David’s stature?
 

Question.

If David was a puny little boy, why would King Saul want him to wear his armor to fight Goliath? David said he didn’t have time to prove it, indicating he could wear it, but wasn’t comfortable on his first time out.

Saul was head and shoulders above others. If that’s the case, then David couldn’t have been as young or as small as some have described.

What say you?

Re: David’s stature?
 

How old was David when anointed by the prophet? How old was he when he slayed the giant?

Re: David’s stature?
 

Hi, PO! :)

Re: David’s stature?
 

The Bible says that David was a youth. I think that would mean probably mid to late teens. He was also described as a stripling by Goliath, which is consistent with someone who is not yet a mature man. I don’t know of anything to indicate that he was not an alpha male though. I believe he was.

Another interesting side note is that Jonathan and David were great friends. It is often implied that they were of about the same age. They weren’t. Jonathan was much older. In fact he was probably old enough to be David’s father.

Re: David’s stature?
 

I only read that he was about 20 years old.

Hey! Hope all is well!

Re: David’s stature?
 

Yes, a stripling compared to Goliath. Much I recall hearing was that he was a stripling to everyone else as well. He couldn’t have been if Saul offered his armor. It means that Saul sized up David as being tall enough and big enough to wear it.

The NIV in I Samuel 17:42 seems to indicate that Goliath looked him over and was jealous of his health and good looks.

I didn’t know that about the age difference. Jonathan was wise to see that God wanted David as King and did all he could to make that happen. I can see why David could say that Jonathan’s love for him was wonderful (pala-properly perhaps to separate, that is distinguish) surpassing the love (affection) of a woman.

It was as close as, but a separate type of affection that didn’t involve sexuality.

Re: David’s stature?
 

1 Samuel 16:11-19 KJV
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. [12] And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. [13] Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. [14] But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. [15] And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. [16] Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. [17] And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. [18] Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him. [19] Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

David wasn't a little puny kid when he was anointed by Samuel and entered Saul's court.

1 Samuel 16:21 KJV
And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

He was immediately appointed as the king's armourbearer. This is not some little kid, no matter what Veggie Tales says.

According to Numbers 1:3, 20 years old was the minimum age for military service. David was identified as a "man of war" prior to killing Goliath, and afterwards was immediately placed in charge of a battalion (1000 soldiers). If he was under 20 it is highly likely somebody (especially Samuel the prophet of God and champion of "obedience is better than sacrifice") would have objected that he was not yet eligible for military service.

It is thus most likely that he was 20-21 years old when he killed Goliath. Such persons were often called "youths" (as was Absalom even though he was definitely older than 20). Goliath calling him a "boy" would just be an example of a giant warrior insulting a young challenger.

Re: David’s stature?
 

The things we overlook. Good work, E.

Re: David’s stature?
 

:highfive

Re: David’s stature?
 

Edit:

1 Samuel 18:5 KJV
And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

It doesn't say he appointed David as captain over 1000 men. It says he was put over "the men of war." Sounds like he was made some kind of field marshall or something.

Edit 2: I can't find where Goliath called him a "boy":

1 Samuel 17:42-44 KJV
And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. [43] And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. [44] And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

Re: David’s stature?
 

Where do you get that this took place before he killed Goliath? It seems to have some gaps in it. It seems that if David were already Saul’s armor bearer, he would have not needed any introduction to David. I don’t know. It doesn’t seem clear to me.

And if he were twenty years old he wouldn’t have been in the army already?
I dunno.

We do know that David actually became king at thirty.

Re: David’s stature?
 

1 Samuel 16:13-19 KJV
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. [14] But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. [15] And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. [16] Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. [17] And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. [18] Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him. [19] Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

This was shortly after David was anointed by Samuel. Goliath shows up in chapter 17, the next chapter. I see no evidence ch 16 took place AFTER chapter 17.

