israelite soldiers have responded in fear (1 Samuel 17:11, 24). No one has volunteered to go against Goliath, despite the promise of great reward (1 Samuel 17:25). David heard those challenges, and he volunteered to fight (1 Samuel 17:32).

King Saul has told David he is no match for the Philistine (1 Samuel 17:33). David has responded with his experience as a shepherd (1 Samuel 17:34–35). He has also reemphasized that the Philistine is a pagan standing against the armies of the living God (1 Samuel 17:26, 36). Now David convinces the king that David is the man to fight. His experience killing wild animals in protection of the sheep is useful, but he makes it clear in this verse that all the credit for those kills goes to the Lord God of Israel. It is the Lord who saved David from the lion and the bear, not his own skill and bravery.

In the same way, David tells Saul, it is the Lord who will deliver him from the Philistine champion, no matter how outmatched he may seem. David's confidence is not in himself but fully in the Lord to carry out His judgment on the Philistines through him.

Saul agrees, telling David to go and "the Lord be with you." It's unclear whether Saul was convicted by David's bold faith, or merely desperate and willing to try anything at this point.

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.