Thematic Bible

Themes in 1 Samuel 17

HCSB

Themes in 1 Samuel 17

1 Samuel 17:1 (show verse)

The Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah and camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim.

Azekah » A town of judah
Ephes-dammin » A place in the territory of the tribe of judah
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Pas-dammim » Called ephes-dammim in
Philistines » Defeated by israel at ephes-dammim and pursued to ekron
Philistines » Character of » Warlike
Socoh » Also called shocho, shochoh, shoco, sochoh » A city of the tribe of judah

1 Samuel 17:2 (show verse)

Saul and the men of Israel gathered and camped in the Valley of Elah; then they lined up in battle formation to face the Philistines.

Armies » Employed in » Fighting battles
Elah » A valley where david killed goliath
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Valleys » Mentioned in scripture » Elah

1 Samuel 17:3 (show verse)

The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites were standing on another hill with a ravine between them.

Armies » Employed in » Fighting battles
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Valleys » Tracts of land between mountains

1 Samuel 17:4 (show verse)

Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall

Gath » Goliath lived in
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Measure » A span
Measures » Of length » Span
Philistines » Men of great strength and stature amongst
Philistines » Defied israel by their champion
Giants » The last of, destroyed by david and his warriors
Tents » Were used by » All eastern nations

1 Samuel 17:5 (show verse)

and wore a bronze helmet and bronze scale armor that weighed 125 pounds.

military Arms » Defensive: » Helmet
military Arms » Defensive: » Coat of mail, breastplate, habergeon, or brigandine
military Arms » Made of iron, steel, or brass
Brass » Articles made of » Armor
Brass » Made into » Helmets
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Mail » Armor
Philistines » Men of great strength and stature amongst
Philistines » Defied israel by their champion

1 Samuel 17:6 (show verse)

There was bronze armor on his shins, and a bronze sword was slung between his shoulders.

military Arms » Made of iron, steel, or brass
military Arms » Defensive: » Greaves
military Arms » Defensive: » Target
Brass » Articles made of » Armor
Brass » Made into » Greaves for the legs
Javelin » Used by goliath (rv)
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Philistines » Men of great strength and stature amongst
Philistines » Defied israel by their champion
Target » Made » Of brass (bronze)

1 Samuel 17:7 (show verse)

His spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed 15 pounds. In addition, a shield-bearer was walking in front of him.

Armor-bearer » Of goliath
Beam » Weaver's
Iron » First recorded use of » Articles made of » Weapons
Iron » Made into » Weapons of war
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Philistines » Men of great strength and stature amongst
Philistines » Defied israel by their champion
Shekel » Used to weigh » Iron
Shields » Often borne by an armor-bearer
Spear » Goliath's
Spears » Parts of, mentioned » The head of iron or brass
Spears » Parts of, mentioned » The staff of wood

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.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Philistines » Defied israel by their champion

1 Samuel 17:9 (show verse)

If he wins in a fight against me and kills me, we will be your servants. But if I win against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.”

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Philistines » Defied israel by their champion

1 Samuel 17:10 (show verse)

Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel today. Send me a man so we can fight each other!”

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Philistines » Defied israel by their champion

1 Samuel 17:11 (show verse)

When Saul and all Israel heard these words from the Philistine, they lost their courage and were terrified.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul

1 Samuel 17:12 (show verse)

Now David was the son of the Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah named Jesse. Jesse had eight sons and during Saul’s reign was already an old man.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Bethlehem » A city » A city southwest of jerusalem » And beth-lehem-judah
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
David » King of israel » Genealogy of
Jesse » Father of david
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul

1 Samuel 17:13 (show verse)

Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war, and their names were Eliab, the firstborn, Abinadab, the next, and Shammah, the third,

Abinadab » Son of jesse
Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Eliab » Son of jesse and eldest brother of david
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Shammah » David's brother

1 Samuel 17:14 (show verse)

and David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul,

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul

1 Samuel 17:15 (show verse)

but David kept going back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock in Bethlehem.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Children » Male » Usefully employed
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Shepherds » Members of the family both male and female acted as

1 Samuel 17:16 (show verse)

Every morning and evening for 40 days the Philistine came forward and took his stand.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Days » Forty days » Goliath's defiance lasted
Forty days » Goliath's defiance lasted
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Periods and numbers » Forty days » Goliath's defiance lasted

1 Samuel 17:17 (show verse)

One day Jesse had told his son David: “Take this half-bushel of roasted grain along with these 10 loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
the Armies of israel » Mode of provisioning: » Food sent by their families
Bread » How prepared » Made into loaves
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Corn » Parched
the Diet of the jews » Articles used for » Bread
the Diet of the jews » Articles used for » Parched corn
Food » List of articles » Bread
Food » Articles of » Parched (roasted) corn (grain)
Food » Articles of » Bread
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Measure » An ephah, equal to three seah, and in liquid, to a bath, containing about a bushel and a half
Victuals » List of articles » Bread

1 Samuel 17:18 (show verse)

Also take these 10 portions of cheese to the field commander. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring a confirmation from them.

