1 Samuel 17 summary meaning ai explained commentary

1 Samuel 17 meaning explained in AI Summary

This chapter tells the famous story of David and Goliath.

The Challenge:

The Philistines and Israelites are at war, facing each other across a valley.
A giant Philistine warrior named Goliath emerges daily for forty days, challenging any Israelite to single combat.
Goliath is massive, clad in heavy armor, and boasts a terrifying presence.
The Israelites are terrified and demoralized, unable to find a champion to face him.

David Arrives:

David, the youngest son of Jesse, is sent by his father to bring food to his brothers serving in Saul's army.
David arrives as Goliath issues his daily challenge and is surprised by the Israelites' fear.
He confidently declares that he will fight Goliath, trusting in the Lord's strength.

David Prepares:

David's eldest brother, Eliab, scolds him for his boldness, accusing him of pride and arrogance.
King Saul, hearing of David's offer, summons him.
Saul is skeptical, believing David too young and inexperienced. He offers David his own armor.
David refuses the armor, finding it cumbersome. He instead takes his staff, sling, and five smooth stones from a brook.

The Confrontation:

David approaches Goliath confidently, declaring that the Lord will deliver the giant into his hands.
Goliath is enraged by David's defiance and curses him.
David runs towards Goliath, loads his sling, and hurls a stone with deadly accuracy.
The stone sinks into Goliath's forehead, killing him instantly.

Victory and Aftermath:

The Philistines, witnessing their champion's defeat, flee in terror.
The Israelites pursue them, winning a decisive victory.
David becomes an instant hero, praised for his courage and faith.
This event marks a turning point in David's life, setting him on a path towards prominence and eventually kingship.

Key Themes:

Faith over Fear: David's trust in God allows him to face a seemingly insurmountable challenge.
God's Power in Weakness: David, a young shepherd, defeats a mighty warrior, demonstrating that God can empower the unlikely.
Courage and Confidence: David's unwavering belief in God's presence gives him the courage to face Goliath without hesitation.

This story continues to inspire people of all ages to face their own "giants" with faith and courage, knowing that with God, all things are possible.

1 Samuel 17 bible study ai commentary

This chapter narrates the iconic victory of David over Goliath, a story that functions on multiple levels. It is a literal historical account of faith-driven courage overcoming impossible odds. Theologically, it is a powerful demonstration of God's sovereignty, where He scoffs at human strength and worldly standards (armor, size, experience) and achieves victory through a faithful, unlikely representative to glorify His own name. This event is a pivotal moment, foreshadowing Christ's victory over Satan and catapulting David from an obscure shepherd to a national hero, setting him on the path to kingship.

1 Samuel 17 context

The conflict is set during the early Iron Age in the Valley of Elah, a critical borderland between the Israelite highlands and the Philistine coastal plain. The Philistines, possessing superior iron-working technology (1 Sam 13:19-22), often had a military advantage. This confrontation exemplifies a known ancient practice of "champion warfare," where a single warrior from each side would fight to decide the larger battle's outcome, thereby sparing the blood of the main armies. Goliath, representing the Philistine pantheon (Dagon, Ashtoreth), challenges a representative of Yahweh. The entire episode is therefore a theological contest between the God of Israel and the gods of the Philistines.

1 Samuel 17:1-3

The Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

In-depth-analysis

This is a strategic and geographic setup for a military stalemate.
Valley of Elah: The name means "Valley of the Terebinth tree." This location was a natural battleground.
The formation with a valley in between makes a full-scale assault costly for either side, hence the perfect scenario for champion warfare.

Cross references

1 Sam 13:5-7 (Israel's military fear), Jdg 6:2 (hiding from enemies in valleys).

1 Samuel 17:4-7

A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.

