1 Samuel 17:55

Arabic 2016 (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)

رَاقَبَ شَاوُلُ دَاوُدَ وَهُوَ يُقَاتِلُ جُليَاتَ. فَسَألَ شَاوُلُ أبْنَيْرَ قَائِدَ جَيْشِهِ: «مَنْ هُوَ أبُو ذَلِكَ الشَّاب؟» فَأجَابَ أبْنَيْرُ: «أُقْسِمُ أنِّي لَا أعْرِفُ يَا سَيِّدِي.»

What Does This Mean?

In this verse, King Saul asks Abner, the army captain, who David is when he sees David going out to face Goliath. Abner cannot identify David, showing Saul's lack of awareness about the young man.

Explained for Children

Imagine you're at a big game, and you see a little kid go out to play against a big, scary player. Your dad asks who that kid is, but your coach doesn't know either. That's kind of what's happening here with David and King Saul.

Historical Background

This part of 1 Samuel was written by the prophets Samuel, Nathan, and Gad, likely around 930 BC. It describes events that happened around 1000 BC during the reign of King Saul and before David became king. The audience would have been the Israelites, and the story highlights the contrast between the Israelite army and their Philistine enemies.

Living It Out Today

Think about a situation where you're at work and a new, younger colleague volunteers to tackle a big project that others are afraid of. Your boss asks who that person is, and you realize you don't know much about them either. This moment of surprise and not knowing can be an opportunity to learn more about those around you.

Topics

• faith
• leadership
• identity
• surprise
• underdog
• courage

Related Verses

• Judges 6:12
• 1 Samuel 16:18
• 2 Samuel 23:17
• Luke 14:11
• 1 Corinthians 1:27

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Saul surprised by David?

Saul was surprised because David was a young and seemingly inexperienced person, and he was not familiar with David, showing a lack of attention to the young men around him.

What does Abner's response reveal about him?

Abner's response shows his honesty and possibly a hint of exasperation at Saul's lack of awareness about his own men, suggesting he might have known David but was surprised by Saul's question.

What can we learn about leadership from Saul's reaction?

Saul's reaction teaches us the importance of leaders knowing their team and the value of every member, not just the obvious ones.

How does this verse connect to David's later role?

This verse highlights David's anonymity and courage, setting the stage for his eventual rise to leadership, showing that leaders can come from unexpected places.