House of David Season 1 Episode 8: Recap, Review, & Analysis

House of David Season 1 Episode 8 (David and Goliath - Pt 2) brings the battle between David and the Philistine giant (1 Samuel 17:20-53) to life in an epic fashion, while setting the course for future drama in Season 2. Although I was initially surprised when I learned that the battle between David and Goliath wouldn't happen until the end of House of David Season 1, the way Episode 8 heightens the drama of this moment by weaving in so many other conflicts and storylines proves that this decision was quite justified. Below I will recap what happens in Episode 8 of House of David (*SPOILERS*), review the episode, and analyze some of the key themes. Also be sure to check out my recap, review, and analysis of Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, and Episode 7, as well as our video discussions of Episode 7 and Episode 8.

Goliath (played by Martyn Ford) launches a spear in Episode 8 of House of David

What Happened in House of David Season 1 Episode 8 (David and Goliath - Pt. 2)

As a capstone to House of David Season 1, Episode 8 has to juggle several storylines: the efforts of Jonathan (Ethan Kai) and Abner (Oded Fehr) to hold the armies of Israel together in the face of fear, the efforts of Mirab (Yali Topol Margalith) and Mychal (Indy Lewis) to bring King Saul (Ali Suliman) back from darkness, the preparations of David (Michael Iskander) to face Goliath, and the crisis posed to Ahinoam (Ayelet Zurer) by the surprise return of Eshbaal (Sam Otto).

Jonathan in House of David Episode 8

Episode 8 opens with Jonathan and his Gentile mercenaries making a nighttime raid on the Philistine camp in hopes of assassinating Goliath in his sleep. Meanwhile, across the valley, the forces of Zebulun are departing, having lost confidence due to Saul’s absence. At first, the raid seems to be going well, but ultimately it turns out to be a trap set by one of the mercenaries, a double agent working for the Philistines. While the forces of Zebulun are ambushed and slaughtered, Jonathan is captured and forced to kneel before Achish. 

The next day, Goliath tosses the heads of the assassins over to the Israelites and destroys their water cart with a spear, mocking Saul, the Israelites, and their God. As Abner, the only one who knows about the raid, looks on with fear, Adriel informs him that the leaders of eight tribes are about to meet and urges him to join them or die with Saul.

Back in the Philistine camp, Achish chides Jonathan for his impressive but pointless raid and questions why Samuel isn’t present, making sacrifices to their God. He reveals that he has finished uniting the five Philistine armies, which are now surrounding the Israelites and outnumber them three to one. Uncowed, Jonathan questions why the Philistines haven’t attacked yet. Achish contrasts his ancestors, who came across the sea to conquer Egypt and the Levant, with Jonathan’s ancestors, who were once slaves and preferred their slavery to the freedom that Moses offered them (Exodus 16:3, Numbers 11:4-6, Numbers 21:5), and he concludes that the Philistines were made to rule and the Hebrews were made to serve. When Jonathan reminds him of how God drowned their Egyptian oppressors in the sea, Achish questions where Yahweh is now and laughs at Jonathan for his fear of using the divine name. After Jonathan sees through Achish’s vengeful and arrogant posturing to his deeper insecurity and fear, Achish sends him back to the Israelite camp, warning that, if Jonathan doesn’t surrender by the following day, the Philistines will slaughter them all, including Jonathan’s sisters and mother, and that he will personally kill Jonathan (just as he does in Jonathan’s vision).

Over in the Israelite camp, Abner is struggling to hold the armies together when he sees David and brings him to Saul, hoping that his music will help the King recover his wits. When, instead of playing, David offers to fight Goliath, Abner tries to discourage the King from accepting the offer but is overruled. As Israelite converge on Saul’s tent, angrily seeking direction, Abner keeps them back and promises that the King will answer their concerns soon. After Joab drags Jonathan back into the camp, he informs the prince of the King’s plan. When Adriel seeks to force an audience with the King, Abner threatens him – but the situation is diffused when Saul emerges and confronts the men himself.

As David retrieves stones from the river, Jonathan confronts him, questioning who he really is and how he could go from being his father’s musician to Israel’s champion. After David chides him for not recalling the old stories of redemption and focusing more on the greatness of the giant than on the greatness of God, Jonathan expresses doubt that God is with them. David agrees: God is not with them as they cower in fear – he is only with them as they face their fears. After Jonathan questions who he is, David reveals he is from Bethlehem. When he learns that David met with Samuel, Jonathan is initially frightened but ultimately prays for God to be with David and reveals the key moment when the giant will be most vulnerable – right after he has thrown his spear.