In-depth-analysis

Champion: The Hebrew word, ʾîš habbênayim, literally means "man of the in-between." He stands in the space between the two armies.
Height: The Masoretic Text (MT) says "six cubits and a span" (approx. 9'9"). However, the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Septuagint (LXX) state "four cubits and a span" (approx. 6'9"). While still formidable, the shorter height is considered by many scholars to be more likely the original. The theological point remains the same regardless of height.
Armor: His bronze equipment is detailed to emphasize his invincibility from a human perspective. The scale armor alone was about 125 lbs (57 kg). The spearhead was 15 lbs (7 kg).
Weaver’s Beam: A large, thick bar on a loom, used to highlight the massive thickness of Goliath's spear shaft. This detail showcases the enemy's perceived overwhelming strength.

Bible references

Ephesians 6:13-17: "...take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day..." (Contrast Goliath's physical armor with God's spiritual armor).
Deuteronomy 3:11: "Og king of Bashan was the last of the Rephaites. His bed was decorated with iron and was more than nine cubits long..." (Goliath linked to ancient giants).
2 Samuel 21:19: "...Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite..." (A potential scribal issue harmonized in 1 Chronicles 20:5, which states Elhanan killed Goliath's brother, Lahmi).

Cross references

Num 13:33 (spies fear giants), Amos 2:9 (God destroyed the Amorite, tall as a cedar), 1 Cor 1:27 (God chose weak to shame strong).

1 Samuel 17:8-11

Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

In-depth-analysis

The Challenge: Goliath proposes a legally binding outcome: slavery for the losing nation. This elevates the stakes from a mere battle to the nation's future freedom.
Defy: Hebrew ḥārap̄, meaning to taunt, reproach, or scorn. This is a public act of shaming. Goliath is not just challenging the army, but their God.
Servants of Saul: Goliath belittles them by identifying them by their human king, not by their God. This contrasts with how David will later identify himself.
Saul's Fear: The king, who was chosen in part for his height (1 Sam 9:2), is completely paralyzed by fear. His role is to lead and fight, yet he is just as terrified as his men, showcasing his failed leadership.

Bible references

Deuteronomy 31:6: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you..." (Direct contradiction of Israel's reaction).
Psalm 44:6: "I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory..." (A statement of faith that Israel was failing to live out).

Cross references

Isa 36:18-20 (Sennacherib's taunt), Num 23:7-8 (cannot curse what God has blessed).

1 Samuel 17:12-27

...David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul... Jesse said to his son David, "...see how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them."... As he was talking with them, Goliath... shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it... David asked the men... “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

In-depth-analysis

David's entrance is mundane: a son on an errand for his father. God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary.
David’s perspective: While everyone else sees an unbeatable giant, David sees an "uncircumcised Philistine." Circumcision was the physical sign of the covenant with Yahweh. David's comment is theological—this man stands outside God’s covenant promises and defies the "armies of the living God."
David’s focus is not on the threat, but on the blasphemy against God’s honor and God's people. This frames the conflict correctly.

Bible references

1 Samuel 16:7: "The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (The principle behind David's selection is now proven in action).
1 Corinthians 1:27: "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." (David is the epitome of this principle).

Cross references

Ps 115:4-8 (idols are lifeless), Jer 10:10 (the living God), 1 Tim 3:15 (church of living God).

1 Samuel 17:28-30

When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him... “I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?”

In-depth-analysis

Eliab's Accusation: Eliab projects human motives (conceit, wickedness) onto David, completely misreading his spiritual motivation.
This recalls 1 Samuel 16:7, where God rejected Eliab based on his heart. Here, Eliab proves God’s judgment correct by his inability to perceive David's righteous heart.
This is the classic conflict between the one chosen by God and those who are not, often within one's own family (e.g., Joseph and his brothers).

Bible references

Genesis 37:4: "When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him." (Parallels Joseph's rejection by his brothers).
John 7:5: "For even his own brothers did not believe in him." (Parallels Christ's rejection by His own).
Proverbs 18:19 (a brother offended is hard to win).

1 Samuel 17:31-37

David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”...“Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

In-depth-analysis

David’s Resume: David doesn't offer a military record but a history of God’s faithfulness. His confidence is not in himself, but in the Lord who has already delivered him.
His logic is an argument from lesser to greater: If God handled a lion and a bear to save mere sheep, surely He will handle this Philistine who is defying His own name.
This is a testament to David's private life of faith being the foundation for his public victory.

