1 Samuel 17:38 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail,

NIV: Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head.

NASB: Then Saul clothed David with his military attire and put a bronze helmet on his head, and outfitted him with armor.

CSB: Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and had him put on armor.

NLT: Then Saul gave David his own armor — a bronze helmet and a coat of mail.

KJV: And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

NKJV: So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail.

The Israelites have been challenged to champion warfare by an imposing Philistine giant, Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1–10). The Philistine was nearly ten feet tall, or about three meters, covered in body armor, and equipped with the latest military technology. No Israelite soldier volunteered for the task (1 Samuel 17:11, 24), despite the promise of great reward (1 Samuel 17:25). But David, visiting his brothers on the battlefield, has heard the taunts (1 Samuel 17:23). He recognizes the enemy is shaming Israel and defying the armies of the living God. David offers to fight on Israel's behalf, confident that God will bring the victory (1 Samuel 17:31–37).

King Saul reluctantly agreed. Now he attempts to outfit the young and inexperienced warrior with his own armor. Though likely less impressive than Goliath's gear (1 Samuel 17:5–7), Saul's armor would have been the best in Israel. He has his own helmet placed on David's head and his own coat of mail—or chain mail tunic—fitted over David's torso. Chain mail was designed to make it more difficult for spears and arrows to penetrate into a warrior's upper body. Commentators suggest that chain mail may not have been common during the era, reserved for only the most privileged warriors.

Some commentators speculate that perhaps Saul's motive for giving David his own armor was mixed. If David walked onto the field of battle dressed in Saul's armor, would some of those watching assume it was the king who had come to fight the giant? Would this have saved Saul from some shame or perhaps provided a strategic advantage if David were defeated and it turned out the king still lived to fight the enemy? Others wonder why Saul, known to be very tall (1 Samuel 9:2) would think it was a good idea for a younger man to wear his armor?

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.