1 Samuel 17:40

1 Samuel 17:40

And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

1. “…and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip…”

a. The question has been asked, “Why did David get just five stones? Did he want to make sure he could try again if he missed?” Well one of the answers given is that Goliath had five brothers.

1). 2 Samuel 21:15-22  Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David w And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. axed faint.

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which [was] of the sons of the giant.

And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.

And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.

These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

2). As the text from 2 Samuel reveals, these brothers of Goliath were not slain until years later in David’s life. It may be correct that David was thinking of the other four brothers, but whatever, these guys did not meet with death until years later.