Bible references

Psalm 23:4: "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me..." (The shepherd's psalm lived out before it was written).
2 Corinthians 1:10: "He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us." (Paul expresses the same principle of faith based on past deliverance).

Cross references

Jdg 14:6 (Samson and the lion), Dan 6:22 (Daniel in lion's den), 2 Tim 4:17-18 (Paul delivered from the lion's mouth).

1 Samuel 17:38-40

Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic... and a coat of armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head... David said to Saul, “I cannot go in these, because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

In-depth-analysis

Rejecting Saul’s Armor: This is a pivotal symbolic act. David rejects the world's method of fighting—the "arm of the flesh." Saul’s armor represents human wisdom, strength, and security, which has already failed.
"Not Used to Them": Hebrew nāsâ can also mean "tested". David has not tested this method, but he has tested God. He goes with what he knows: faith in Yahweh, expressed through his humble shepherd’s tools.
Five Smooth Stones: He only needed one. Commentators speculate the other four may have been for Goliath's four other giant relatives mentioned later (see 2 Samuel 21:15-22). This suggests David was prepared to defeat the entire "house" of the giant.

Bible references

Psalm 20:7: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." (The essence of David’s decision).
Zechariah 4:6: "‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty." (The core spiritual principle of the event).
2 Corinthians 10:4 (weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh).

1 Samuel 17:41-47

He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!” David said to the Philistine... “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied... and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s..."

In-depth-analysis

The War of Words: This is the theological climax before the physical one.
Goliath's Curse: He invokes his gods, making this an explicit god-versus-God confrontation.
David’s Proclamation:
1. He contrasts Goliath’s physical weapons with his spiritual weapon: "the name of the LORD Almighty" (YHVH ṣĕbā'ôt - "Yahweh of Armies/Hosts").
2. He declares the purpose of the battle is not his own glory, but for "the whole world to know there is a God in Israel."
3. He states the central theme: "the battle is the LORD’s."

Bible references

Exodus 9:16: "But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." (God's purpose with Pharaoh, echoed by David).
Colossians 2:15: "[Christ] disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." (David's public declaration is a type of Christ's public victory over spiritual enemies).

Cross references

2 Chr 20:15 (battle is not yours, but God's), Pro 21:31 (victory rests with the Lord), 1 Jn 4:4 (greater is He that is in you).

1 Samuel 17:48-51

As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead... he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed... with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword... killed him, and cut off his head with it.

In-depth-analysis

David Ran: He showed no hesitation. Faith moves toward the battle.
The Stone: A simple projectile that bypasses all the impressive armor. It strikes the forehead, the seat of reason and pride.
Fell Facedown: He falls toward David, a posture of submission even in death, a stark contrast to how Dagon's idol fell before the Ark (1 Sam 5:3).
Goliath's Own Sword: David uses the enemy’s own weapon to seal the victory. This is profoundly symbolic. God turns the world's perceived strengths into the very instruments of its downfall.

Bible references

Genesis 3:15: "he will crush your head..." (The first prophecy of the serpent's defeat is powerfully foreshadowed here).
Hebrews 2:14: "...that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil..." (Christ defeats death by using death itself, just as David defeated Goliath with his own sword).

1 Samuel 17:52-54

Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines... David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.

In-depth-analysis

Head to Jerusalem: This is a stunning act of prophetic faith. At this time, Jerusalem was still a Jebusite stronghold (2 Sam 5:6-7) and not yet the capital of Israel. Bringing the head there was a declaration of future victory and the establishment of God's kingdom in that very place.
Weapons in his tent: The trophies of a victory won not by David, but by his God. They are a reminder of God's power.

Cross references

Jos 15:63 (Jebusites in Jerusalem), Jdg 1:21 (Benjamin could not drive them out), 2 Sam 5:5-10 (David captures Jerusalem).

