1 Samuel 17:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders.

NIV: on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back.

NASB: He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze saber slung between his shoulders.

CSB: There was bronze armor on his shins, and a bronze javelin was slung between his shoulders.

NLT: He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder.

KJV: And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

NKJV: And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders.

The Israelites and Philistines are gathered for war (1 Samuel 17:1–3). The Philistine champion—a man who would face off with the strongest enemy of the solider to determine the battle—has stepped forward. He is about nine feet, nine inches—or three meters—tall (1 Samuel 17:4). He wears a bronze helmet and a huge shirt of scale mail weighing as much as an entire person (1 Samuel 17:5). The scales call to mind the imagery of the serpent; some see this battle as a metaphor for the victory of Christ over the Devil (Genesis 3:1, 15; Revelation 12:9; 20:2). The description of Goliath's defeat also evokes this idea (1 Samuel 17:49).

Here we learn that Goliath's legs are covered in bronze. Some translations use the word "greaves" to describe this covering. The Philistine is well suited for protection from attack. He also carries a javelin. Some scholars speculate that this weapon called a "javelin" may actually have been a curved, flat scimitar sword while the spear mentioned in the following verse may be more like the modern idea of a javelin. In any case, he is a deeply intimidating figure (1 Samuel 17:11).

First Samuel 17:1–11 introduces a Philistine champion called Goliath. The armies of Israel and Philistia face off across a valley. Goliath is massive, towering over every other warrior, with gigantic weapons to match. Day after day (1 Samuel 17:16), he taunts the Israelite army. Goliath dares them to send their own champion to face him in single combat; the winner will determine which army is victorious. The Israelite soldiers are too intimidated 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.