As for David being in the army, he likely already was, since he was described by one of Saul's servants as a "man of war". The fact he shuttled between serving as a couriet for the army and tending his father's flocks is no impediment to this. Israel's military was generally a citizen militia. Somebody had to manage the homestead. David had three brothers in the army already, so it is not unreasonable that David would at that time be serving part time.

In ch 17 we read:

1 Samuel 17:15 KJV
But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Beth-lehem.

This was right before Goliath showed up. So ch 16 happened before 17.

Re: David’s stature?
 

You may be exactly right Esaias. But remember that David pointed out on his “resume” that he killed a lion and a bear. He didn’t mention being a man of war. He became Sauls son in law after gathering two hundred foreskins of the Philistines. But this seems to be after he killed Goliath.

Re: David’s stature?
 

How many soldiers were known for killing lions and bears when not fully armed? Goliath was a monster of a warrior. All the men of war were afraid of him. So David's resume wouldn't bother with being a man of war, but being supernaturally ferocious and tough enough to take on wild dangerous animals single handed with shepherding tools.

Note: When Saul's servant called David a man of war, it need not mean David had a reputation for killing men in battle. It just meant he was A) at least part time in the military and B) known for courage and not afraid. This reputation could theoretically be gained (in the servant's eyes at least) without David actually getting his CIB as it were.

In any event, I think the 20 year age benchmark for military service is enough to establish he was most likely 20 or 21, or thereabouts.

But even if he was under 20, he wasn't some little middle schooler. He would have been very close to 20. Although I think the preponderance of evidence points to him being at least 20.

Re: David’s stature?
 

As for David's actual stature, Saul was a tall guy, and David could wear his armour. So it seems David wasn't a short guy.

Re: David’s stature?
 

Agreed! And, yet, he will still be represented as a puny young boy.

David loved his king. What a good person he was.

Re: David’s stature?
 

I always thought that was the strangest thing. Saul must have been some kind of narcissist.

Re: David’s stature?
 

Saul had "problems", remember? An evil spirit messing with his mind....

Re: David’s stature?
 

Saul was fully capable of functioning as a king. It appears he was troubled at times, but not 24/7.

I Samuel 16:16 “Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.”

Re: David’s stature?
 

You know just speaking generally about David. I get that he was a man after God’s own heart. But otherwise he seemed to live a life that wasn’t enviable at all. Running from Saul, fighting with his own sons, being banished to live with the enemy Philistines. And especially dealing with a generally dysfunctional family.

It just doesn’t seem to be the life that a king should covet. When I look at David’s life I think mine looks pretty good in fact.

Re: David’s stature?
 

Yeah, he had "episodes".

Re: David’s stature?
 

Some people want boring. Some people want excitement.

David lived an epic life. Lord of the Rings kind of epic.

Re: David’s stature?
 

Saul was like a man winning a massive lottery and being unable to handle the responsibility.

Re: David’s stature?
 

I think history shows a lot of strife and drama in the various monarchies. Look at what is happening now in England. Meghan and Harry systematically working to bring down that system. Oxford has already removed Queen Elizabeth’s portrait. I don’t anticipate that ending well in time, if this Cancel Culture continues to plow down the fields that is.

Re: David’s stature?
 

I had a person say that it is true that the minimum age was 20 years old, but Goliath still called David a boy,

How old was Goliath? Saul said Goliath had been a warrior since his youth. That appears to show he was older and would think a 20 year old was a boy to him.

The person also said that perhaps Saul was mocking David by telling him to try on his armor. I think that’s supposition. David did try to walk in the Armor, but did say he couldn’t use it as he hadn’t proved/tested it. He never said it didn’t fit.

My thinking is that logically, Saul sized David up and believed he was large enough to fit into his armour. That’s another indication, IMO, that he wasn’t a little boy.

Re: David’s stature?
 

:heeheehee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJg1...ikiiZarabianie

Re: David’s stature?
 

Who is "The Person?"

Re: David’s stature?
 

