1 Samuel 17:1–10

David and Goliath

17Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled^c at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh^d and Azekah.^{e 2}Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah^f and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. ³The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

⁴A champion named Goliath,^g who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.^{a 5}He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels^b; ⁶on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin^h was slung on his back. ⁷His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod,ⁱ and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.^c His shield bearer^j went ahead of him.

⁸Goliath 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^k a man and have him come down to me. ⁹If 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.” ¹⁰Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy^l the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.^m”