Featured How did David Kill Goliath?

We grew up with the KJV, and the way I remember Bible stories, Sunday School and sermons was that it was generally always stated that David killed Goliath with the stone. My memory may be off, but seems like when I played Bible Trivia as an adult that was the first time I'd heard it suggested another way. The only point of my story is that it seems to me that most folks at the time did not see the KJV as ambiguous on the matter and fairly consistently interpreted it as the stone killing Goliath. (Obviously, this is only based on my own experience, and what I can remember of it at that!)

It appears to me that the same Hebrew word is used in verses 50 and 51, so I like the idea of seeing the same word in English. Perhaps our resident Hebrew scholars can explain if there is some connotation in the sentences that should cause us to understand them differently. The word is often translated kill, and that is what slay/slew means as well. IIRC, it is the same word translated kill in Exodus 4:24.

To my simple approach, I see it like this. David whacked Goliath square in the forehead with a stone speeding from his sling. Goliath fell down dead. David runs to the body, doesn't stop to take his pulse, pulls out Goliaths sword and lops off his head. If anyone had any question about whether Goliath might only be stunned by the rock -- well, now they know! Philistines know for sure he isn't getting up; take off running. Dead and dead!

 

Not sure it matters one way or the other. The small stone toppled the giant. The sword made sure he stayed down.

 

There is more to this story than the words of the passage lead us to believe.

The SWORD is a major theme in the book of Samuel

The statement that David had no sword,
...and the idea that it was the stone that caused Goliath's death,​

both play into this theme.

Who's sword is it?
Who has the sword?
Who wields the sword?
Who ends up with the sword?

Rob

 

...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 17:47 CSB

 

Apparently some of the modern versions do just that, but maybe not all of them in the same way. I think the reason this is less than satisfactory is that ultimately it is an interpretational issue rather than a translation issue.

It seems like a fine line between easy and difficult -- including bringing technicalities of the original language into it. Perhaps we make it more difficult with the presuppositions we bring to it. The text is not a coroner's report of how and when Goliath died, but a narrative of how David defeated Goliath.

For myself, I am satisfied that David struck Goliath with a mortal blow by one stone shot from his sling. Had a medical examiner checked him, he might not have pronounced him dead at that exact moment. But he was not going to get up and walk away. David renders all such speculation unnecessary by removing the head of Goliath with Goliath's own sword.

 

I always looked at it this way... God gave David the courage and faith to stand before Goliath... No mater what stone David chose God directed the stone David slung, right to where it was intended and killed him... David may have cut off his head with Goliaths own sword but did David claim the victory?... Or was the victory the Lords... Brother Glen

 

Reynolds - here's another way of looking at it, that Deacon has alluded to.

The Philistines looked to Goliath as god-like. Other armies trembled at the sound of his name, much less his appearance. As long as they followed him, they were assured victory. David slew Goliath with the stone; but the beheading was symbolic, letting the Philistines know that no one is bigger than God.

 

If by "strictly narrative" you mean relating a story just for the purpose of relating a story/history, then I agree. I can agree that it is well-written in a way that reinforces a theme without thinking there are inaccurate additions. I wouldn't agree (if that is what you mean) that the crafting of the theme includes the Masoretes adding and adjusting new information that is not historical to verse 50. I know that the Septuagint is notable in 1 Samuel 17 for agreeing with the Dead Sea Scrolls against the Masoretic text re the height of Goliath, but in general I tend to see the Septuagint as less reliable. How do you see that?

 

The sacrifice for clarity was the accuracy to the Hebrew text.

The Hebrew text clearly adds "and killed him" in verse 50.


The purpose of the passage was not to define how David killed Goliath,

it was not to determine with what instrument David killed Goliath,​

The purpose was to declare that it was done through the power of THE NAME, the LORD of Hosts, the God of the Armies of Israel.
The battle was between the gods of the Philistines and the GOD of Israel.

“He [Goliath] said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with sticks?” Then he cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” the Philistine called to David, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts!”” (1 Samuel 17:43-44, CSB)

“David said to the Philistine: “You come against me with a sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Armies, the God of the ranks of Israel—you have defied him. Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, remove your head, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the wild creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God, 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 17:45–47, CSB)

Our LORD prevailed through the hand of David!

Rob

 

Thanks. Then I don't think we really have much difference on the idea and purpose of the story.

Nor I am particularly, but am of the opinion of preferring the MT over LXX. I nevertheless think reading and comparing the LXX is useful. Interestingly, the Septuagint has a lot of missing info in 1 Samuel 17 compared to the MT. See 1 Samuel 17 HERE (Septuagint w/ Brenton translation).