As David approaches the battleline to face Goliath, Adriel tries to stop him but is restrained by Abner’s blade. Jonathan, his confidence boosted by his encounter with David, calls for his horse and bids Abner to be ready to follow him into battle. When it appears the battle is going ill, Jonathan stops Eliab from mercy-killing his brother. After David rises and defeats Goliath, Jonathan immediately calls the Israelites to follow him into battle, “for God and his ways” and they charge toward the oncoming Philistine host.

Mychal (played by Indy Lewis) encourages David (played by Michael Iskander) in Episode 8 of House of David

Mychal in House of David Episode 8

Mychal and Mirab draw near to the Israelite camp, just as the Philistines launch their ambush on the forces of Zebulun, and the sisters are forced to hide. Arriving in the camp later that morning, they are shocked by the despair of the Israelite soldiers. Mychal sends Mirab to find Abner and Jonathan, while she herself goes to Saul, who she finds in bed, lost in darkness, harassed by the spirit in the form of Agag. Though her arrival begins to pierce through the veil of darkness, Saul continues to struggle. Mychal then begins reading the scroll and exhorting Saul with the same words Moses used to challenge the Israelites to face the Anakim: “Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place” (Deuteronomy 31:29-31). As she pleads for Saul to wake up, he finally breaks out of the darkness and embraces her.

Mychal remains by Saul’s side and is present when David arrives and asks to face the giant. After her father sends David off to be armed, Mychal follows. Seeing David in Saul’s armor, she declares that he looks like a king, but he admits that he doesn’t feel like one. Taking out a small strip of parchment that she wrote, she reads her paraphrase of God’s exhortation to Joshua (Joshua 1:3-9) and tucks it into his armor. Hearing the jeers of the worried Israelite soldiers, David feels the sting of self-doubt but Mychal reminds him that God uses unlikely things and vessels normally overlooked because he sees what is inside them – just as she sees the power inside of him, in spite of her fear. Kissing him, she urges David to kill the giant and come back to her.

When David goes out to face Goliath and is struck in the side, Mychal watches with fear. Unwilling to despair, she prays and calls for David to rise up (just as Nitzevet once did and Jesse did last episode). As if in answer to her prayer, David pulls himself up, faces the giant, and slays him, while Saul, Mychal, and Mirab look on in wonder.

David in House of David Episode 8

With donkey in tow, David makes his way to the valley of Elah from Bethlehem, singing to God and praying as he journeys. He arrives just in time to hear Goliath offer his final ultimatum to the Israelite armies and is outraged by the lack of response from his fellow Israelites. The others laugh at David – even his cowardly brother, Nethanel, who in jest challenges David to fight Goliath. Eliab, on the other hand, questions whether David has snuck out to see the battle. David insists that he is here with Jesse’s blessing – and that he will fight the giant. As Eliab tries to shut him up, Abner appears and summons David to help soothe King Saul with his music.

Upon entering the King’s tent, however, David declares that he is not there to play but to fight, insisting that the Lord will deliver him from Goliath just as he delivered him from the lion and bear (1 Samuel 17:34-37). Though Eliab tries to dismiss David’s words, Saul is filled with courage and welcomes David, urging him to face Goliath with the same spirit with which he has spoken. Naming David champion, in spite of Abner’s objections, Saul gives him his own armor. Later, when Adriel and the Israelites threaten to rebel against Saul for the decision, he offers them his own crown if they think they can lead better.

Eliab, fearing that his brother will be tortured by Goliath, finds a bow and plans to kill David before that can happen. Meanwhile, as David arms himself, he is encouraged by Mychal (see above) but realizes that he cannot use the King’s armor. Instead, he goes in search of a stream and finds a pebble, just like the one he saw in his vision of the Commander of the Lord’s army. When Jonathan appears and questions how he plans to face the giant, David insists that what matters is not the greatness of the giant but rather the greatness of God, who will be with him as he goes forth to face his fears. After Jonathan realizes who he is, he offers David one last piece of advice – the best time to attack Goliath: right after he has thrown a spear.

As the Israelite armies jeers and laughs at David, he approaches the battleline. Nethanel and Eliab plead with him not to go, insisting that it’s impossible, but David responds this is the essential difference between them. Drawing on God’s words to Joshua, David offers a final prayer, for God to give him the ground. After he emerges from the battleline, Goliath mocks and curses him. In response, David gives his famous speech of defiant faith (1 Samuel 17:45-47) – to the laughter of Achish and Goliath.

