House of David Season 1 Episode 6: Recap, Review, & Analysis
Updated: 3 days ago
House of David Season 1 Episode 6 (Giants Awakened) digs even deeper into the backstory of the Anakim and the Watchers, drawing on the apocryphal Book of Enoch, while at the same time setting Goliath and the Philistines on a collision course with the House of Saul. Below I will recap what happens in Episode 6 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, and Episode 5.
What Happened in House of David Season 1 Episode 6 (Giants Awakened)
Episode 6 is a bridge episode, drawing together the various storylines that have been set up throughout season 1, while setting up the climactic two-part finale. Taking center stage are the efforts of Philistine King Achish (Alexander Uloom) to recruit Goliath (Martyn Ford) and his siblings, but we also follow the competing efforts of David (Michael Iskander) and Queen Ahinoam (Ayelet Zurer) [with her spiritist, Besai (Eden Saban)] to heal Saul (Ali Suliman) while Mychal (Indy Lewis) struggles to make sense of David’s secrecy. And we also follow Prince Jonathan (Ethan Kai) as he seeks out Samuel (Stephen Lang) in hopes of finding another cure. Oh, and Doeg (Ashraf Barhom) gets up to a lot of mischief as well.. There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s get down to business!
Achish and Goliath in House of David Season 1 Episode 6
Episode 6 opens with Orpah, the mother of the giants, narrating the legend of the fall of the angelic Watchers under the leadership of Samyaza, following not only Genesis 6 but also the apocryphal Book of Enoch. In Orpah’s telling, whether the angelic Watchers were cast out of heaven or tasked with watching the children of men is unknown, but eventually Shamyaza and his followers were filled with unnatural desire, took the daughters of men as wives, and spawned the gigantic Nephilim. God responded by punishing the angels and banishing them into eternal darkness, while humanity eventually hunted down and destroyed the Nephilim. When Orpah explains that Goliath and his brothers are all that remain, Goliath questions why they must hide in a cave.
Back in Gath, one of the Philistine kings questions whether Achish is indulging too much in fantasies and lore. He insists that the five armies of the Philistines will only unite if they can actually see this great strength that he is claiming he can yield. Hearing a sound, Achish boasts that they’re about to see this strength kneel at his feet. Going forth from the gate, he meets Goliath, pulling a carriage with Orpah inside. Inviting them inside and offering whatever they desire, he dispatches the other Philistine leader to assemble the kings in the Valley of Elah, declaring that the time to attack is now.
Inside Gath, Achish eagerly unveils a massive shield and sword that he’s had made for Goliath by the finest Mycenaean blacksmiths, drawing on the metallurgic secrets that the fallen sons of god taught to men at the end of the last great age (another Book of Enoch reference). Goliath is pleased with the new weapons and proceeds to test them out in battle against Achish’s men. As Achish feasts Orpah, he boasts of how she and her sons will soon live like kings, but she isn’t impressed. While she longs for vengeance, she insists on one condition for their help: Achish must surrender his throne and allow Goliath to rule over the land like the god he is. When Achish refuses to kiss her ring, she ends the negotiations but warns that giants, once awakened, seldom go back to sleep.
As Achish watches Goliath pull his mother’s carriage away, his henchman suggests that they send 100 men to catch them and kill them. Suddenly, Doeg appears and insists that they will need more men than that, but offers another way, insisting that he is but a servant to power.
Back in the giant cave, one of Goliath’s giant brothers expresses frustration that they are once again returning to hiding, subservient to Orpah. Slapping him, Orpah insists that she will eventually give them a life outside of the cave but not yet. For now, since their location is now known, they need to move. A new life cannot begin without the death of the old one.
That night, as the giants chant and down their wine, Orpah goes out to find more. As she searches inside a storage cave for more wineskins, she is attacked by Doeg, who falsely claims to be working for the House of Saul. Hearing her scream, Goliath comes out and finds her body with the Israelite blade in it. With her last words, Orpah charges him with avenging her death on the House of Saul.
Enraged, Goliath and his brothers storm out, terrifying some local Israelites, as they vow to kill all the Hebrews and the House of Saul. Later, in Gath, Goliath finally kneels before Achish and offers to fight and kill Saul in his name, so that he can prove who the real gods are.
