Goliath insults the Israelites on three levels (Ealy, Rethinking):

• Theologically: He threatens that the people of Israel will become servants to the Philistines and their gods (1 Sam 17:9).

• Socially: He demoralizes their leader, Saul, and forces the Israelites to flee (1 Sam 17:11, 23–24).

• Militarily: He reduces the conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines to single combat (1 Sam 17:8–10).

So Goliath does the equivalent of trying to flick away a pesky mosquito. “Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks?” (17:43), he asks, and he curses David by his gods. Goliath’s words can be seen as a dismissal of David, or a foolhardy person (like David in Goliath’s eyes) can interpret them as a challenge and move the game forward.

Saul offers his armor to David, but it doesn’t fit. David is weighed down by equipment to which he is unaccustomed. He approaches Goliath in his shepherd garb, taking five smooth stones in his pouch and holding his sling in his hand. Compared to Goliath with his uniform and equipment (17:5–7), David looks naked. Moreover, he is too young and inexperienced to play in this game. His good looks similarly testify that he is not battle scarred. No wonder Goliath disdained David (17:42). He shouldn’t be playing the game. Were it not that Goliath perceives that David is not his equal, Goliath would be insulted. But an inferior cannot insult a superior.

David’s eloquent response (17:44–47) makes Goliath’s blunt challenge look tame by comparison. David is clearly a master of words. Indeed, he has already been described as such (16:18). He taunts Goliath (“come to me”) and tells him that his weapons will not spare his life, for David intends to make of Goliath food for the birds of the air and beasts of the field. Already David has bested his opponent in one dimension of manliness.