DAVID AND GOLIATH The people longed for a tall, strong, and handsome king, like those of other nations; And now that man was standing with his men trembling in horror before the mighty Goliath until God was glorified by the short David, who did not know how to use a war weapon, except for a simple sling. He conquered, not by a sword nor a spear, but in the name of the Lord of hosts. 1- Goliath terrifies Saul 1 – 15. 2- David goes to see if it is well with his brothers in the camp 16 – 25. 3- David kills Goliath 26 – 54. 4- Saul gets to recognize David 55 – 58. CONNECTING CHAPTERS 16 and 17 TOGETHER Some critics find difficulty, to connect between the events that came in the two chapters 16 and 17; They wonder how Saul got to know David as a musician, a man of valor, and a man of war (1 Samuel 16: 18), then did not recognize him, as he presented himself to fight Goliath? How was he an armor bearer for Saul (1 Samuel 16: 21), then could not walk with the military outfit (1 Samuel 17: 38, 39)? How come that Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, could not recognize David (1 Samuel 17: 55-58)? We can explain these points as follows: a- David was called as a musician boy to play his harp to refresh Saul’s soul; and once Saul got better, the boy returned to his father’s house, to resume his duties keeping sheep for several years, until he became a young man. That is why Saul could not recognize him after all those years, especially under those embarrassing circumstances before Goliath, that made him promise whoever conquers that mighty man to be his son-in-law. b- Forgetting about David is natural, considering Saul’s mental condition. c- Not recognizing David by Abner is also natural; As the commander of the army, he could not be interested in a musician boy, who, before many years, happened to come to Saul’s palace for some private business of the latter. d- Calling a boy like David a man of valor and a man of war, was probably on account of his killing a lion and a bear to protect his sheep; He was known for his early signs of strength. e- Saul had him as a personal guard, for the duration he played music for him; He might have got some training on the use of the sword, but he was not accustomed to wearing the heavy military outfit; that is why he found it difficult to use it as he was about to fight Goliath. 1- GOLIATH TERRIFIES SAUL Now, the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and encamped on a mountain between Sichoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim; while Saul and his men encamped in the valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17: 1 - 3). Each of the two armies stood on a mountain, with a valley between them. Every day, a champion - the mighty Goliath, who was six cubits and a span tall - went out from the camp of the Philistines, to defy Saul and the armies of Israel, challenging any of their men to fight him. Sochoh, Soko, or Shokoh, a Hebrew word meaning (a thorny fence), is the name of two locations, known nowadays as ‘Kherbet El Showeika’. The first is 9 miles far from ‘Beth Gebrin,’ and 14 miles south-west of Jerusalem; that curves with 2 the valley of, westward, to become ‘the valley of Sant’ namely of (Acacia); while the other location, carrying the same name, is 10 miles south- west of Hebron, also a city in Judah. ‘Azekah’ is a Hebrew word, meaning the (plowed land), near Sochoh, to which Joshua chased the kings who attacked Gibeon (Joshua 10: 10, 11), where God destroyed their armies, casting down large hailstones from heaven on them. It was mentioned in Nehemiah 11: 30, and called nowadays Tel-Zechariah. ‘Ephes Dammim’ or ‘Phes Dammim’ (1 Chronicles 11: 13), a Hebrew word, meaning (Territory of Dam or of blood)1, probably was so called because of the fight between the Philistines and the children of Israel at that location. Nowadays it is called ‘Beth Fasd’ or of bleeding, located probably at ‘Damom,’ 4 miles north-east of Sochoh. The two armies stood on two facing hills with a valley in between; while Goliath who was more than 6 cubits tall (A Hebrew cubit is about one and a half foot), namely about 9 3/4 feet had a bronze helmet on his head, and was armed with a coat of nail, weighing about 33 pounds, bronze greaves on his legs, and a bronze javelin between his shoulders... He kept on defying the armies of Israel, and challenging anyone to fight him, crying out: “Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us” (1 Samuel 17: 8, 9) Saul and his men were overcome with terror before that situation. Some believe that Goliath took that stand as a way out of a problem facing the two armies: The army that was to descend to the valley to cross over to the other army, would get itself into an inferior position, vulnerable to attack by the other army on the higher position. As each of the two armies was reluctant to take this risk, that was what made Goliath challenge anyone to a personal fight, instead of any of the two armies crossing over to the other. That situation remained for the duration of 40 days, until David the son of Jesse came over to see if it was well with his older brothers: Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah, who followed Saul to war. 2- DAVID GOES