What does 1 Samuel 17:11 mean?

The Philistines and Israelites are camped on two opposite mountains overlooking the Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:1–3). A Philistine champion, Goliath of Gath, has come to challenge the Israelites to a one-man-to-one-man fight to determine the battle. If Goliath prevails, the Israelites will serve the Philistines. If whichever Israelite they choose to send prevails, the Philistines will serve the Israelites (1 Samuel 17:8–10).

This would not be a fair fight. Goliath has been described as nearly ten feet—almost three meters—tall, clad in body army from head to foot, equipped with javelin and spear, and accompanied by a shield-bearer (1 Samuel 17:4–7). He is physically imposing and has technologically advanced gear. It seems unsurprising, then, that Saul and the fighting men of Israel are dismayed and terrified.

Often, the king would be considered the champion of a nation. The elders of Israel had wanted a king to go out before them and fight their battles (1 Samuel 8:19–20). Saul and his armies had experienced much victory over enemies before (1 Samuel 14:47–48). In a previous event, Saul's son Jonathan had gone against the Philistines accompanied only by his armor-bearer (1 Samuel 14). It might be reasonable to think that either Saul or Jonathan would volunteer.

But King Saul does not offer to go fight Goliath to the death. He, along with all his troops, are said to be dismayed and terrified. Perhaps even his advisors agreed that it would be foolish to send the king to a likely death that would result in Israel becoming the willing servants of the Philistines. Saul's son Jonathan, the bold warrior who trusted the Lord to give the victory in an earlier battle (1 Samuel 14), is not mentioned. Scripture does not say whether he was present, if he volunteered and Saul said no, or what may have transpired.