1 Samuel 17 — Dead Sea Scrolls
1 attestation entry • 0 variants • 4QSamᵃ family
Manuscript Overview
Summary
1 Samuel 17 narrates David and Goliath. The Septuagint preserves a shorter text-form omitting vv. 12–31 and 55–58; the MT has the longer text. 4QSamᵃ preserves only fragments of this chapter, but where it survives it appears to support the LONGER text-form (MT-type), making the LXX shorter form appear to be a secondary abbreviation rather than the original. This is one of the most-discussed cases in DSS textual criticism.
Notable Variants
MAJOR TEXT-CRITICAL QUESTION. The shorter LXX form omits David's introduction by his father (vv. 12–31) and his post-victory introduction to Saul (vv. 55–58), producing a more streamlined narrative. Earlier scholarship (Tov, Lust) argued the shorter form was original. 4QSamᵃ's fragmentary support for the longer MT-type form suggests the longer text was at home in Hebrew tradition by the late 3rd century BCE. The current scholarly consensus is split, but the DSS evidence has weakened the case for the LXX shorter form being original.
Manuscripts
4QSamᵃ (4Q51)
Scroll Condition
4QSamᵃ preserves only scattered fragments of this chapter and does not provide a continuous reading.
A man-of-the-between came out from the Philistine camp — his name was Goliath, from Gath. His height was six cubits and a span.
Goliath's name and dimensions are preserved fragmentarily. The MT 'six cubits and a span' (~9'9") is the standard reading; some LXX witnesses and 4QSamᵃ support 'four cubits and a span' (~6'9"), the latter being more anatomically plausible and possibly original.
fragmentary