1 Samuel 17:56
“The king said, “Inquire whose son the young man is!””
What does 1 Samuel 17:56 mean?
King Saul asks this question right after watching the young shepherd David defeat the giant Goliath in single combat. Saul has just witnessed this seemingly impossible victory, and now he wants to know who this brave unknown boy actually is, perhaps recognizing that such courage and skill might come from a distinguished family. It's a very human moment: Saul is trying to make sense of what he's just seen and figure out where this unexpected hero came from. Though David will eventually become Israel's most famous king, at this moment he's still just the anonymous young man who stepped forward when no one else would, and Saul is simply asking for his background. This small question sets in motion David's introduction to the royal court and marks a turning point in his life story.