OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to ISamuel Next 

THE PHILISTINES AND GOLIATH vs ISRAEL AND SAUL

I Samuel 17:1-16

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.       Outline:

 

i.                    THE WAR IS ON (I Sam. 17:1-3)

ii.                  THE WARRIOR DEFIES ISRAEL (I Sam. 17:4-10)

iii.                THE WARRIOR FRIGHTENS ISRAEL (I Sam. 17:11)

iv.                THE WORK OF DAVID (I Sam. 17:12-15)

v.                  THE WILLPOWER OF GOLIATH (I Sam. 17:16)

 

2.       Who gathered their armies together against Israel? (I Sam. 17:1).

 

Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle…

 

A.     The Philistines

 

3.       Where did they gather themselves? (I Sam. 17:1)

 

…and were gathered together at Shochoh…

 

A.     Shochoh

 

Related image

 

4.       To whom did this city belong? (I Sam. 17:1).

 

…which belongeth to Judah…

 

A.     Judah (Josh. 15:21, 35)

 

5.       Where did they pitch their tents? (I Sam. 17:1)

 

…and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim

 

A.     Between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim

 

6.       In what valley did Saul and the men of Israel pitch their tents? (I Sam. 17:2)

 

And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.

 

A.     The valley of Elah

 

Image result for the valley of Elah

 

7.       What was between the two armies? (I Sam. 17:3)

 

And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side:  and there was a valley between them.

 

A.     A valley was between them

 

8.       What man came out of the camp of the Philistines? (I Sam. 17:4)

 

And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath, of Gath…

 

A.     A champion of the Philistines named Goliath

 

9.       Define:  champion (I Sam. 17:4)

 

A.     Strong (376):  a man

 

B.      BDB:  a man, a champion, great man

 

C.     K&D:  well known

 

D.     Clarke:  “Champion is he, properly, who fights in the field; i.e., in camps.” A man well skilled in arms, strong, brave, and patriotic” (e-sword).

 

 

 

 

10.   How tall was Goliath? (I Sam. 17:4)

 

…whose height was six cubits and a span.

 

A.     Six cubits and a span

 

B.      A cubit was the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger.  It was approximately 18” in length.  Six cubits would be nine feet.

 

C.     A span is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the tip of the thumb (7” to 9”).

 

D.     Goliath would have been about 9’9” tall.

 

11.   What did he have upon his head? (I Sam. 17:5)

 

And he had a helmet of brass upon his head…

 

A.     A helmet of brass

 

12.   What was the weight of his coat of mail? (I Sam. 17:5)

 

…and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

 

A.     The weight of the coat of mail was five thousand shekels of silver

1.       Barnes:  157 pounds

2.       Clarke:  156 pounds, 4 ounces

3.       K&D:  148 pounds

4.       When hiking, it is safe to carry ¼ of your body weight in a pack.  I have carried up to 60 pounds.  That is extremely heavy to carry for a long period of time.

 

B.      The coat of mail was a garment that protected both the back and the chest.  It could have draped as low as the top of the thighs.  It was made of “scales” of brass placed side by side and one on top of another like scales of a fish.

 

13.   What were on his legs? (I Sam. 17:6)

 

And he had greaves of brass upon his legs…

 

A.     Greaves of brass

1.       Strong (4697):  a shin piece of armour

2.       BDB:  leg armour

3.       K&D:  it covered the leg from the knee down to the instep

 

14.   What was between his shoulders? (I Sam. 17:6)

 

…and a target of brass between his shoulders.

 

A.     A target of brass

1.       Strong (3591):  properly, something to strike with 

2.       BDB:  javelin, short sword, dart

3.       It was a smaller sword that was flung over the shoulder and near the quiver of arrows when carrying a bow.

15.   What was the staff of his spear like unto? (I Sam. 17:7)

 

And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam…

 

A.     It was like a weaver’s beam.

 

B.      It was a solid piece of wood like a pole found on the weaver’s shuttle.

 

16.   How much did the head of his spear weigh? (I Sam. 17:7)

 

…and his spear’s head weighted six hundred shekels of iron.

 

A.     Six hundred shekels of iron

 

B.      Between 16 or 17 pounds

 

17.   T – F    There went before him a man carrying his shield. (I Sam. 17:7)

 

…and one bearing a shield went before him.

 

A.     True

 

B.      Shield

1.       Definition:

a.       Strong (6793):  a large shield (as if guarded by prickliness)

b.      BDB:  shield, large shield, buckler

 

18.   Goliath said:  “…choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me” (I Sam. 17:8)

 

A.     The word “man” indicates a person who is courageous, mature, knowledgeable, skillful, and patriotic.  A person who trusts God and is willing to fight the opposition. 

 

B.      There are times when God has looked for “a man” (Ezek. 22:30).

 

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it:  but I found none.

 

19.   What were the two outcomes of the battle that Goliath proposed? (I Sam. 17:9)

 

If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants;  but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

 

A.     If Goliath was killed, the Philistines would serve the Israelites.

 

B.      If the Israelite was killed, the Israelites would serve the Philistines.

 

20.   “And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day…” (I Sam. 17:10).

 

21.   Define:  defy (I Sam. 17:10)

 

A.     Strong (2778):  to pull off, to expose, to defame,

B.      BDB:  to reproach, taunt, blaspheme, rail, upbraid

22.   “…give me a man, that we may fight together” (I Sam. 17:10).