Charging out to meet Goliath, David dodges two of the giant’s spears successfully but is grazed by the third and goes down. As Goliath approaches, chiding David for thinking he deserved to draw near to him, Eliab prepares to shoot David with an arrow but is stopped by Jonathan. Up on the hilltop, Samuel appears and offers a sacrifice, blessing the battle, and David arises, clutching a bloody stone like the one from his vision. Enraged, Goliath throws another spear at David (for his mother), but David dodges it and releases a sling stone, striking Goliath in the head. For a moment, the giant stands still, blood running down his head. Then he falls, to the shock of all, especially Achish. Rushing forward, David seizes Goliath’s sword and cuts off his head, which he lifts in the air triumphantly. Holding the massive sword, he watches as the Israelite and Philistine hosts charge toward one another in battle.

King Saul (played by Ali Suliman) speaks to David (played by Michael Iskander) in Episode 8 of House of David

Ahinoam and Eshbaal in House of David Episode 8

Ahinoam begins the episode searching Gibeah for her daughters. Initially, Kazia, the household servant, responds to her questions evasively. When Ahinoam senses that she knows more, however, Kazia breaks down and reveals where they went, pleading for Ahinoam’s mercy. Furious that her servant chose duty to her daughters over duty to her, Ahinoam sends her away.

When news of the worsening situation in Elah reaches Gibeah, Besai, the witch-spiritist, pleads with Ahinoam to flee but the queen refuses to hide. She recounts how, as a girl, her family sojourned in Egypt and beheld a Pharaoh parading through the streets, adorned in gold that shined like the sun. Ahinoam explains that she found no such ruler in Israel and has dedicated her life to making Saul into a king who could unify the tribes and rule like the Pharaohs. Now that her dream appears to be crumbling, she intends to die with it. Just then, she is surprised by the return of Eshbaal, accompanied by Ahimelech the High Priest. 

As Ahinoam discusses the nearly hopeless strategic situation with Eshbaal and Ahimelech, her son urges her to crown him as king in his father’s stead so that he can unify the northern tribes and rebuild what’s left of Israel. He warns that if the Philistines attack, they will burn the sacred scrolls and abuse Ahinoam. The queen continues to resist leaving her home and questions where Eshbaal has been and what happened to him. Eshbaal refuses to give details but insists that his old life has ended and another has begun, one in which he is the only hope for Israel and for his mother.

Even as David triumphs over Goliath on the battlefield and Saul leads the Israelites in battle against the Philistines, Ahinoam oversees the crowning and enthronement of Eshbaal and Ahimelech reads to him God’s exhortation to Joshua (Joshua 1:3-9).

Review of House of David Season 1 Episode 8

Episode 8 brings Season 1 of House of David to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion. A few aspects of the episode that stand out:

• Satisfying Payoff: House of David has been juggling a few primary storylines (David, Saul/Ahinoam, Mychal) in addition to several secondary (e.g. Goliath, Achish, Samuel, Mirab, Eliab)  and tertiary (e.g. Adriel, Doeg, Joab, Eshbaal, Abner) storylines. It can be difficult for an epic series like this to pay off that many storylines in a manner that feels satisfying and natural, but Episode 8 is up to the task. Having built up a variety of characters and situations that we are concerned about, Episode 8 uses them to heighten the drama and stakes surrounding David’s final battle with Goliath. Not only is the freedom of Israel and the honor of God at stake, the show suggests their fight will also determine: the relational future of Mychal, whether Eliab believes in his brother (or kills him), whether Jonathan believes in David, whether Adriel and the other tribal elders remain unified under Saul, whether Goliath gets vengeance for his mother, whether Achish gets vengeance for his father and unifies the Philistines, and whether Eshbaal becomes the de facto new king or a usurper. The show does a great job of weaving all these different concerns together in a way that heightens the drama of the moment and gives the first season a sense of unity and culmination.