Armies » Captains of thousands
Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Captain » Of thousands
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
the Diet of the jews » Articles of, often sent as presents
the Diet of the jews » Articles used for » Cheese
Food » List of articles » Cheese
Food » Articles of » Cheese
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Victuals » List of articles » Cheese

1 Samuel 17:19 (show verse)

They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines.”

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Elah » A valley where david killed goliath
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Valleys » Often the scenes of great contests

1 Samuel 17:20 (show verse)

So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with someone to keep it, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him.

He arrived at the perimeter of the camp as the army was marching out to its battle formation shouting their battle cry.

Armies » Commenced battles with a shout
Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Armies » March in ranks » Battle shouts
Battle » Shouting in
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Good Children » Exemplified
Early rising » Exemplified » David
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Rising » Instances of » David
Sheep » Flocks of » Attended by servants
Shepherds » Had hired keepers under them

1 Samuel 17:21 (show verse)

Israel and the Philistines lined up in battle formation facing each other.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul

1 Samuel 17:22 (show verse)

David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Salutations » Were given » By brethren to each other

1 Samuel 17:23 (show verse)

While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words, which David heard.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul

1 Samuel 17:24 (show verse)

When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Cowardice » Cowardice, examples of » Israel before goliath
Cowardice » Instances of » The israelites » To meet goliath
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Powerlessness » Of men, often due to sin and unbelief » Apostasy produced a nation of cowards
human Weakness » Powerlessness of men, often due to sin and unbelief » Apostasy produced a nation of cowards

1 Samuel 17:25 (show verse)

Previously, an Israelite man had declared: “Do you see this man who keeps coming out? He comes to defy Israel. The king will make the man who kills him very rich and will give him his daughter. The king will also make the household of that man’s father exempt from paying taxes in Israel.”

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Armies » March in ranks » The king offers his daughter
the Armies of israel » Bravery and fidelity in, rewarded
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Daughter » Given in marriage by parents
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Marriage » Daughters given in, as rewards of valor
Marriage » Given by kings

1 Samuel 17:26 (show verse)

David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
the Armies of israel » Called » The armies of the living God
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Circumcision » The jews » Despised as unclean those not of the
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul

1 Samuel 17:27 (show verse)

The people told him about the offer, concluding, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul

1 Samuel 17:28 (show verse)

David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and became angry with him. “Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart—you came down to see the battle!”

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Contempt » For the righteous
Eliab » Son of jesse and eldest brother of david
Heart » The unregenerate » Is full of iniquity
Jesse » Sons in saul's army
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Sarcasm » Instances of » Eliab to david
Uncharitableness » Instances of » Eliab toward david, charging him with presumption, when he offered to fight goliath

1 Samuel 17:29 (show verse)

“What have I done now?” protested David. “It was just a question.”

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Meekness » Instances of » David

1 Samuel 17:30 (show verse)

Then he turned from those beside him to others in front of him and asked about the offer. The people gave him the same answer as before.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul

1 Samuel 17:31 (show verse)

What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, so he had David brought to him.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul

1 Samuel 17:32 (show verse)

David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!”

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Examples of » David
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
Jews, the » Often distinguished in war
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul

1 Samuel 17:33 (show verse)

But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.”

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
Jews, the » Often distinguished in war
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Young men » Examples of Godly young men » David

1 Samuel 17:34 (show verse)

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,

Animals » Names of » Bears
Animals » Lions » General references to
Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Bears » Attacks the flock in the presence of the shepherd
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
David » Israel's versatile king » Courageous
David » King of israel » Kills a lion and a bear
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Lambs » Exposed to danger from wild beasts
Lions » Killed by » David
Lions » Attacks the sheepfolds
Lions » General references to
Shepherd » David the, defends his flock against a lion and a bear
Shepherds » Care of the sheep by, exhibited in » Defending them when attacked by wild beasts

1 Samuel 17:35 (show verse)

I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
David » Israel's versatile king » Courageous
David » King of israel » Kills a lion and a bear
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Lions » Slain by » David
Shepherd » David the, defends his flock against a lion and a bear
Shepherds » Care of the sheep by, exhibited in » Defending them when attacked by wild beasts
Strength » Physical

1 Samuel 17:36 (show verse)

Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Bears » Miraculously killed by david
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
David » Israel's versatile king » Courageous
David » King of israel » Kills a lion and a bear
Jews, the » Despised all strangers
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Lions » Killed by » David
Lions » Slain by » David
Shepherds » Care of the sheep by, exhibited in » Defending them when attacked by wild beasts

1 Samuel 17:37 (show verse)

Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Bears » Miraculously killed by david
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
Deliverance » Divine, example of » David
Faith » Instances of » David, in striking down goliath
Faith » Example of victorious » David
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul

1 Samuel 17:38 (show verse)

Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and had him put on armor.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Armour » Physical
military Arms » Defensive: » Helmet
military Arms » Defensive: » Coat of mail, breastplate, habergeon, or brigandine
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Trust » Of saints, is » Not in carnal weapons