 

23.   How did Saul and Israel react to the cry of the Philistine? (I Sam. 17:11)

 

When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

 

A.     Dismayed                                                                                    

1.       Strong (2865):  to prostrate, to break down, by confusion or fear

2.       BDB:  to be shattered, to be broken, to be afraid, to be scared

 

B.      Greatly afraid

1.       The word “greatly” means vehemently.  It stresses the great measure of fear in the hearts of the Israelites, including Saul.  It means “exceeding much, in abundance, and muchness.”

 

24.   Whose son was David? (I Sam. 17:12)

 

Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem-judah, whose name was Jesse…

 

A.     Jesse, the Ephrathite of Bethlehem-judah.

 

25.   How many sons did Jesse have? (I Sam. 17:12)

 

…and he had eight sons…

 

A.     Eight

 

26.   T – F    Jesse was an old man in the days of Saul (I Sam. 17:12)

 

…and the man went among the men for an old man in the days of Saul.

 

A.     True

 

27.   T – F    Jesse’s three oldest sons followed Saul to battle. (I Sam. 17:13)

 

And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle…

 

A.     True

 

B.      Remember that it was foretold by Samuel that the king would take the sons of the Israelites for soldiers in his army (See I Sam. 8:10-12).

 

28.   What were the names of Jesse’s three oldest sons? (I Sam. 17:13)

 

…and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

 

A.     Eliab                                  B.  Abinadab                                       C.  Shammah

 

 

 

 

29.   T – F    David was the youngest son of Jesse. (I Sam. 17:14).

 

And David was the youngest…

 

A.     True

 

30.   T – F    David also followed Saul in battle (I Sam. 17:15)

 

…and the three eldest followed Saul.

 

A.     False.  Only the three oldest went off to battle.

 

31.   Instead of being with Saul, where was David (I Sam. 17:15).

 

But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

 

A.     David was in Bethlehem feeding his father’s sheep.

 

32.   How often did the Philistine draw near to challenge the Israelites to battle? (I Sam. 17:16)

 

And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

 

A.     Morning and evening for forty days.  This would amount to eighty calls to battle.

 

B.      The opposition is not fearful of the fight. 

1.       We must prepare ourselves for battle.

2.       We must trust that God will defend us when the enemy presents himself.

3.       We should be ready to answer the first call of the enemy to battle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAVID VOLUNTEERS TO FIGHT GOLIAH

I Samuel 17:17-32

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.       Outline:

 

vi.                I Samuel 17:17-18

vii.              I Samuel 17:19-21

viii.            I Samuel 17:22-27

ix.                I Samuel 17:28-29

x.                   I Samuel 17:30-32

 

2.       Who sent David to check on his brethren who were encamped with Saul? (I Sam. 17:17)

 

 

3.       What two things were given to David to give to his brothers? (I Sam. 17:17)

 

A.                                                                    B.

 

4.       What did Jesse send to the captain of their thousand? (I Sam. 17:18)

 

 

5.       “…and look how thy brethren ______________ and take their _______________.” (I Sam. 17:18)

 

 

6.       What did Jesse mean when he said:  “…and take their pledge”? (I Sam. 17:18)

 

 

 

7.       In what valley did Israel fight against the Philistines? (I Sam. 17:19)

 

 

8.       At what time of day did David leave to go to his brothers? (I Sam. 17:20)

 

 

9.       With whom did he leave the sheep? (I Sam. 17:20)

 

 

10.   What was happening as David arrived at the trench? (I Sam. 17:20)

 

 

11.   “For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in _______________, army against army” (I Sam. 17:21).

 

12.   With whom did David leave his carriage? (I Sam. 17:22)

 

 

13.   Who came up as David spoke with his brethren? (I Sam. 17:23)

 

 

14.   T – F    David did not hear the things that Goliath said to Israel. (I Sam. 17:23)

15.   What two things did the men of Israel do when they saw Goliath? (I Sam. 17:24).

 

A.

 

B.

 

16.   What three things would the king give to the man who killed Goliath? (I Sam. 17:25)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

17.   What do the words, “make his father’s house free in Israel” mean? (I Sam. 17:25)

 

 

 

18.   What two questions did David ask when he was told of the king’s proposition? (I Sam. 17:26)

 

A.

 

 

B.

 

19.   Define:  reproach (I Sam. 17:26)

 

20.   T – F    The people affirmed again to David what the king would do for the one who killed

Goliath. (I Sam. 17:27)

 

21.   Which brother’s anger was kindled against David? (I Sam. 17:28)

 

22.   T – F    Eliab tried to indicate that David was forsaking his responsibilities at home. (I Sam.

17:28).

 

 

23.   What two things did Eliab say that he knew about David? (I Sam. 17:28)

 

A.

 

 

B.

 

24.   Define:  naughtiness (I Sam. 17:28)

 

25.   What two questions did David use in response to Eliab? (I Sam. 17:29)

 

A.

 

B.

 

 

26.   T – F    David continued to show an interest in the reward to be given the man who prevailed

over Goliath. (I Sam. 17:30)

 

 

27.   Who told Saul about David and his interest in Goliath? (I Sam. 17:31)

 

 

28.   T – F    Saul refused to call for David. (I Sam. 17:31)

 

 

29.   “And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart ______________ because of him; thy ____________ will go and _______________ with this Philistine” (I Sam. 17:32).

 

 

30.   Define:  fail (I Sam. 17:32)