David and Goliath

Author: Traditional Jewish

Time Period: 2499 BCE–1000 BCE

Country or Culture: Southern Levant

Genre: Myth

Overview

The book of 1 Samuel in the Old Testament chronicles the rise and fall of the first Israelite king after the period of leadership by judges. The four main characters are Samuel, King Saul, David, and Goliath. The books of Samuel, named after the prophet who guides Israel through the period that serves as a transition between leadership by judges to kings, tell the stories of Saul and David, contrasting these two men’s conquests, leadership, and kingdoms. The first half of 1 Samuel tells about the rise and fall of King Saul, who is appointed by Samuel under God’s direction; it also shares the story of the ascent of King David.

As Saul falls into disfavor with God because of his own arrogance and disobedience, David, a shepherd from Bethlehem, emerges from the background. David is first mentioned halfway through the book when Samuel goes to Bethlehem upon an order from God to seek one of Jesse’s sons as the future ruler. Samuel asks Jesse to allow him to see all of his sons and then rejects each one on God’s orders until only the youngest, tending sheep in the field, remains. God immediately gives his spirit to David, empowering him to eventually take the role of leadership that he would fill for years to come.

David’s battle with the Philistine champion Goliath is the first instance in which he displays his ability to fight. This battle showcases David’s intention to follow God’s orders in becoming king of Israel. The tale of the battle between a lowly shepherd boy and a giant became the focus of biblical commentary, literature, and art for centuries.

Analysis of the story can be centered on David’s heroism from a historical and religious viewpoint as well as the way David as a character fulfills the role of a hero in both an epic fashion and an archetypal one. Since historical analysis focuses on the way a piece of literature fits into the culture from which it was born, it can include a clarification of the social, cultural, or religious environment that surrounds the time period of the story itself. However, the historical critic’s main goal is to provide a clarification of the meaning to the audience that was contemporary to the piece itself. The archetypal interpretation adds a layer of complexity to the critique as it explains how a particular aspect of the story can be seen as a part of what psychoanalyst Carl Jung called the “collective unconscious.” For this story, both David’s heroism and the thematic idea of a battle between an untried youth and a seasoned or fearful opponent can be examined in light of the archetype of the hero on a hero’s journey.

Summary

The story of David begins when Samuel obeys God by going to Jesse the Bethlehemite in order to choose a replacement for King Saul. Jesse parades his sons in front of Samuel until all but the youngest have been seen by the prophet. When David is sent for and then introduced to Samuel, Samuel knows at once that the boy will be the next king of Israel.

Soon after Samuel chooses David to replace Saul, the king is struck by “an evil spirit” (1 Sam. 16:14). His advisors urge him to send for a musician to help soothe his spirits. David is recommended and called into service for Saul when needed. In the meantime, Saul and the Israelite army gather in the Valley of Elah to battle with the Philistines. The Philistines’ most terrifying champion is Goliath of Gath, “whose height was six cubits and a span” (1 Sam. 17:4), which in modern measurements is approximately nine-and-a-half feet. The giant, commonly referred to simply as the Philistine, is also described by his military garb: “He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. He had greaves of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron” (1 Sam. 17:5–7). His size and strength emphasize his ferocity as a fighter, and his attitude increases the fear he instills in the Israelite army. He taunts the army with the bargain that the Philistines will be servants to the Israelites if an Israelite champion can defeat him.

“‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.’ But David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts.’”

Three of David’s older brothers serve in Saul’s army, so his father takes him out of the field where he is tending sheep to deliver food to them and their commanders. While David is speaking with his brothers, Goliath repeats his taunt, and the Israelite army runs from the giant in fear. In their terror, some members of the army discuss the king’s reward among themselves. Hearing the potential reward, David asks for specifics and is assured that the prize consists of freedom from taxes for his family, marriage to one of Saul’s daughter, and riches. As David asks for reassurance of this compensation, his oldest brother scolds him for presumption. Disregarding his brother’s anger over his questions, David approaches Saul and volunteers to fight the giant. He pushes aside Saul’s concerns over his age and lack of military experience by pointing out his previous victories over wild animals while guarding his father’s sheep. He also claims God’s protection. Saul accedes to David’s desire to fight Goliath and dresses the boy in his own armor. David rejects the battle gear and takes only his staff, his slingshot, and five small stones to face the enemy.

Goliath mocks the boy, but David holds strong, once again claiming God’s protection. He then rushes at the giant, pulls a stone from his bag, and places it in his sling. The stone flies from the sling with deadly accuracy, hitting Goliath in the forehead, and the giant falls to the ground. David finishes his task by taking Goliath’s own sword and chopping off his head, ensuring an Israelite victory. The story ends with the defeat of the Philistine forces.

Bibliography

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