1 Samuel 17:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.

NIV: Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me.

NASB: He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, 'Why do you come out to draw up in battle formation? Am I not the Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man as your representative and have him come down to me.

CSB: He stood and shouted to the Israelite battle formations: "Why do you come out to line up in battle formation?" He asked them, "Am I not a Philistine and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me.

NLT: Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. 'Why are you all coming out to fight?' he called. 'I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me!

KJV: And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

NKJV: Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.

The Israelites and Philistines are massed for war; they face off across a valley (1 Samuel 17:1–3). Their champion wants to engage in single man combat with a warrior from the opponent's camp to decide the battle. The Philistine fighter is Goliath of Gath. He is nearly ten feet—or three meters—tall, covered in the best defensive armor, and equipped with the latest weapons. He is massive, obviously strong, protected by a man carrying a shield, and clearly ready to fight (1 Samuel 17:4–7).

In addition to being their best warrior, a champion could intimidate enemies. Goliath's size certainly did that. Some speculate that Goliath was meant only to intimidate, since most people of such extreme height are relatively frail. Yet Goliath will move forward to fight later (1 Samuel 17:41), so it's not likely his presence was just for show.

Taunts are also a key part of Philistine tactics. Goliath calls out to the Israelite army, asking why they have gone to the trouble to form battle lines. This implies that he will suggest an easier way to solve this conflict. Goliath represents his Philistine people. The Israelites are all servants of Saul, their king. Any Israelite can serve as Saul's representative. Goliath tells the Israelites to choose a man and send him into the valley for combat. Such a fight between individual soldiers could decide the battle if both sides agree (1 Samuel 17:9). This amounts to mockery because both sides assume that no one soldier could possibly defeat Goliath.

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.