• Biblical echoes: Episode 8 introduces even more biblical echoes. I particularly love how Achish draws a connection between what will happen to Israel if Goliath wins (enslavement) and their status in Egypt before the Exodus. I’m sure the biblical author wants us to make that connection as we read Goliath’s terms, but I never have. This connection invites us to see David’s battle against Goliath as a second Red Sea moment, in which the Lord triumphs over foreign gods and military might to rescue his people from slavery. I also love how both David and Eshbaal are exhorted with the same passage from Joshua. The words are quite fitting for David, who, like Joshua, is getting ready to lead the Lord’s people in battle against Anakim. They’re far less fitting for Eshbaal, who is rebelliously usurping power – most likely in service of foreign pagans. The juxtaposition between these two should make us think of the Book of Kings, which essentially boils every reign down to a binary between good kings who, like David, served only the Lord and bad kings who sought to protect themselves by allying with foreign empires and their pagan gods.

• Christ Typology: When Episode 1 gave us a preview of the fight between David and Goliath and showed David getting struck in the side, some viewers objected because the biblical account does not mention David being struck. I wasn’t particularly bothered by this moment, since the Bible doesn’t say David wasn’t struck – nor does it appear to be interested in giving us a detailed blow by blow of the battle, like a modern novel might. After watching Episode 8, however, I’m positively in favor of the decision, since it highlights how David functions as a type of Christ. Like Jesus, David’s side is pierced and his hands are bloodied. He appears to “die” and his enemies gloat over him. Rising again, however, he triumphs over his demonic enemy to set his people free. While some of these connections are invented by the show (e.g. the pierced side), they help to draw attention to what is already implicit in the Bible itself (i.e. David as a picture of Christus Victor).

• David and Jonathan: The friendship between David and Jonathan is famous, and yet we’ve only seen a few moments between the two over the past season. I love how Episode 8 begins to establish their friendship – and how Jonathan’s recognition of and submission to David’s royal calling is a part of their relationship from the beginning. Ethan Kai and Michael Iskander have a strong dynamic and I’ll look forward to seeing it continue to develop.

• David and Mychal: Early on, I was on the fence with regard to the David-Mychal romance, but I found their encounter before the battle to be quite moving.

• Performances continue to be consistent and strong across the board. Ali Suliman continues to wow me as Saul. Ayelet Zurer has a great monologue that adds even more dimension to her character. Davood Ghadami (Eliab) and Oded Fehr (Abner) also deliver small but strong performances. 

• Star Wars Echoes: I’ve highlighted connections to Dune and The Lord of the Rings in previous episodes. In Episode 8, I was struck by echoes of Star Wars, particularly A New Hope. Jonathan’s “The Lord be with you” felt very “May the Force be with You” and the need for David to draw in close enough to hit a tiny, impossible to hit target, while under fire seems reminiscent of how Luke needs to fly in close and hit the Death Star’s port exhaust while under fire from Vader. 

I didn’t have many issues with the episode. 

• I know that some people will object to Eshbaal’s play for the throne, since the Bible doesn’t have him ascend to the throne until after Saul’s death, but I suspect what the show is doing will not conflict with the actual biblical storyline. Eshbaal’s efforts will probably be rebuffed in Season 2 and he’ll ultimately be exiled until Abner is forced to restore him to the throne after Saul’s death. But the failed attempt to set Eshbaal on the throne will be used to explain several details in the biblical text. Saul may change Eshbaal’s name to Ish-bosheth as a result of his rebellion. Ahimelech’s participation in the coronation of Eshbaal may explain why Saul is so quick to suspect the priests of Nob and order their execution (1 Samuel 22:18-19). Ahinoam’s participation will account for why he calls her a perverse, rebellious woman (1 Samuel 20:30). So, even though the unexpected change to the biblical story gave me pause as I watched, I trust the creators of the show to use it in a meaningful way.

Key Themes of House of David Season 1 Episode 8

True Greatness

In Episode 8, David offers a pretty pithy distillation of one of the core themes of both the Book of Samuel and House of David Season 1: “It’s not about the greatness of the giant; it’s about the greatness of God.” Most characters in the show – among both the Philistines and the Israelites – are focused almost exclusively on pursuing/fearing sources of earthly greatness. Goliath’s size is the most concrete form of human greatness that is sought after (by Achish) and feared (by everyone else), but we see characters pursuing and fear several others forms of earthly greatness as well: political alliances and authority (Saul, Ahinoam, Adriel, Achish, Orpah, and late-season Eshbaal), family honor and reputation (Ahinoam, Eliab, Mirab, and Jesse), sexual conquest (early season Eshbaal), and knowledge (Besai, Doeg, and Ahinoam). 