David & the House of Saul in House of David Season 1 Episode 6
David begins the episode playing for Saul late into the night. Noticing David with Saul, Mychal anxiously recalls how she saw him sit on her father’s throne in Episode 5 and tries to imagine the possibility of a future “that cannot be seen.” She is found by Mirab, who can sympathize, having spent time imagining the implausible return of their brother, Eshbaal. Mychal, in turn, sympathizes with the ruin of Mirab’s potential marriage, but Mirab brushes it off, insisting that they are nothing but dutiful servants to the King. When she inquires about Mychal’s secret meetings with David, her sister admits that she was falling in love with him but now feels conflicted, in light of what Ahinoam revealed about David’s background. Unsurprised, Mirab insists that women are just a ladder that men climb to reach their ambitions and urges Mychal to get used to it.
Meanwhile, as Saul and David have a heart to heart, the King praises David’s gift and explains that he too was once nothing more than a herdsman. He tells David to believe that all is possible and that he can be anything, regardless of where he starts. With a bit of dramatic irony, he urges him to not let the words of one man take his destiny from him.
Later, David is brought before Mychal who insists that his background doesn’t change how she feels about him but questions why he never told her. David admits to being afraid, since people always seem to leave him because of his background, and he questions whether he’s going to lose Mychal too. He offers her an alternative – they can leave Gibeah together and enjoy the freedom of a simple life together, somewhere the King will never find them. Mychal insists that her mother would send the army to retrieve her and urges David to distinguish between desire and duty. Although she insists that she loves him, she believes they can never be together.
In the absence of David, Saul descends into another fit of madness, as Mirab, Ahinoam, and Besai the medium attend him. Besai admits that she is coming near to the edge of her knowledge and must take a risk that may end his affliction – or kill him. Ahinoam consents and they take Saul’s blood, which Besai mixes with a potion and then gives to Saul to drink.
David, hoping for one last conversation with Mychal, is in the royal quarters, when Eliab finds him. Recognizing what David is after, Eliab grabs him, insisting that he must leave the palace – but their altercation is interrupted by Jonathan. Although Eliab worries that David will be a curse on the House of Saul, Jonathan dismisses the concern and insists that his presence is necessary.
Hearing sudden sounds of distress from Saul’s chamber, Jonathan and David rush in. Finding Besai attempting to draw out what is in Saul’s mind, Jonathan insists that her presence in the palace must end. Though Ahinoam insists that Jonathan does not rule the house, Jonathan replies that God does. As they are arguing, Besai sees David and declares that he is the source of Saul’s woes. When Jonathan dismisses her, she warns that he will never be king and storms out, while Ahinoam and Jonathan eye David with fear.
Late that night, David continues to play the lyre for Saul, his fingers bleeding from continuing on for so long. Saul insists on cleaning his wound and confides his fear that he is to blame for everything. To David’s surprise, he seems to say that one day David will take his place and understand his struggle. But it soon becomes apparent that Saul, in a mental fog, believes David is actually Jonathan. Very uncomfortable, David apologizes for having failed to ease Saul’s mind and insists that it’s now time for him to leave.
The next morning, as David begins heading out, he is stopped by Mirab. He explains that, like the Queen, he believes his presence is doing no good. Mirab recognizes that he is only slowing Saul’s madness, not curing it – and yet she also sees that Besai’s magic is no help either. Before he goes, however, she wants to know whether there’s anything David wants to tell Mychal. Touching David, it almost seems like she too has interest in him. A little confused, David asks her to tell Mychal that their futures are not aligned but that that won’t stop him from loving her. With that, he departs from Gibeah.
As David travels back to Bethlehem, Saul experiences another fit, this time envisioning Goliath, and asks for David. Ahinoam explains that he has gone but promises to find another. Afraid that he is slipping away from her, Ahinoam gives Saul Besai’s potion to drink.
Back in Bethlehem, Avva and Jesse see David coming from afar. Avva runs to hug him, and Jesse too is overjoyed to receive him home. Meanwhile, when scouts report the massing of troops in the Valley of Elah, Saul, bearing Besai’s potion, sends men to summon all the tribes for battle.
Jonathan in House of David Season 1 Episode 6
Early in the episode, Jonathan, Saul, Abner take counsel, after hearing reports that two of the Philistine nations are preparing for battle. Saul thought that he had neutered the Philistines and questions how many times the Philistine dogs must be beaten before they lie down. Although Abner counsels fortifying their cities, Saul insists that they will destroy the Philistines, just like they destroyed the Amalekites, with God at their back. At this, there’s a sound of thunder, as if God himself is repudiating Saul’s words, but Saul ignores it and walks off. Jonathan follows, questioning whether Saul is well and whether he’s taking account of the giants. Saul again dismisses the giants as a trick and warns Jonathan that he won’t allow anyone to take his throne – not Adriel, Achish, or even his own son. He urges the Philistines to come and see the strength of a real king.
