What does 1 Samuel 17:34 mean?
ESV: But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock,
NIV: But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,
NASB: But David said to Saul, 'Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a sheep from the flock,
CSB: David answered Saul: "Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock,
NLT: But David persisted. 'I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,' he said. 'When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock,
KJV: And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
NKJV: But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,
Verse Commentary:
David, a musician and a shepherd, has demonstrated his courage to Israel's king. David insists he is ready and willing to fight the champion of the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:8–10, 16, 23, 26) on behalf of Israel's army (1 Samuel 17:32). Saul has started to reject David's offer as utterly foolish. Goliath is a battle-hardened warrior with years of training and experience, in addition to being nearly ten feet—three meters—tall and outfitted with all the latest armor and weapons (1 Samuel 17:4–7, 33).
David responds that his lifelong work as a shepherd for his father has provided its own kind of training. His responsibility for the sheep required him to stand up to lions and bears when they attacked the flock. This is not an unfair point—it's hard to imagine a person, no matter how large, being more dangerous at close range than a lion or bear. David will go on to say that he successfully killed such beasts (1 Samuel 17:35).
Verse Context:
First Samuel 17:31–40 sets the stage for a famous battle. The enormous Philistine champion, Goliath, has been taunting the Israelite army. David, though likely only in his early teenaged years, insists that the Philistine can be defeated. As a shepherd, David has killed bears and lions who attacked the flock. More importantly, David believes that God will punish the Philistine's defiance. King Saul agrees to let David try; he declines to use Saul's armor (1 Samuel 16:21) because he has no experience with it. Instead, he carefully selects stones for his sling and heads out to fight.
Chapter Summary:
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.
Chapter Context:
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).
Book Summary:
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.
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