Time Sequence in the Bible

Where is Goliath's Head?

Many narratives follow a straight chronological time sequence in the Bible, but there are places where the narrative double backs and picks up the story at an earlier point in time.

One example of this double back is in Acts. In Acts 8:1, we read that a great persecution broke out against the church and many were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Then we pick up the stories of Philip in Samaria, Philip and the Ethiopian, Saul's conversion, and Peter and Cornelius. In Acts 11:19 we read, "Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch." Thus 11:19 doubles back to the point in time of Acts 8:1 and picks up another story line. The impact is that what is happening in Antioch is happening during the same time as the events happening in Judea and Samaria.

The most remarkable double back appears at the end of the David and Goliath story in 1 Sam17:52-18:9.

• In 17:52-54, the Israelites fought the Philistines, David took Goliath's head to Jerusalem, and put Goliath's weapons in his own tent.
• In 17:55-18:5, Saul watched David going out to face Goliath (double backing to 17:40). After the battle, David returned to Saul carrying Goliath's head (v. 57). Jonathan makes a covenant with David, and Saul made David a high ranking official in his army, and David was successful in all that he did. The people and Saul's officials were pleased.
• In 18:6, we double back a third time where we again see David coming back home after killing Goliath and the following battle against the Philistines. Now the women come out in singing and dancing and declare that "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." Now we are told that Saul is angry and jealous.

Clearly we do not have a straight sequence of events in these verses, but each double back adds in new information to the story. Sequentially, David taking Goliath's head to Jerusalem probably occurred last, but what is most important for the development of the larger story is Saul's jealousy of David.

Much of Revelation, after chapter 3, deals with the second 3 1/2 year period of the Tribulation. There are many points of double backing in this book as well. Another example is seen in the interrelationship between the Judah and Tamar story in Genesis 38 and the Joseph story in Gen 37:36 and 39:1.

As you read your Bible, be aware that this is a literary technique used in Scripture.

(Picture: David with the Head of Goliath, c. 1607, in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemldegalerie, Vienna)