What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 17:55? As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine • Saul’s gaze fixes on a shepherd boy stepping onto the battlefield while seasoned soldiers cower (1 Samuel 17:24, 32-37). • The king’s watchfulness highlights his own fear and David’s faith, echoing earlier contrasts between Saul and Samuel (1 Samuel 13:13-14) and foreshadowing the coming transfer of kingship (1 Samuel 15:28). • Scripture paints this scene literally: Saul sees—he does not merely hear reports. The visual detail grounds the narrative in real time and space, assuring readers that God works through concrete, observable events. he said to Abner the commander of the army • Abner, Saul’s cousin and highest military officer (1 Samuel 14:50-51; 26:5), stands beside his king, yet he has no solution for Goliath. • By addressing Abner, Saul acknowledges the chain of command; however, the true deliverer stands outside that hierarchy. • The contrast between human leadership and divine empowerment mirrors later moments when military strength proves insufficient without the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:12; Psalm 20:7). "Abner, whose son is this young man?" • Saul is not asking David’s name but his lineage. The promised reward for Goliath’s slayer includes tax-free status for his father’s house (1 Samuel 17:25); identifying the household matters. • Although David had earlier served as Saul’s musician and armor-bearer (1 Samuel 16:21-22), the king evidently never investigated his family background with this level of attention. Royal courts often included many attendants; familiarity with one role did not guarantee knowledge of personal heritage. • The question underscores God’s pattern of raising up unlikely families—Jesse’s youngest son, from Bethlehem, the town later linked to the Messiah (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4). "As surely as you live, O king," Abner replied, "I do not know." • Abner’s respectful oath (“As surely as you live”) affirms Saul’s authority while admitting ignorance. Even the commander lacks vital information, emphasizing David’s obscurity up to this moment (1 Samuel 18:18). • The unknown status of David’s house magnifies the Lord’s sovereignty: God does not depend on renowned pedigrees to accomplish His purposes (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). • This confession sets the stage for David’s post-victory introduction to Saul (1 Samuel 17:57-58), where the shepherd’s lineage becomes central to future covenant promises (2 Samuel 7:12-16). summary 1 Samuel 17:55 captures a pivotal pause in the narrative: the fearful king watches faith in action, seeks pedigree information from his highest officer, and discovers that neither royal authority nor military command can account for God’s choice. The verse underlines David’s humble obscurity, Saul’s growing curiosity, and the Lord’s pattern of elevating the lowly to fulfill His redemptive plan. |
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