TO SEE IF IT WAS WELL WITH HIS BROTHERS IN THE CAMP Caesarius, Bishop of Arles, presented us with the following allegoric interpretation of the episode of David and Goliath, according to St. Augustine: [When Jesse sent his son David to see if it was well with his brothers, he was in that, a symbol of God the Father: Jesse sent David to look for his brothers; and God sent his only-begotten son, of whom it was said: “I will declare Your name to My brethren” (Psalm 22: 22). Christ truly came to look for His brethren saying: “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15: 24). Jesse said to David his son: “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp” (1 Samuel 17: 17). The ephah, brethren, is three measures, in which we understand the secret of Trinity, that Abraham clearly did, when he was qualified to realize the secret of Trinity in the three Persons under the terebinth tree at Mamre, and asked Sarah to kneed three measures of fine meal (Genesis 18: 6). Jesse gave his son David the same three measures of grain. In the ten loaves we recognize the ten commandments of the Old Testament. As David brought with him three measures of grain and ten loaves, to 1 Unger's Bible Dict., p 315. 3 look for his brothers in the camp; so also Christ came with the ten commandments of the law, and the secret of the Trinity, to set mankind free from the devil1]. 3. DAVID KILLS GOLIATH David came to look for his brothers - from his father and mother - bringing with him the three measures of grain and the ten loaves of bread; But when he saw his brethren – the children of God - in an embarrassing situation, with an uncircumcised Philistine defying them, he began to inquire: “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”(1 Samuel 17: 26). “Now Eliab his older brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said: ‘Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle’” (1 Samuel 17: 28). David’s response was simple and full of wisdom saying: “What have I done now? (Can’t I even speak?)” (1 Samuel 17: 28). He did not argue with him, as he was a man of faith and action; and it was a time of action! St. Augustine says: [The older brother of David- the symbol of our Lord - rebuked him to represent the Jewish people who did the same to our Lord Christ, who came for the salvation of mankind, insulting Him with several accusations. Can’t you see in the words uttered by David’s older brother, some similarity to what the devil said to Christ, who left the 99 sheep, to seek the one lost sheep, to get it back to the sheepfold, after setting it free by the rod of the cross, from the hand of the spiritual Goliath; namely from the power of the devil. When David’s older brother asked Him, why he left those few sheep in the wilderness, he uttered the truth, yet with an evil and arrogant spirit. Jesus left the 99 sheep to seek the one lost sheep, and to get it back to its sheepfold; namely to the company of angels. Having been anointed by the blessed Samuel, before coming here, he killed a lion and a bear with no weapon, as he himself told king Saul. The lion and bear, both refer to the devil, who dared to attack some of David’s sheep; to get strangled by him. What we are reading, dear brethren, is allegoric: What is symbolized by David, has been realized in our Lord Jesus Christ, who has strangled the lion and the bear, when he descended into Hades to liberate all the saints from their claws. Listen to the supplication of the prophet to the Person of our Lord: “Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth” (Psalm 22: 20, 21). As the strength of the bear is in its claws, and that of the lion in its teeth, so the devil is symbolized by these two beasts. That is why it is said of the Person of Christ, that He saves His Church from the hand; namely, from the strength and mouth of the devil. David came to find the Jewish armies camping in the Terebinth valley to fight against the Philistines; as Christ - the true David - had to come to lift mankind up from the valley of sin and tears. They stood in the valley confronting the Philistines. They were in a valley, because the weight of their sins brought them down. Anyway, they stood there, not daring to fight against the enemy. Why didn’t they dare to do that? Because David, the symbol of Christ, had not yet come, That is true, dear brethren. Who dares to fight against the enemy, before our Lord Jesus Christ sets mankind free from his authority? Now, the word ‘David’ means (strong hand). Who is 1 Caesarius of Arles: Serm. 121: 1, 2. 