Thematic Bible

Themes in 1 Samuel 17

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Themes in 1 Samuel 17

1 Samuel 17:1 (show verse)

Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they 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 were gathered and camped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter 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 stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley 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 came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

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)

He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze.

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)

He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin 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)

The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before 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 ranks of Israel and said to them, “Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to 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 is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become 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)

Again the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together.”

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 of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

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 of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men.

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)

The three older sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

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)

David was the youngest. Now the three oldest 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 went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock at 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)

The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days 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)

Then Jesse said to David his son, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers.

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)

Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of 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)

For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are 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 arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper and took the supplies and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the circle of the camp while the army was going out in battle array shouting the war 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 drew up in battle array, army against army.

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)

Then David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper, and ran to the battle line and entered in order to greet his brothers.

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)

As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard them.

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 men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid.

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)

The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel. And it will be that the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father’s house free 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)

Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt 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 answered him in accord with this word, saying, “Thus it 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)

Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order 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)

But David said, “What have I done now? Was it not 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 away from him to another and said the same thing; and the people answered the same thing 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)

When the words which David spoke were heard, they told them to Saul, and he sent for 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, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with 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)

Then Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth.”

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)

But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took 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 out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him.

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 both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted 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)

And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And 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 clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with 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 girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” And 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)

He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and 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)

Then the Philistine came on and approached David, with the shield-bearer in front of him.

1 Samuel 17:42 (show verse)

When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance.

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)

The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine 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)

The Philistine also said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.”

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)

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.

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)

This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,

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 that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”

1 Samuel 17:48 (show verse)

Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:49 (show verse)

And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that 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)

Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand.

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)

Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

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 arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the slain Philistines lay along the way to Shaaraim, even 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