After Jonathan witnesses another bout of Saul’s madness and sees his mother’s efforts to use sorcery, he realizes he needs to do something. The next morning, he saddles his horse and explains to Abner that he’s going to find Samuel, the only one who can help his father now.
Jonathan rides to the only place he can imagine Samuel hiding right now – Mount Sinai. Climbing to the summit, he suddenly begins to experience headaches and receives a vision of the death of Saul – and his own death. Awakening from his vision, he finds Samuel’s tent – but is suddenly attacked and subdued by Samuel. When Samuel realizes who he is, however, he and Hilah welcome Jonathan, who he used to teach as a boy. Jonathan questions why a curse rests on his father and Samuel explains that it is because Saul is unwilling to release what is no longer his, becoming a god unto himself, in violation of the first commandment. Samuel insists that he cannot heal Saul, though he has pleaded for him, nor can he say whether Jonathan’s visions are certain or not. After Jonathan promises that he serves God above all, Samuel shares that he has indeed anointed a new king, whose reign will know no end. As Jonathan departs, Samuel urges him to pass by the great valley, sensing a growing darkness.
Following Samuel’s advice, Jonathan passes by Elah and sees a massive Philistine host assembling. Racing on to Gibeah, he reports the news to Saul, but scouts have already reported the news. As his father announces his plan to face the Philistines, Jonathan stands by him faithfully, cheering him on with the other Israelites.
Doeg in House of David Season 1 Episode 6
Early in the episode, Kazia, the servant girl in the House of Saul, brings Reuben, the young survivor of the border massacre, into Doeg’s laboratory. Doeg wants to know what Samuel told Saul. Reuben is distracted by the dead animals that Doeg has been experimenting on, and Doeg offers to show him a heart close up if Reuben reveals what he heard. At this, Reuben reveals that Samuel has anointed another king to replace Saul.
As noted above, Doeg then travels to Gath and offers to help Achish secure the aid of Goliath. Following the giants to their home, he kills Orpah, claiming to do so in the name of Saul and leaving an Israelite knife.
Review of House of David Season 1 Episode 6
As a bridge, Episode 6 isn’t quite as exciting as Episode 5, but it does its job well and has a lot going for it:
Book of Enoch Lore: Using Orpah to incorporate lore from the Book of Enoch is a clever move. On the one hand, it allows the show to include interesting extra-biblical backstory that, while not canonical, was largely accepted by Second Temple Jews – including some of the Apostles (Jude 1:6, 1 Peter 3:19-20). On the other hand, by communicating this content through Orpah, an unreliable narrator, the show maintains a degree of distance for viewers who are skeptical of the extra-biblical Enochian material.
Villainous Treachery: It wasn’t a shock that Achish manipulated Goliath into battle by framing Saul for the murder of Orpah, but it felt right. This kind of backstabbing and manipulation highlights what comes of the nihilistic pragmatism of both Orpah and the Philistines. Of course, since Saul is increasingly embracing this philosophy himself, it also foreshadows the type of treachery that is becoming the norm in Israel as well.
Humanizing the Giants: Episode 6 doesn’t make Goliath a “good guy” – from the start, he is clearly driven by an unhealthy desire for power and vengeance. But it does provide him with a degree of humanity that he lacks in other adaptations. We see his love for his mother, his camaraderie with his brothers, his desire for freedom. Providing Goliath these more human dimensions makes him a much more interesting villain.
David continues to grow into a more interesting character. Early on in the series, I complained that he felt like a Mary Sue, but in Episode 6 he suffers some significant setbacks – in his relationship with Mychal, in his efforts to help Saul, and in his dreams of finding a way to unite himself to the House of Saul. We also get to learn more about how his social status as a bastard influences his approach to others. Although he may lack fear when he’s facing lions, this version of David apparently struggles with social anxiety.
Saul’s relationship to David is also set up really well. The father-son chemistry between the two is strong, providing an emotional foundation for the powerful confrontations that the two will have after Saul turns on David (e.g. 1 Samuel 24). There’s also some really strong irony in Saul telling David he can be anything and not to let anyone stop him (when Saul will be the one who tries to stop him) and in having Saul counsels David on what it will be like when he replaces him (while thinking that he’s counseling Jonathan).
Having Besai turn Saul into a blood-drinker, when God just used him to destroy the Amalekites for blood-drinking (and he’s being haunted by the blood-drinking King Agag) is clever. It’s also a classic biblical pattern – God uses the Israelites to punish the nations for wickedness only for Israel to adopt the very same practices.