1 Samuel 17:39 (show verse)

David strapped his sword on over the military clothes and tried to walk, but he was not used to them. “I can’t walk in these,” David said to Saul, “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
military Arms » Before using » Tried and proved
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
Hindrances » To spiritual progress » The attempt to use the equipment of saul delayed david
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Swords » Suspended from the girdle
Trust » Of saints, is » Not in carnal weapons

1 Samuel 17:40 (show verse)

Instead, he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pouch, in his shepherd’s bag. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Brooks » Often ran over pebbles
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
David » Israel's versatile king » A champion
Heroic faith » Boy » David
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Philistines » David » Slew goliath the champion of
Power » Small things God uses » Five smooth stones
Shepherds » Usually carried a scrip or bag
Sling » David kills goliath with a
Weak » Instrumentalities » Five smooth stones

1 Samuel 17:41 (show verse)

The Philistine came closer and closer to David, with the shield-bearer in front of him.

1 Samuel 17:42 (show verse)

When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a youth, healthy

and handsome.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Philistines » David » Slew goliath the champion of
Saints » Death of » Despised
Sling » David kills goliath with a
Suffering for righteousness' sake » For Christ's sake some trials believers may be called upon to endure » Saints despised

1 Samuel 17:43 (show verse)

He said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with sticks?” Then he cursed David by his gods.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
Cursing » Examples of
Dog » Epithet of contempt
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Philistines » David » Slew goliath the champion of
Sling » David kills goliath with a
Trust » Of the wicked--exemplified

1 Samuel 17:44 (show verse)

“Come here,” the Philistine called to David, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!”

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Philistines » David » Slew goliath the champion of
Sling » David kills goliath with a
Trust » Of the wicked--exemplified

1 Samuel 17:45 (show verse)

David said to the Philistine: “You come against me with a dagger, spear, and sword, but I come against you in the name of Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel’s armies—you have defied Him.

Ancient heroes » Battle of Life » David
Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Battle of Life » Weapons and armour of the saints » General references to weapons
holy Boldness » Exemplified » David
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Philistines » David » Slew goliath the champion of
Protection » Of God, is » Often afforded through means inadequate in themselves
Sling » David kills goliath with a
Spiritual » Warfare characteristics of » Weapons
Trust » Of saints, is » Not in carnal weapons
Trust » Of saints--exemplified
Trust » Of the wicked--exemplified
Weapons » Spiritual » General references to weapons
Weapons » Spiritual » Trust in weapons vain
FALSE » Trusts » Trust in weapons vain

1 Samuel 17:46 (show verse)

Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, cut your head off, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God,

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
Faith » Instances of » David, in striking down goliath
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Philistines » David » Slew goliath the champion of
Sling » David kills goliath with a

1 Samuel 17:47 (show verse)

and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s. He will hand you over to us.”

1 Samuel 17:48 (show verse)

When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:49 (show verse)

David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
Head » Parts of, mentioned » The forehead
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Philistines » David » Slew goliath the champion of
Giants » The last of, destroyed by david and his warriors
Sling » David kills goliath with a

1 Samuel 17:50 (show verse)

David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone. Even though David had no sword, he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
military Arms » Offensive: » Sling
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Courage » Instances of personal bravery » David, in killing goliath
Example » Inspiration of example » David
Inspiration of example » David
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Philistines » David » Slew goliath the champion of
Protection » Of God, is » Often afforded through means inadequate in themselves
Giants » The last of, destroyed by david and his warriors
Sling » David kills goliath with a

1 Samuel 17:51 (show verse)

David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword, pulled it from its sheath, and used it to kill him. Then he cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they ran.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Example » Inspiration of example » David
Head » Of enemies slain in war, often cut off
Inspiration of example » David
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul

1 Samuel 17:52 (show verse)

The men of Israel and Judah rallied, shouting their battle cry, and chased the Philistines to the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron.

Philistine bodies were strewn all along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Armies » March in ranks » Battle shouts
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Example » Inspiration of example » David
Inspiration of example » David
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Philistines » Defeated by israel at ephes-dammim and pursued to ekron
Shaaraim » A city » A city in the territory of the tribe of judah, also called sharaim

1 Samuel 17:53 (show verse)

When the Israelites returned from the pursuit of the Philistines, they plundered their camps.

Armies » March in ranks » Champions fight instead of
Championship » Instances of » Goliath and david
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul

1 Samuel 17:54 (show verse)

David took Goliath’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put Goliath’s weapons in his own tent.

military Arms » Of the vanquished » Sometimes kept as trophies
Jerusalem » Spoils of war placed in
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul
Trophies » Goliath's head and armor

1 Samuel 17:55 (show verse)

When Saul had seen David going out to confront the Philistine, he asked Abner the commander of the army, “Whose son is this youth, Abner?”

“My king, as surely as you live, I don’t know,” Abner replied.

Abner » Captain of the host
tribe of Benjamin » Celebrated persons of;
Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul