David’s Growing Fame: This chapter, a single, coherent narrative, supplies an alternative introduction to David. Until he is anointed by the people of Judah (2 Sam. 2) there is no further reference to David’s anointing. Nor does this chapter indicate that David might be widely known by the people.

17:1–58 The situation is familiar: two battle lines drawn up on nearby hills, with the intervening valley preventing any precipitous action. On this occasion the Philistines had commandeered a huge Gittite to act as champion, one who would fight on behalf of their army. If an equivalent champion from among the Israelites could defeat him, then the Philistine army agreed to surrender, not an unknown procedure. Goliath’s physical presence—the weight of his armor suggests he was meant to frighten rat…