The parallels between Jonathan and Faramir (from The Lord of the Rings) really struck me this episode. Like Faramir, Jonathan is devoted to his (corrupt) father but even more so to doing the right thing. And, like Faramir, Jonathan was apparently a “wizard’s pupil” when young and continues to look to Samuel for guidance, even when his father and Samuel are at odds. I doubt these parallels are accidental. This seems to be yet another instance of House of David drawing on past epic fantasy in clever ways, without devolving into excessive imitation.
Performances continue to be strong – particularly Ali Suliman, who has to show some real range as Saul
However, I did have a few issues with Episode 6:
The Opening Visuals: I’m not a big fan of the reliefs that the show occasionally uses during narration sequences. Stylistically, they feel out of place with other visuals – like something out of the Renaissance. But I also have mixed feelings about the more photo-realistic CGI portions of Episode 6’s opening – particularly the sequence involving the angel approaching a human woman (I didn't mind the Angels falling from the sky so much). It wasn’t horrible, but it reminded me of the AI-generated videos that have proliferated in the past few years. Variety confirmed that it was indeed AI, which made sense: watching it gave me the artificial uncanny valley taste I associate with such content (this is a subjective reaction, so I realize some viewers may feel differently). I wonder if the show could have avoided the challenges of animating angels altogether by simply showing Orpah the entire time, narrating the story to her children, referencing images on the wall of their cave. I don’t think much is added by depicting actual angels. Sidenote: I think the emotional impact of the scene would have been even greater if Goliath and his brothers were listening to the story as children. This would have further cemented their emotional attachment to Orpah and it would have reinforced how long they’ve been waiting for revenge.
Mirab’s interaction with David was a little confusing to me. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to conclude that she’s attracted to David (after all, Saul will try to marry her off to him later) or simply that she’s very touchy-feely in the way she communicates. That uncertainty may be intentional – the show may want us to feel unsure of what to make of Mirab, like David appears to be. But I would have preferred a little more clarity, since Mirab’s intent also shapes how we understand her relationship with Mychal. If Mirab is beginning to feel for David, they should have set it up a little more. A few longing glances or a stray comment would have helped. If they don’t want to suggest interest, I don’t know why they had them touch like that.
Doeg’s role in the episode was also a little confusing. I like the character, but I struggle to understand his plan. In the abstract, he’s a nihilist who wants power – I get that. But how does he plan on gaining power? Is he trying to foment a war between the Philistines and Israel for personal profit? Is he a Philistine spy in the ranks of Saul? Achish seems to recognize him immediately, but we get no further context for their relationship. They can still make the details of Doeg’s plans mysterious, but it would be helpful to have a general sense of what he’s after.
Jonathan’s knowledge of Samuel’s location feels like a cheat and stretches my suspension of disbelief. There are dozens of places a prophet might go to hide – and if it was common knowledge that he spent time in Sinai, then presumably Doeg or Saul would have found him there. Instead of having Jonathan inexplicably know Samuel’s hiding place, a messenger should have come or God should have given Jonathan a vision in the night. Sidenote: Samuel’s flight to Sinai seems to be echoing Elijah’s flight to Sinai (1 Kings 19:1-18). But Elijah’s decision to journey to Sinai isn’t exemplary. When he arrives, God has to ask him what he’s doing there (1 Kings 19:9), and Elijah’s response doesn’t cast his decision in a flattering light (1 Kings 19:10). I don’t think we’re supposed to look askance at Samuel right now, so I think the echo between Samuel and Elijah is a mistake.
The speed of travel once again felt off. Jonathan’s trip to Sinai seems like it takes less than a day, when in reality it probably would have been a multi-day journey, even on horseback. The Philistine armies also gather in the Valley of Elah at an incredible speed (supporting such a massive force would have required a huge amount of resources). I can mostly turn my mind off with regard to such details, but I kind of wish they had nodded in the direction of more time passing.
Key Themes of House of David Season 1 Episode 6
Destiny, Duty, Dreams, and Love
In the wake of Ahinoam’s words to her in Episode 5, Mychal struggles to let go of her hope for a relationship with David. Mirab, who just had her own hope for love crushed by their erratic father, seems to have come away from the experience with an even more jaded heart. She laughs at the thought of Mychal being in love and insists that their destiny, as women, is to be nothing more than servants for their father and a ladder for the ambitions of other men. She has essentially resigned herself to the destiny prescribed by her culture – because her experience has taught her that hoping for anything more than that will just lead to pain.