David’s triumphant insight is that none of these forms of earthly/human greatness matter in the face of God’s greatness. He is not afraid of those who wield earthly strength – a sword and a spear and a javelin (1 Samuel 17:45) – because he knows that God is the ultimate sovereign and therefore “the battle is the LORD’s” (1 Samuel 17:47). Or, to use Hannah’s beautiful encapsulation of this theme, “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength” (1 Samuel 2:2-4, ESV). Those who fear earthly “gods” like Goliath are fearing an illusion of power can be dispersed like a puff of smoke. The one we should truly fear is the LORD, who has proven again and again that he can triumph over the powers of this world (the Egyptians, the Canaanites, and now the Philistines). In the face of God’s absolute sovereignty, the only proper response is reverent fear, like that which Jonathan shows when he avoids using the Name or that which David shows in bowing down before the Commander.

But it’s easy for us to misunderstand what it looks like to trust in true greatness. The power that God offers to those who trust in him is not simply a triumphant, “good” version of the power offered by Goliath and other gods of this earth. Israel won’t triumph through a “good” giant (just look at how Saul turned out), nor will David triumph through arms or armor. As Mychal explains to David, God chooses the unlikely things and vessels that would be otherwise overlooked, because what he uses what lies on the inside – our faith and trust in his power. To use the words of the Apostle Paul, “We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7, ESV). God chooses "what is weak in the world to shame the strong... what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God" (1 Cornthians 1:27-29, ESV).

To reinforce this point, God often allows those who are relying on his great power to undergo suffering and even death before they experience victory. If David had an instant victory, it might suggest that the power to win lay in him (in spite of his unlikely appearance). The creators of the show allow David to “die” so that God’s great power (embodied by Samuel’s sacrifice/blessing) can cause him to rise again from death. As Paul would say, David is “given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in [his] mortal flesh” (1 Corinthians 4:11, ESV). Trusting in God’s greatness rarely leads to instant victory – it means we must be willing to walk with Jesus through suffering and death, in the hope that we will ultimately emerge with him in resurrection power.

Jonathan (played by Ethan Kai) speaks to David (played by Michael Iskander) in Episode 8 of House of David

When is God with us?

In Episode 7, Jonathan tries to encourage a young Israelite by insisting that God is with the Israelite army. Immediately afterward though, he admits to Joab that he is offering “false hope” – he knows that God is not with them because Saul has been rejected for his disobedience (as Samuel revealed to him in Episode 6). Jonathan’s hope takes an even stronger beating early in Episode 8 when his assassination attempt goes sideways and he learns that the Philistines have united and surrounded the Israelites. With all of this in mind, Jonathan struggles to understand how David can be so confident going into battle with Goliath. After all, the greatness of God doesn't count for much if God isn't with you.

In response to Jonathan’s understandable doubt, David offers an important clarification. He concedes that God isn’t with Israel while they cower in fear, but he insists that God will be with them if they go forth and face their fear (i.e. Goliath). In other words, when we trust God and pursue his purposes, he empowers our actions. But when we don’t trust God and run away from the challenges that he has called us to face, he hands us over to our faithlessness. David seems to be drawing this lesson from the story of the Exodus generations. The first time that Israel had a chance to take possession of the Promised Land (as God had commanded them to do), they shrank back in fear – and experienced a disastrous defeat as a result. But when Joshua led Israel in a second attempt to enter the Promised Land, he trusted God to give “Every place that the sole of [his] foot will tread upon” (Joshua 1:3) and was “strong and courageous” enough to face his fears and obey God’s commands (Joshua 1:6-7). As a result, the Lord was with him and empowered him to defeat the terrifying Anakim and Canaanites that inhabited the Promised Land.

Until the arrival of David in Episode 8, none of the Israelites have been willing to trust God and face the terrifying giant head on. Most simply cower in despair – not just cowards like Nethanel also otherwise brave warriors like Eliab and Joab. Even Jonathan, the most faithful and brave among the Israelites, fails to rely on God to empower him in a direct confrontation and instead relies on foreign strength. This is an error that Israelite kings fall into frequently throughout the Old Testament – the prophets are constantly rebuking Israel for getting involved in underhanded conspiracies and relying on Egypt, Syria, or Babylon, instead of simply relying on the Lord (e.g. Isaiah 31, Isaiah 39). What sets David apart is his willingness to act courageously with faith that God will “give [him] this ground” – even in the face of a seemingly insurmountable foe like Goliath. This is why God (and Samuel as his representative) ultimately blesses David’s efforts, enabling him to triumph, where even Jonathan failed.

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