1 Samuel 17:55-58

As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner... “Abner, whose son is this young man?” Abner replied, “As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.” The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.” As soon as David returned... Saul asked him, “Whose son are you, young man?” David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”

In-depth-analysis

"Whose son is this...?": Saul's question is not about David's name, as he clearly knew David (who had been his court musician, 1 Sam 16:21-23). The question is one of lineage and status. "From what family stock does such a man come?" In that culture, the father's and family's identity was paramount.
Given the reward for killing Goliath included marrying the king's daughter (1 Sam 17:25), Saul is inquiring about the family he might be joining his own to. It's a question of dynastic importance.
The scene highlights how much of a non-entity David was to the royal court, despite his previous service. Now, God has forced them to ask about his identity.

Bible references

Matthew 22:42: "'What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?' 'The son of David,' they replied." (The question of the Messiah's parentage is central to the Gospel, and here we see David's own parentage being established).

Polemics

Scholars have noted the apparent continuity break, questioning why Saul wouldn't know David. Some suggest two different traditions of David's introduction to Saul were woven together. However, interpreting the question as one of lineage ("what is his father's house?") rather than identity resolves the apparent contradiction naturally within the cultural context.

1 Samuel chapter 17 analysis

Polemics: This chapter is a direct polemic against the worldview that "might makes right." Goliath is the ultimate expression of human might, decked in pagan armor and confident in his strength. David represents God's economy, where faith in Yahweh's name is the ultimate power. The story serves to ridicule both the Philistine gods, who were powerless to save their champion, and the human standard of leadership represented by the tall but fearful Saul.
Five Stones for Five Giants: A prominent online interpretation suggests David's five stones were for Goliath and his four relatives who were also giants from Gath, mentioned in 2 Samuel 21:15-22 and 1 Chronicles 20:4-8 (Ishbi-Benob, Saph, Lahmi, and another unnamed giant). David, through faith, was ready to take down the entire bloodline of God's enemies.
Prophetic Picture of Jesus and Satan: David serves as a powerful type of Christ. He is the humble, overlooked shepherd-king who alone confronts the enemy (Satan) who has paralyzed God's people with fear and taunts. Christ, in the "valley of decision," defeats Satan, the accuser, not with worldly power but through an act of faith and sacrifice, crushing his head (Gen 3:15) and using the enemy's own weapon (death) to win the victory (Heb 2:14).

1 Samuel 17 summary

An uncircumcised Philistine giant, Goliath, paralyzes Israel's army with fear. David, a young shepherd, rejects the human standards of strength (Saul's armor) and, motivated by a passion for God's honor, confronts the giant in the "name of the LORD of Hosts." He defeats Goliath with a single stone from his sling, using the enemy's own sword to sever his head. This victory, a testament to faith over fear and God's power over human might, makes David a national hero and demonstrates that "the battle is the LORD's."

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1 Samuel chapter 17 kjv

¹ Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.
² And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.
³ And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
⁴ And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
⁵ And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
⁶ And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
⁷ And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
⁸ And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
⁹ If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
¹⁰ And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
¹¹ When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
¹² Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
¹³ And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
¹⁴ And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.
¹⁵ But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
¹⁶ And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
¹⁷ And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of thy brethren;
¹⁸ And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
¹⁹ Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
²⁰ And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
²¹ For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
²² And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
²³ And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
²⁴ And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
²⁵ And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
²⁶ And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
²⁷ And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
²⁸ And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
²⁹ And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
³⁰ And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
³¹ And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
³² And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
³³ And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
³⁴ And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
³⁵ And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
³⁶ Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
³⁷ David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
³⁸ And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
³⁹ And David girded his sword upon his armor, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
⁴⁰ And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
⁴¹ And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
⁴² And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
⁴³ And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
⁴⁴ And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
⁴⁵ Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
⁴⁶ This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
⁴⁷ And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.
⁴⁸ And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
⁴⁹ And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
⁵⁰ So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
⁵¹ Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
⁵² And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
⁵³ And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
⁵⁴ And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent.
⁵⁵ And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
⁵⁶ And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.
⁵⁷ And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
⁵⁸ And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.

