Author: Administrador

Last week, David’s drama took center stage as he grieved over his mentor, Saul, and his friend, Jonathan, two figures who represented possible one-time rivals for legitimate rule. David mourned the fallen shield of Saul, Israel’s protector, which no longer bore the anointing oil. In this week’s text, the people come to David looking for … Continue reading “2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 Commentary by David G. Garber Jr.”

The second half of 1 Samuel recounts the contest between Saul and David. Samuel anointed David in 1 Samuel 16, and throughout the rest of the book, all sorts of people endorse David as the coming king: the women who hail David’s victories; Saul’s son Jonathan and his daughter Michal; Abigail the erstwhile wife of … Continue reading “2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 Commentary by Ralph W. Klein”

David’s lament over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, a fine example of Hebrew poetry, is a particularly difficult text to preach, for this convergence of difficultly intertwined relationships lacks any reference to the LORD. Textual Horizons Throughout the story of the Saul and David, there are threads that weave in and out the narrative.   … Continue reading “2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 Commentary by Samuel Giere”

It’s a classic trope of male-bonding and war literature. The hero of the story suffers the loss of either a compatriot or a mentor. Luke Skywalker loses Obi-Wan to his self-sacrifice on the Death Star; Maverick holds Goose in a Pietà pose in the ocean after his wingman (in both the battlefield and the night … Continue reading “2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 Commentary by David G. Garber Jr.”

The lectionary’s desire to include the story of David and Goliath in the Sunday lessons is made difficult by the length of the story in the Bible. The Septuagint itself does not contain verses 12-31, 41, 48b, part of 51, and 55-58. That shorter version is probably more original, although the omission of 41, 48b … Continue reading “1 Samuel 17:[1a, 4-11, 19-23] 32-49 Commentary by Ralph W. Klein”

The story of David slaying Goliath, violent though it is, has been used for generations to open the imagination of children to the LORD’s power. At the heart of the story is the dramatic moment when young David “in the name of the LORD of hosts” defeats gigantic, menacing Goliath, who has “defied” the LORD’s … Continue reading “1 Samuel 17:[1a, 4-11, 19-23] 32-49 Commentary by Samuel Giere”

Since its inception, people have cherished David and Goliath as one of the most favored stories of all time. From the early rabbinic sages, to today’s Vacation Bible School materials, the theme of the victorious underdog profoundly resonates with people across cultures. Nearly every civilization can share some similar story from within its cultural repository. … Continue reading “1 Samuel 17:[1a, 4-11, 19-23] 32-49 Commentary by Roger Nam”

1The name David occurs more often than any other human name — more often than Abraham, or Moses, or Jacob, or Joseph. Moreover, the story of David (which takes up most or all of 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, and 1 Chronicles) is both the longest sustained human story in the Old Testament as well as … Continue reading “1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 51:1-10 Commentary by Rolf Jacobson”

Most people have fond memories of David from Sunday school: shepherd, singer of psalms, king, brave warrior. He is the quintessential example of what it means to be a follower of Yahweh. These texts focus on two disparate events in his life. The first is David’s initial appearance in the text. Yet, this section begins … Continue reading “1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 51:10-14 Commentary by Beth L. Tanner”

One of the primary messages of this story is that God is (yet again) providing for the welfare of the people, just as God had previously provided deliverance from Pharaoh; manna water, and the law in the wilderness; a land during the settlement; and guidance and leadership during the period of the judges.1 At the … Continue reading “1 Samuel 16:1-13 Commentary by Rolf Jacobson”