1 Samuel 17:1–18

Goliath’s Challenge

1 Now athe Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between bSocoh and cAzekah, in dEphes-dammim.

2 Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in athe valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines.

3 The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.

4 Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named aGoliath, from bGath, whose height was six 1cubits and a span.

5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor 1which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze.

6 He also had bronze 1greaves on his legs and a abronze javelin slung between his shoulders.

7 aThe shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; bhis shield-carrier also walked before him.

8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, “Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you aservants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.

9 “aIf he is able to fight with me and 1kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and 1kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.”

10 Again the Philistine said, “aI 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 athe son of 1the bEphrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and che had eight sons. And 2Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men.

13 The three older sons of Jesse had 1gone after Saul to the battle. And athe names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14 aDavid was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul,

15 abut David went back and forth from Saul bto tend his father’s flock at Bethlehem.

16 The Philistine came 1forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand.

17 Then Jesse said to David his son, “aTake now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers.

18 “aBring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand, band look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back 1news of them.