1 Samuel 17:1–10

DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH

17The Philistines^af gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah and camped between Socoh^ag and Azekah^ah in Ephes-dammim.^{ai 2}Saul and the men of Israel gathered and camped in the Valley of Elah;^a then they lined up in battle formation to face the Philistines.

³The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites were standing on another hill with a ravine between them. ⁴Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath,^b came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches^AB tall ⁵and wore a bronze helmet and bronze scale armor that weighed one hundred twenty-five pounds.^{C 6}There was bronze armor on his shins, and a bronze javelin^c was slung between his shoulders. ⁷His spear shaft^d was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed fifteen pounds.^D In addition, a shield-bearer^e was walking in front of him.

⁸He stood and shouted to the Israelite battle formations, “Why do you come out to line up in battle formation?” He asked them, “Am I not a Philistine and are you not servants of Saul?^f Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. ⁹If he wins in a fight against me and kills me, we will be your servants. But if I win against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.”^{g 10}Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel today.^h Send me a man so we can fight each other!”