4 stronger, brethren, than Him, who has overcome the whole world, armored with the cross, and not with a sword?! The children of Israel stood for 40 days before the enemy. Those 40 days refer to the present life, during which Christians do not stop fighting against Goliath and his army; namely, against the devil and his angels {The figure 4 refers to the 4 seasons of the year; and 10 to consummation of time]. It is impossible for us to defeat, unless Christ - the true David - descends with His rod; namely the secret of the cross. Indeed, dear brethren, the devil had been free before the coming of Christ; but by His coming, what was mentioned in the bible was realized, that, “No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man; and then he will plunder his house” (Matthew 12: 29). For that goal Christ came and bound the devil. Someone may ask: If the devil is already bound, why does he still have authority? Actually, dear brethren, he has a great authority, but on his lukewarm, negligent followers, who do not truly fear God. He is bound, like a dog, with chains; thus can’t bite except the soul that connects to him by its free will, through its leaning on the (ego), which is a dangerous thing. Now brethren, you see how stupid of man to be bitten by him, who is just like a dog bound by chains. Don’t keep company with the devil through loving the lusts of this world, to keep him from daring to bite you. He can disturb you by his barking; yet he can never bite you, without your consent; He cannot harm you by force, but through seducing you; He can not get our consent by force, but seeks it. David came to find the people preparing for battle against the Philistines; yet nobody dared to enter alone into the battle. The symbol of Christ (David) went to battle, carrying only a staff in his hand against Goliath. By that he positively refers to what was realized in our Lord Jesus Christ - the true David - who came and carried His cross to fight the spiritual Goliath; namely, the devil. Take notice brethren, where the blessed David hit Goliath: in his forehead (1 Samuel 17: 49), that was not marked with the sign of the cross. As the staff symbolizes the cross, the stone that hit Goliath symbolizes our Lord Jesus; as He is the living stone, of which was said: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone: (Psalm 117: 22). David standing over Goliath, and killing him with Goliath’s own sword, refers to the fact, that when Christ comes, he will overcome the devil with his own sword. Indeed the devil, by his shrewdness and oppression that he has exercised against Christ, has lost his authority over all believers in Christ. David put Goliath’s armor (war instruments) in his tent; As we were instruments in the hand of the devil, the apostle Paul says: “For just as you presented your members as (instruments) of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as (instruments) of righteousness” (Romans 6: 13). Indeed Christ has put the armor of His enemy in His tent, when we, who were a dwelling place for the devil, have become worthy to become a temple for Christ, to dwell in us. The apostle confirms that Christ dwells in us by saying: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3: 16, 17). The apostle also confirms that we as well dwell in Christ, saying: “For as many as many of you as are baptized into Christ, have put on Christ” (Galatians 3: 27). And our Lord Jesus says to his disciples in the Bible: “I am in the Father, and you in Me, and I in you” (John 14: 20). 5 It is true that Goliath having been hit in his forehead, and not in any other place, symbolizes something that happens to us. As the one baptized is marked with the sign of the cross on his forehead, that would be a hit against the spiritual Goliath, a defeat to the devil. He bears on his forehead the anointment of the Spirit; as though he is marked with the words: “A Sanctuary for the Lord”; through which he will enjoy the graces of the Lord Christ, that sanctifies the thought (the forehead), as an entrance to the inner life of man. Through the graces of Christ, the devil is driven out of our hearts; That is why, through His help, we try not to receive the devil in us again, through our will, by our evil deeds, and our corrupt thoughts; because in that case (if we receive him), in us will be realized what is written: “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says: ‘I will return to my house from which I came’. And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. The he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last stare of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation” (Matthew 12: 43 - 45). Now, having by Baptism, got rid of all wickedness, through no worthiness on our part, let us, through the help of God, strive to get filled with spiritual blessings. Whenever the devil intends to drag us, he would find us filled with the Holy Spirit, and committed to good works; and to us, the words: “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10: 22)1 apply]. The two heroes confronted each others face to face; One of them a real man of war, a man of valor, who depended on his natural capabilities, his past experience, and his strong armor; and the other a young man with no war experience, who did not have except a staff, five smooth stones from the brook, and a sling in his hand; Yet he had a mighty faith, by which he could defeat any enemy. They fought, to have the first destroyed and killed, and the other triumphed and glorified. The secret of Goliath’s defeat was, that he was not aware that he had a certain point of weakness that he could not avoid: that his forehead was bare. It is as though, in every human possibility, whatever intact it may appear, there will be a gap that may lead to its failure. Goliath could not realize, that although the sword and spear were not able to destroy him, a dog sling could shake his whole being! Goliath