While Mychal has her hope dampened by Mirab, David has his hope encouraged by Saul. No one would have ever imagined that a humble donkey-herd would be destined to rule over an entire kingdom. This has taught Saul that anything is possible – a comforting thought for David, who’s been repeatedly told that he could never marry Mychal. But Saul’s advice contains one serious flaw – he claims that the way to change your destiny is by holding on tight to your vision, no matter what other men say. We know Saul’s suffering is a result of his unwillingness to let go of the kingship, which never really belonged to him. While pursuing a better destiny with the help of God and in spite of social barriers is good, pursuing a destiny in spite of God is folly. We get an ominous reminder of this when Saul arrogantly insists that Israel will prevail against the Philistines with God at their back and thunder suddenly sounds in the background. We cannot dictate our own destiny to God – especially not when we were living in disobedience.
Encouraged by his conversation with Saul, David attempts to convince Mychal to run away with him and live a simpler life. This moment is ironic, in light of how Saul has been pining for the simpler life he once had with Ahinoam. One has to wonder what might have happened if Mychal had agreed to the destiny David offered. Perhaps God would have eventually opened the door for David to come to power in a more peaceful way. Although Mychal will eventually marry David, their actual relationship is doomed to be a casualty of the politics that they are enmeshed in.
David still seems to be holding on to hope – and that hope reaches its apex when Saul appears to acknowledge and accept that David’s destiny is to one day be king. But in the next breath, David’s hope is swept away. He realizes that Saul thinks he is talking to Jonathan – a sign that David’s efforts to heal him have failed but also a reminder that Saul will never accept that David is destined to be his successor. Since his hope to marry Mychal is tied closely to his hope that Saul will cede the kingship, this moment is crushing for David. He finally accepts Mychal’s conclusion – that they have different destiny/paths that cannot be changed, in spite of his love for her.
Gods, God, and Great Strength
Episode 6 focuses on characters who aspire to be gods. This pattern begins with Shamyaza and the angels making a direct attack on the Most High. The resulting doom foreshadows what's to come for all those who follow in their way. And yet it's no surprise that their Anakim spawn do just that. When offered an opportunity for her sons to live like kings, Orpah scoffs and insists that they are gods and deserve far more than the trappings of royalty (including Achish’s own throne). Although Goliath ultimately kneels before Achish in submission, it’s clear that he hasn't lost that sense of divine destiny, as he insists that the battle against Israel will reveal “who the real gods are”.
In theory, Israel is fighting on behalf of the one true God. In reality, they too are engaging in idolatrous rebellion. As Samuel explains to Jonathan, by rejecting God’s Word and holding tight to authority that never really belonged to him, Saul has become “a god unto himself” – a rival to Yahweh, just like the Golden the Calf Israel made at Sinai. Ahinoam embodies this mindset, rejecting the divine prohibition against witchcraft, while arrogantly insisting that she and Saul rule their house – even though God is the true ruler of their kingdom (as Jonathan points out). Jonathan’s hellish dream-vision on Sinai serves as an ominous warning. If Saul continues to rebel like the angels, he too will face a dark and painful doom.
The promise that these false gods offer is “strength” and “greatness” – the ability to gain and hold onto power and control in the human realm. Achish and his fellow kings refer to Goliath as their “great strength” or “great one” who will allow them to dominate Israel. Saul, in his idolatrous arrogance, insists that no one can take his throne from him – unless they want to face “the strength of a real king.” But true greatness is found not in size, brutality, or other human measurements of strength. Rather, as Samuel points out, it is in places like Sinai, places of divine revelation, that “great strength” and “great wisdom” can be found. This is what will ultimately make David great – his willingness to submit to Yahweh’s revelation and trust in his authority. What false gods like Goliath and Saul have to offer is not strength but rather “great darkness” – chaos and death that ultimately benefit no one.
House of David & Scripture FAQ
Are Samyaza/Shamyaza and the Watchers in the Bible?
In Genesis 6, the Bible cryptically mentions how the "sons of God" took the daughter and men and that the Nephilim were on the earth in those days. The apocryphal Book of Enoch expands on this story and describes how the birth of the gigantic Nephilim/Anakim was connected with the rebellion of Samyaza and the Watchers (another term for angelic spirits). The Book of Enoch is not considered canonical by most mainstream Christian traditions, some of its ideas are drawn on by New Testament authors (Jude 1:6, 1 Peter 3:19-20).
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