What rewards were promised to the man who defeated Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:25? Setting the Scene 1 Samuel 17 drops us into the Valley of Elah, where Israel’s soldiers are paralyzed by fear of Goliath. Verse 25 records the king’s incentive plan—spoken by the men of Israel—to motivate a champion. The Text “The men of Israel were saying, ‘Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he comes to defy Israel. The king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches, and will give him his daughter in marriage, and will exempt his father’s house from taxation in Israel.’” (1 Samuel 17:25) Threefold Reward Package • Great wealth – “Enrich…with great riches.” – Likely meant an immediate financial windfall—silver, gold, livestock, land (cf. 1 Samuel 22:7, where Saul distributes fields and vineyards). • Royal marriage – “Give him his daughter.” – This elevates the victor to the king’s own family line, echoing Genesis 41:41-45, where Pharaoh rewards Joseph with status and marriage into nobility. – For David, this promise is reiterated in 1 Samuel 18:17-27, eventually fulfilled with Michal (v. 27). • Family freedom from taxes and obligations – “Exempt his father’s house in Israel.” – This covers all royal levies: taxes, forced labor, and conscription (compare 1 Samuel 8:11-17, the list of burdens Saul had placed on Israel). – The entire household enjoys permanent relief, a generational blessing. Why It Matters • Tangible motivation: Saul’s incentives reflect the biblical principle that “the worker is worthy of his wages” (Luke 10:7). • Covenant confidence: David focuses more on God’s honor than on rewards (1 Samuel 17:26, 45-47), modeling Matthew 6:33—seek first God’s kingdom, and earthly provisions follow. • Foreshadowing: These rewards pave David’s path to the throne, demonstrating Proverbs 18:16, “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.” |
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