Why is Saul's inquiry about David's family significant in 1 Samuel 17:55? Reading 1 Samuel 17:55 “When Saul saw David going out to confront the Philistine, he asked Abner the commander of the army, ‘Abner, whose son is this youth?’ Abner replied, ‘As surely as you live, O king, I do not know.’” Why Saul’s Question Stands Out • David had already been in Saul’s court as a harp-player and armor-bearer (1 Samuel 16:21-22). • Saul recognized the young man, yet still asks, “Whose son…?”—focusing on lineage, not identity. • The inquiry follows David’s stunning victory over Goliath; the king now sees a potential national hero, royal son-in-law, and future leader. Promises Riding on Family Identity 1 Samuel 17:25 records three rewards Saul had publicly promised: • “great riches” to the victor • the hand of the king’s daughter in marriage • tax-exemption “for his father’s household” Knowing David’s father becomes essential for: • Legal fulfillment of the tax exemption • Determining whether the family is socially suitable for royal marriage (compare 1 Samuel 18:17-24) • Formally recording genealogical data in royal archives Tribal and Messianic Significance • David is “the son of Jesse the Bethlehemite” (1 Samuel 16:1), of the tribe of Judah—Judah being the scepter-holding tribe foretold in Genesis 49:10. • Saul’s question, unwittingly, spotlights the lineage God has chosen for an everlasting dynasty, paving the way for the covenant of 2 Samuel 7 and, ultimately, the birth of Christ (Matthew 1:1-6). A Contrast of Kingdoms • Saul’s dynasty (from Benjamin) is already faltering (1 Samuel 13:13-14). • By asking about David’s father, Saul is indirectly acknowledging a shift in divine favor—from his own house to Jesse’s. • The king’s curiosity foreshadows his later jealousy (1 Samuel 18:8-9) and relentless pursuit (1 Samuel 19–26). Practical Takeaways for Today • God keeps His promises with precise detail; even family records matter in His redemptive plan. • Public commitments, like Saul’s reward, must be honored with integrity (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). • The Lord often elevates the humble (David the shepherd) while bringing down the proud (Luke 1:52). |
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