Since Goliath was a solider from his youth, would indicate he was older than David. Let's say Goliath was in his fifties? Anything under that age may cause the solider Goliath to refer to the Judean as a boy? Saying that David was some skinny child may be pulpit embellishing? :dunno

Re: David’s stature?
 

Seriously? Would I mention that here on this forum? No. :heeheehee

Re: David’s stature?
 

That is my view as well and it makes logical sense.

When I look at I Samuel 17:56, it says that Saul asked who the “stripling” was. Studying further, I read stripling described as a full grown youth. So, he wasn’t a skinny sniveling kid.

The person (lol) said every place they check shows no one can determine David’s age. However, I see Saul’s servants, as Esaias wrote, describing him as old enough to be military age.

The person said they could have described him that way knowing about his victory against the lion and bear. And he may have had to fight marauding Philistines when keeping the sheep. Of course, I don’t agree.

I feel that Saul offered his armor because he sized up David and saw he was large enough to wear it. David only said he couldn’t wear it as he hadn’t tested it.

The person said that David would have obeyed the King even if he knew the armor was too small. I don’t agree with that. The other point the person made is that Saul could have been mocking David, as was his way, by having David try on the larger armor to show he was a kid. I think that is a stretch.

Anyway, putting all the scriptures together, military age in Numbers, servants describing him as a “man of war”, a stripling being a full grown youth (18-20 years old, logically), Saul handing David his armor, and your description of Goliath points to a young man who was not a child by any means.

Re: David’s stature?
 

I was just checking to see if we could have their name to lift them up in prayer? :heeheehee

Re: David’s stature?
 

PO, good job. I am always please to see your posts. Whether, I agree or disagree. Here I agree with you. Now, take this to "the person" and spoon feed them some Bible logic. :thumbsup

Re: David’s stature?
 

David was actually showing his wisdom and experience in warfare by rejecting what he had not trained in. A novice would have taken the advice of the king not realizing how his range of motion would be affected and also the increased weight limiting his speed and mobility.


Remember that Saul was head and shoulders above everyone else so not quite the size of Goliath but still a big dude.


Also, remember the stipulation Goliath gave? Why in the world would any military leader worth his salt allow a unarmored child with a slingshot put their future freedom at risk in a all or nothing one in one battle?


David had to have had the confidence of Saul in some way and Im guessing it was from previous battles he had witnessed David fight in.

Re: David’s stature?
 

Evidently Saul didn’t know David when he slew Goliath.

1 Samuel

[55] And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
[56] And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.

Re: David’s stature?
 

In the previous chapter however, it speaks of him sending a donkey laden down with bread and bottle of wine to Jesse when David is brought to the house of Saul to play the harp so that the evil spirit would leave him.


So they HAD met because Saul tells Jesse, Davids father that David had found favor in his sight.


Whats interesting is that after David slays Goliath and they are back in the court of Saul, Saul begins to prophesy...and the word in this case seems to indicate that its the evil spirit causing him to prophesy falsely...could it be that Saul in his spiritually bankrupt state had something similar to alzheimers or dementia?


That would answer the question of why he didnt remember David after already meeting him earlier in the text and David finding favor in his sight and he also made such an impression that he sends a large amount of food and a bottle of wine to Davids father in repayment.

Re: David’s stature?
 

Oh, right. Well, in that case the name is….. :heeheehee

Re: David’s stature?
 

:highfive

Ted Cruz still rocks. :thumbsup:heeheehee

Re: David’s stature?
 

I believe that Goliath’s perception, as the Bible states, was not about his military equipment or lack thereof. The Bible shows that Goliath was focused on David’s appearance. From Goliath’s years of military experience (“a man of war from his youth”), he rightly viewed David as having none. Therefore, he called him a youth. Not a grown experienced man as himself. I believe today that an experienced soldier would view a 24 year old as but a youth.

My opinion is that the only confidence Saul had in David was that David had confidence in God and himself.