did not know that there was an end to his pride; For 40 days he stood defying the Lord of hosts, but God prepared a young boy to humiliate that mighty man... That is what happens again and again along the generations. Every haughty man, who assumes that he is able to destroy the Church and to wipe it out of existence, has been himself destroyed, and the Church has remained living and strong! The secret of David’s strength was hidden in the Lord of hosts; He was not a party in the battle, but just an instrument in the hand of God. The battle was actually between God and the devil; that is why the conquest comes from God Himself; saying: “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a jevelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied....; Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; For the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17: 45 - 47) Now, let us ask: What is the secret of David’s triumph in his fight against Goliath? 1 Ibid 121: 3-8. 6 a- His outer triumph over Goliath, was probably due to his inner triumph. When his father instructed him to go to see if all is well with his brothers, and to bring back (some assurance) from them (1 Samuel 17: 18), the Book says:“David rose early in the morning,... and went as Jesse has commanded him” (1 Samuel 17: 20). Man’s obedience to his parents and his spiritual fathers in the Lord, is an inner triumph over his own will, to be followed by outer conquests and triumphs. Many have been defeated externally, because of their internal defeat. David, with joy and without hesitation, obeyed his father, and hastened in the early morning to go on his way. He also triumphed internally, when he calmly and prudently, confronted his older brother’s anger. b- David realized that every conquest was to the account of God Himself and His Church; and every defeat would be an insult to God and His Church. Although he asked: “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine,” he added saying: “and takes away the reproach from Israel; For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17: 26). He considered the battle to be between God Himself and the devil. He probably asked about the wage, for the mere sake of curiosity; but there would undoubtedly be no wage high enough to draw the heart of any man to confront such a mighty man like Goliath, before whom the king and all the men of war, including David’s older brothers, were terrified... David felt the zeal of the Lord of hosts; and realized that God Himself grants the conquest to be glorified among His people. By this thought David entered the battle, hidden in God. c- St. Ambrose believes that the secret of David’s triumph, was that he did not initiate the war, but it was Goliath who did; while he was driven into it, motivated by his spiritual zeal.... He did not carry Saul’s weapon, but only his own sling and staff... He entered the battle after consulting the Lord. He says: [David had never initiated a war, that he was not driven into it... His strength depended on his own arms, and not on the weapons of others... He never entered a war, without consulting God1]. These 3 properties must be characteristic of all of us. d- St. Ambrose also believes that David triumphed because he presented himself for the sake of his people; He sought what is other’s, giving himself to their account; saying: [David followed the example of the prophet Moses, Like him he was chosen from among his people to lead them. He was meek, gentle, and humble in spirit; He was as well a man of strife, and ready for giving love. Before ascending the throne, David offered himself for all; and as a king, he presented himself as equal to everyone of his subjects, in fighting and in bearing troubles. He was valiant in battle, compassionate in judgment, patient before insults, ready to bear the faults of others; He was dear to all, despite the fact that he had been a young man, when he was chosen to reign on them; and when he grew old, his people asked him not to join the battle, preferring to go through danger for his sake, than for him to go through danger for theirs. Because he performed his duty toward his people, he got them attached to him with their complete free will. When dissension happened among his people, he preferred to live in Hebron, as though in exile (2 Samuel 2: 3), rather than to reign in Jerusalem. And when he admired the courage of ‘Abner’, although he was on the side of his opponents, and a promoter of aggression, he did not despise him when he came to seek peace, but treated him with respect, and made a feast for him and his men (2 Samuel 3: 20); and when he died through treason, he mourned him bitterly2]. 1 Duties of the Clergy 1: 35: 177. 2 Ibid 2: 78: 32, 33. 7 4- SAUL GETS TO RECOGNIZE DAVID Saul did not recognize David, although the latter used to play the harp for him in his youth (1 Samuel 16: 22, 23); He forgot all about him, because of his mental condition, that caused him to lose his memory, and to be moody. David’s appearance probably also changed as he grew older. Some people believe that Saul pretended not to recognize David, out of envy, and to keep him under surveillance.
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