Literary Analysis 1 Samuel 17:1-28
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
LITERARY ANALYSIS
1 SAMUEL 17:1-58
SUBMITTED TO DR. GUEST
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COMPLETION OF OBST 591
BY
DECEMBER 12, 2011
The account of David and Goliath is one most often taught to children. Many adult believers heard the account while growing up. To move beyond the superficial aspect of the events, an in-depth analysis is needed. The narrative is a complex literary work with deep theological messages. The current paper will record a literary analysis of 1 Samuel 17:1-58 and then discuss the theology and applications that can be useful in the lives of the modern day believer. The nation of Israel had asked God for a king. God had allowed this and Saul was anointed king. After Saul was disobedient and lost favor with God, God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint his youngest son, David, to be the next king over Israel. David was a ruddy shepherd boy who had several experiences where God had protected him and his sheep. In chapter 17 of the book of 1 Samuel we find David being sent to take supplies to his older brothers. They were encamped with the army of Saul across from the Philistine army. David arrived to hear the Philistine giant named Goliath taunting the Israelites and their God. It seemed his purpose was to entice Israel to send a warrior out to fight him. Goliath made the accusations and enticements twice a day for 40 days. David was appalled at his accusations and was willing to fight the giant. The men of Saul’s army told David about the rewards the king was offering to the man who would kill Goliath. David’s oldest brother ridiculed him. After collecting five stones from the stream, trying on Saul’s armor and refusing it, he ran to meet the giant conversing with him the whole time and hit him with a rock that was hurled from his slingshot. Goliath fell forward. David retrieved the sword of Goliath and beheaded him. Saul was questioning Abner, the commander of his army,
LITERARY ANALYSIS
1 SAMUEL 17:1-58
SUBMITTED TO DR. GUEST
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COMPLETION OF OBST 591
BY
DECEMBER 12, 2011
The account of David and Goliath is one most often taught to children. Many adult believers heard the account while growing up. To move beyond the superficial aspect of the events, an in-depth analysis is needed. The narrative is a complex literary work with deep theological messages. The current paper will record a literary analysis of 1 Samuel 17:1-58 and then discuss the theology and applications that can be useful in the lives of the modern day believer. The nation of Israel had asked God for a king. God had allowed this and Saul was anointed king. After Saul was disobedient and lost favor with God, God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint his youngest son, David, to be the next king over Israel. David was a ruddy shepherd boy who had several experiences where God had protected him and his sheep. In chapter 17 of the book of 1 Samuel we find David being sent to take supplies to his older brothers. They were encamped with the army of Saul across from the Philistine army. David arrived to hear the Philistine giant named Goliath taunting the Israelites and their God. It seemed his purpose was to entice Israel to send a warrior out to fight him. Goliath made the accusations and enticements twice a day for 40 days. David was appalled at his accusations and was willing to fight the giant. The men of Saul’s army told David about the rewards the king was offering to the man who would kill Goliath. David’s oldest brother ridiculed him. After collecting five stones from the stream, trying on Saul’s armor and refusing it, he ran to meet the giant conversing with him the whole time and hit him with a rock that was hurled from his slingshot. Goliath fell forward. David retrieved the sword of Goliath and beheaded him. Saul was questioning Abner, the commander of his army,
Bibliography: Deffinbaugh, Bob. “Bible.org.” http://bible.org/seriespage/david-and-goliath-1-samuel-171-58 (accessed December 1, 2011). LaSor, William Sanford, David Allan Hubbard, and Frederic Wm. Bush. Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1996. -------------------------------------------- [ 1 ]. Bob Deffinbaugh. “Bible.org.” http://bible.org/seriespage/david-and-goliath-1-samuel-171-58 (accessed December 1, 2011). [ 2 ]. Bob Deffinbaugh. “Bible.org.” http://bible.org/seriespage/david-and-goliath-1-samuel-171-58 (accessed December 1, 2011). [ 3 ]. William Sanford LaSor, David Allen Hubbard, and Frederic Wm. Bush, Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996), 176-177.