DAVID KILLS GOLIATH IN THE ELAH VALLEY

1 SAMUEL 15–17

The hopeful start to the new monarchy faded with the passing months. Despite the Lord’s desire to define the kingship of the nation as a unique institution (Deut. 17:15–20; 1 Sam. 10:25), Saul increasingly assumed the attitude of a Canaanite monarch. When Saul violated God’s orders in a battle with the Amalekites, the Lord announced that he had rejected Saul (1 Sam. 15:11) and directed Samuel to privately anoint David to be the next king (1 Sam. 16:1–13).

Not long after David was anointed king, he was called into Saul’s court to serve as harpist and armor bearer due to his reputation as a musician, brave man, and warrior (1 Sam. 16:18–23). Soon David began to take on the role of Israel’s champion, a leader who loved and served the Lord. When the Philistines advanced up the Elah Valley toward Bethlehem, it was David who took on the decisive battle with Goliath—a battle that finds new depth of meaning when we see that it happened where it did for a reason.

The Elah Valley is part of the Shephelah, an area that provides the transitional buffer zone between the sprawling coastal plain and the high mountains of Judah. This transition zone is characterized by rounded foothills rising above wide, U-shaped valleys. The low hills and wide valleys made an important contribution to the economy and national security of Israel.6 While the economic benefits of the Elah Valley made it desirable real estate, its role in Judah’s security plan made it a strategic necessity. Israelites had to control the Elah Valley if those who lived in the mountains of Judah were to be secure.7

Assyrian sling stones. David would have used similar stones in his battle against Goliath.

Ancient Gath (Tell es-Safi), hometown of Goliath the Philistine (view looking southwest).

The early verses of 1 Samuel 17 depict a terrifying picture. The Philistines had made camp in the west end of the Elah Valley at a place called Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites were camped in the eastern end of the valley (1 Sam. 17:1–3). The map tells the story. The critical Elah Valley was not just threatened but fully occupied by the Philistine aggressors, who were using the route to get to Bethlehem. Thus the economic benefits and the security of this region were all but lost to the Israelites.

With the two key leaders now present at this geographic locale, we can compare the leadership skills of the ruling king, Saul, and the recently anointed king, David (1 Sam. 16:13). The Israelites had called for a king who would go before them and lead them in battle (1 Sam. 8:20). If there was a time to act, a time for valor, a time for inspired leadership, this was it. But we find Saul offering anything but leadership. The booming voice of Goliath had issued the same challenge twice a day for forty days (1 Sam. 17:16). The Philistine champion defied the Israelites to produce just one fighter willing to engage him in hand-to-hand combat. The only response they could muster and Saul could inspire was fear (1 Sam. 17:11, 24).

David meets Goliath in the Elah Valley

In contrast, David was everything that Saul was not. His words echoed across the valley with faith and power: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (1 Sam. 17:45). Taking on his kingly role by proclaiming the Lord as King, with actions that matched his words David slew Goliath.

The Elah Valley with the mountains of Judah (near Bethlehem) in the background (view looking east).

Wadi Elah (view looking southwest). David picked up sling stones in his battle with Goliath from Wadi Elah.

David killed Goliath in the Elah Valley for a reason. In a battle charge that protected Bethlehem and the hill country of Judah, David, the newly anointed king of Israel, and the Israelite army drove the Philistine menace from the Elah Valley. The Philistines fled back to their cities of Gath and Ekron with the Israelites in pursuit (1 Sam. 17:51–52). David had defeated Goliath in the name of the Lord and driven the Philistines from the Elah Valley, and the result was that David was elevated in the eyes of the people (1 Sam. 18:1–5; 23:16–18).