1 Samuel chapter 17 nkjv

¹ Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim.
² And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines.
³ The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.
⁴ And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
⁵ He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.
⁶ And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders.
⁷ Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him.
⁸ Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.
⁹ If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us."
¹⁰ And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together."
¹¹ When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
¹² Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul.
¹³ The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
¹⁴ David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul.
¹⁵ But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
¹⁶ And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.
¹⁷ Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp.
¹⁸ And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them."
¹⁹ Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
²⁰ So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle.
²¹ For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army.
²² And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers.
²³ Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them.
²⁴ And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid.
²⁵ So the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father's house exemption from taxes in Israel."
²⁶ Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
²⁷ And the people answered him in this manner, saying, "So shall it be done for the man who kills him."
²⁸ Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle."
²⁹ And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?"
³⁰ Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did.
³¹ Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him.
³² Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."
³³ And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."
³⁴ But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,
³⁵ I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.
³⁶ Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."
³⁷ Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"
³⁸ So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail.
³⁹ David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off.
⁴⁰ Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.
⁴¹ So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him.
⁴² And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking.
⁴³ So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
⁴⁴ And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"
⁴⁵ Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
⁴⁶ This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
⁴⁷ Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."
⁴⁸ So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
⁴⁹ Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.
⁵⁰ So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David.
⁵¹ Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
⁵² Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.
⁵³ Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents.
⁵⁴ And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.
⁵⁵ When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know."
⁵⁶ So the king said, "Inquire whose son this young man is."
⁵⁷ Then, as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
⁵⁸ And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" So David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."

1 Samuel chapter 17 niv

¹ Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah.
² Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines.
³ The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.
⁴ A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.
⁵ He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels;
⁶ on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back.
⁷ His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.
⁸ Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me.
⁹ If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us."
¹⁰ Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other."
¹¹ On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.
¹² Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul's time he was very old.
¹³ Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah.
¹⁴ David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul,
¹⁵ but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
¹⁶ For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.
¹⁷ Now Jesse said to his son David, "Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp.
¹⁸ Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them.
¹⁹ They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines."
²⁰ Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry.
²¹ Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other.
²² David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were.
²³ As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it.
²⁴ Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.
²⁵ Now the Israelites had been saying, "Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel."
²⁶ David asked the men standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
²⁷ They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, "This is what will be done for the man who kills him."
²⁸ When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."
²⁹ "Now what have I done?" said David. "Can't I even speak?"
³⁰ He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before.
³¹ What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.
³² David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."
³³ Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth."
³⁴ But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,
³⁵ I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.
³⁶ Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.
³⁷ The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."
³⁸ Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head.
³⁹ David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. "I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off.
⁴⁰ Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
⁴¹ Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David.
⁴² He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him.
⁴³ He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
⁴⁴ "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!"
⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
⁴⁶ This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.
⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
⁴⁸ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.
⁴⁹ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
⁵¹ David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.
⁵² Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.
⁵³ When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.
⁵⁴ David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistine's weapons in his own tent.
⁵⁵ As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is that young man?" Abner replied, "As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don't know."
⁵⁶ The king said, "Find out whose son this young man is."
⁵⁷ As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine's head.
⁵⁸ "Whose son are you, young man?" Saul asked him. David said, "I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem."

1 Samuel chapter 17 esv

¹ Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.
² And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines.
³ And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.
⁴ And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
⁵ He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.
⁶ And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders.
⁷ The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him.
⁸ He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.
⁹ If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us."
¹⁰ And the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together."
¹¹ When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
¹² Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years.
¹³ The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
¹⁴ David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul,
¹⁵ but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
¹⁶ For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.
¹⁷ And Jesse said to David his son, "Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers.
¹⁸ Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them."
¹⁹ Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
²⁰ And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry.
²¹ And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army.
²² And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers.
²³ As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.
²⁴ All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid.
²⁵ And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel."
²⁶ And David said to the men who stood by him, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
²⁷ And the people answered him in the same way, "So shall it be done to the man who kills him."
²⁸ Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle."
²⁹ And David said, "What have I done now? Was it not but a word?"
³⁰ And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before.
³¹ When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him.
³² And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."
³³ And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth."
³⁴ But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock,
³⁵ I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.
³⁶ Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God."
³⁷ And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"
³⁸ Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail,
³⁹ and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." So David put them off.
⁴⁰ Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.
⁴¹ And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him.
⁴² And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.
⁴³ And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
⁴⁴ The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field."
⁴⁵ Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
⁴⁶ This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
⁴⁷ and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand."
⁴⁸ When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.
⁴⁹ And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.
⁵⁰ So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.
⁵¹ Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
⁵² And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron.
⁵³ And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp.
⁵⁴ And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.
⁵⁵ As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know."
⁵⁶ And the king said, "Inquire whose son the boy is."
⁵⁷ And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
⁵⁸ And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."

