1 Samuel 17:1-21

English Standard Version

David and Goliath

17 Now the Philistines ^(A)gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at ^(B)Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and ^(C)Azekah, in ^(D)Ephes-dammim. ² And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in ^(E)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 ^(F)Goliath of ^(G)Gath, whose height was six^[a] cubits^[b] 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^[c] of bronze. ⁶ And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a ^(H)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. ^(I)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 ^(J)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 ^(K)and serve us.” ¹⁰ And the Philistine said, ^(L)“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 ^(M)the son of an ^(N)Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, ^(O)named Jesse, ^(P)who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years.^{[d] 13} The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And ^(Q)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 (R)David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, ¹⁵ but David went back and forth from Saul ^(S)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^[e] of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. ^18 (T)Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. ^(U)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 ^(V)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.