It is the position of fundamentalist Christians that the Bible is the inerrant word of God and, for the most part, depicts true events in the course of history of the Israelites. However, if a person holds to this belief, stories like the one in 1 Samuel, Chapter 17, become very difficult to explain!
This chapter centers around the classic tales of David and Goliath. Goliath, who supposedly is 8 - 10 feet tall, challenges the Israelites to send out one man to fight him mano a mano. The youthful David delivers an impassioned speech and King Saul is so moved that he personally sends his ward off to fight the Philistine giant. It should be strongly noted that David had been living in Saul's household for a while.
As I'm sure most people know, David struck down Goliath with a stone from a sling and then beheaded the monster man with Goliath's own sword. It's at this point in which the story gets really weird.
Saul -- remember he personally sent David out to battle Goliath -- wants to know who slew the Philistine. The leader of the Israelite forces brings David to Saul. Does Saul say, "Oh, my boy. You actually succeeded. Good show"? Not at all. He asks David who he is?!?
David acts as if he doesn't know Saul either. He explains that he is the son of Jesse.
And to make the confusion even more complete, in the first verse of Chapter 18, we're told "that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." Who in the heck is Jonathan? His character had not been introduced until this point!
So, how does a person who believes the bible is the inerrant word of God reconcile the fact that a) Saul specifically sends his ward David into battle and b) When David proves successful, he has no idea who David is (and David likewise has no idea who Saul is)?
If read literally, this story makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
This chapter centers around the classic tales of David and Goliath. Goliath, who supposedly is 8 - 10 feet tall, challenges the Israelites to send out one man to fight him mano a mano. The youthful David delivers an impassioned speech and King Saul is so moved that he personally sends his ward off to fight the Philistine giant. It should be strongly noted that David had been living in Saul's household for a while.
As I'm sure most people know, David struck down Goliath with a stone from a sling and then beheaded the monster man with Goliath's own sword. It's at this point in which the story gets really weird.
Saul -- remember he personally sent David out to battle Goliath -- wants to know who slew the Philistine. The leader of the Israelite forces brings David to Saul. Does Saul say, "Oh, my boy. You actually succeeded. Good show"? Not at all. He asks David who he is?!?
David acts as if he doesn't know Saul either. He explains that he is the son of Jesse.
And to make the confusion even more complete, in the first verse of Chapter 18, we're told "that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." Who in the heck is Jonathan? His character had not been introduced until this point!
So, how does a person who believes the bible is the inerrant word of God reconcile the fact that a) Saul specifically sends his ward David into battle and b) When David proves successful, he has no idea who David is (and David likewise has no idea who Saul is)?
If read literally, this story makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
related to some of your earlier posts re: how women are treated in the bible, thought you might find the following post of interest:
ReplyDeletehttp://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2010/11/direct-your-hearts-to-her-and-speak-out.html
there are at least a few people who consider themselves christian who are troubled by how women are treated, and try to figure out what it means.
i find it interesting that while being critical, he's still looking for good "theology" to back up his views. it's interesting to me the great lengths people will go to still believe in the bible, and fit all the pieces together. (not sure whether the author of the post or the book mentioned still believe in biblical inerrancy or not.) they can't seem to just say "that part is wrong" and be done with it.
--sgl
And what's all this business between David and Johnathan? Sounds kinky.
ReplyDeleteAs for your main point, I don't know, I read it for myself and it seems Saul, after the battle, knows David, but wonders who his father is. Later he becomes jealous of Davids renown.