1 Samuel chapter 17 nlt

¹ The Philistines now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim.
² Saul countered by gathering his Israelite troops near the valley of Elah.
³ So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them.
⁴ Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall!
⁵ He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds.
⁶ He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder.
⁷ The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver's beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.
⁸ Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. "Why are you all coming out to fight?" he called. "I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me!
⁹ If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves!
¹⁰ I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!"
¹¹ When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.
¹² Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. Jesse was an old man at that time, and he had eight sons.
¹³ Jesse's three oldest sons ? Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimea ? had already joined Saul's army to fight the Philistines.
¹⁴ David was the youngest son. David's three oldest brothers stayed with Saul's army,
¹⁵ but David went back and forth so he could help his father with the sheep in Bethlehem.
¹⁶ For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army.
¹⁷ One day Jesse said to David, "Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers.
¹⁸ And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain. See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing. "
¹⁹ David's brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.
²⁰ So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries.
²¹ Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army.
²² David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers.
²³ As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel.
²⁴ As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright.
²⁵ "Have you seen the giant?" the men asked. "He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man's entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!"
²⁶ David asked the soldiers standing nearby, "What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?"
²⁷ And these men gave David the same reply. They said, "Yes, that is the reward for killing him."
²⁸ But when David's oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. "What are you doing around here anyway?" he demanded. "What about those few sheep you're supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!"
²⁹ "What have I done now?" David replied. "I was only asking a question!"
³⁰ He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing and received the same answer.
³¹ Then David's question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.
³² "Don't worry about this Philistine," David told Saul. "I'll go fight him!"
³³ "Don't be ridiculous!" Saul replied. "There's no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You're only a boy, and he's been a man of war since his youth."
³⁴ But David persisted. "I have been taking care of my father's sheep and goats," he said. "When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock,
³⁵ I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.
³⁶ I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God!
³⁷ The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!" Saul finally consented. "All right, go ahead," he said. "And may the LORD be with you!"
³⁸ Then Saul gave David his own armor ? a bronze helmet and a coat of mail.
³⁹ David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. "I can't go in these," he protested to Saul. "I'm not used to them." So David took them off again.
⁴⁰ He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd's bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd's staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
⁴¹ Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him,
⁴² sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy.
⁴³ "Am I a dog," he roared at David, "that you come at me with a stick?" And he cursed David by the names of his gods.
⁴⁴ "Come over here, and I'll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!" Goliath yelled.
⁴⁵ David replied to the Philistine, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven's Armies ? the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
⁴⁶ Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!
⁴⁷ And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD's battle, and he will give you to us!"
⁴⁸ As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.
⁴⁹ Reaching into his shepherd's bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.
⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword.
⁵¹ Then David ran over and pulled Goliath's sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. Israel Routs the Philistines When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.
⁵² Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron. The bodies of the dead and wounded Philistines were strewn all along the road from Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron.
⁵³ Then the Israelite army returned and plundered the deserted Philistine camp.
⁵⁴ (David took the Philistine's head to Jerusalem, but he stored the man's armor in his own tent.)
⁵⁵ As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, "Abner, whose son is this young man?" "I really don't know," Abner declared.
⁵⁶ "Well, find out who he is!" the king told him.
⁵⁷ As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine's head still in his hand.
⁵⁸ "Tell me about your father, young man," Saul said. And David replied, "His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem."