1 Samuel 17

1Now the PhilistinesH6430 gatheredH622 their forcesH4264 for warH4421H622 at SocohH7755 in JudahH3063, and they campedH2583 betweenH996 SocohH7755H996 and AzekahH5825 in Ephes-dammimH658. 2SaulH7586 and the menH376 of IsraelH3478 assembledH622 and campedH2583 in the ValleyH6010 of ElahH425, arraying themselvesH6186 for battleH4421 againstH7122 the PhilistinesH6430.

3The PhilistinesH6430 stoodH5975 onH413 oneH2088 hillH2022 and the IsraelitesH3478 stoodH5975 onH413 anotherH2088, with the valleyH1516 between themH996.

4Then a championH376H1143 namedH8034 GoliathH1555, who was from GathH1661, came outH3318 from the PhilistineH6430 campH4264. He was sixH8337 cubitsH520 and a spanH2239 in heightH1363,1 5and he had a bronzeH5178 helmetH3553 onH5921 his headH7218. HeH1931 woreH3847 a bronzeH5178 coatH8302 of mailH7193 weighingH4948H8302 fiveH2568 thousandH505 shekelsH8255,2 6and he had armorH4697 of bronzeH5178 onH5921 his legsH7272 and a javelinH3591 of bronzeH5178 slung betweenH996 his shouldersH3802. 7The shaftH2671 of his spearH2595 was like a weaver’sH707 beamH4500, and its ironH1270 pointH3852 weighed sixH8337 hundredH3967 shekelsH8255.3 In addition, his shield bearerH5375H6793 wentH1980 before himH6440.

8And Goliath stoodH5975 and shoutedH7121 toH413 the ranksH4634 of IsraelH3478, “WhyH4100 do you come outH3318 and array yourselvesH6186 for battleH4421? Am IH595 notH3808 a PhilistineH6430, and are youH859 not servantsH5650 of SaulH7586? ChooseH1262 one of your menH376 and have him come downH3381 against meH413. 9IfH518 he is ableH3201 to fightH3898 meH854 and kill meH5221, then we will beH1961 your servantsH5650. But ifH518 IH589 prevailH3201 against him and kill himH5221, then you shall beH1961 our servantsH5650 and work forH5647 usH853.”

10Then the PhilistineH6430 saidH559, “IH589 defyH2778 the ranksH4634 of IsraelH3478 thisH2088 dayH3117! GiveH5414 me a manH376 to fightH3898H3162!”

11On hearingH8085 theH428 wordsH1697 of the PhilistineH6430, SaulH7586 and allH3605 the IsraelitesH3478 were dismayedH2865 and greatlyH3966 afraidH3372.

David Accepts the Challenge

12Now DavidH1732 was the sonH1121 of a manH376 namedH8034 JesseH3448, an EphrathiteH673 from BethlehemH1035 of JudahH3063 who had eightH8083 sonsH1121H376. And in the daysH3117 of SaulH7586, Jesse was oldH2204 and well alongH935 in years.4 13The threeH7969 olderH1419 sonsH1121 of JesseH3448 had followedH1980H310 SaulH7586 into battleH4421: The firstbornH1060 was EliabH446, the secondH4932 was AbinadabH41, and the thirdH7992 was ShammahH8048. 14And DavidH1732H1931 was the youngestH6996.

The threeH7969 oldestH1419 had followedH1980H310 SaulH7586, 15but DavidH1732 went back and forthH1980H7725 fromH5921 SaulH7586 to tendH7462 his father’sH1 sheepH6629 in BethlehemH1035.

16For fortyH705 daysH3117 the PhilistineH6430 came forwardH5066 every morningH7925 and eveningH6150 to take his standH3320.

17One day JesseH3448 saidH559 to his sonH1121 DavidH1732, “TakeH3947H4994 thisH2088 ephahH374 of roasted grainH70395 and theseH2088 tenH6235 loaves of breadH3899 for your brothersH251 and hurryH7323 to theirH251 campH4264. 18Take alsoH935 theseH428 tenH6235 portionsH2757 of cheeseH2461 to the commanderH8269 of their unitH505. CheckH6485 on the welfareH7965 of your brothersH251 and bring backH3947 an assurance from themH6161.6 19TheyH1992 are with SaulH7586 and allH3605 the menH376 of IsraelH3478 in the ValleyH6010 of ElahH425, fightingH3898 againstH5973 the PhilistinesH6430.”

20So DavidH1732 got up earlyH7925 in the morningH1242, leftH5203 the flockH6629 withH5921 a keeperH8104, loaded upH5375, and set outH1980 asH834 JesseH3448 had instructed himH6680. He reachedH935 the campH4570 as the armyH2428 was marching outH3318 toH413 its positionH4634 and shoutingH7321 the battle cryH4421. 21And IsraelH3478 and the PhilistinesH6430 arrayedH6186 in formationH4634 againstH7122 each otherH4634.

22Then DavidH1732 leftH5203 his suppliesH3627 inH5921 the careH3027 of the quartermasterH8104H3627 and ranH7323 to the battle lineH4634. When he arrivedH935, he askedH7592 his brothersH251 how they were doingH7965. 23And as heH1931 was speakingH1696 with themH5973, suddenlyH2009 the championH376H1143 namedH8034 GoliathH1555, the PhilistineH6430 from GathH1661, came forwardH5927 from the ranksH4630 of the PhilistinesH6430 and shoutedH1696 his usual wordsH1697, whichH428 DavidH1732 also heardH8085.

24When allH3605 the menH376 of IsraelH3478 saw GoliathH7200, they fledH5127 from himH6440 in great fearH3372H3966.

25Now the menH376 of IsraelH3478 had been sayingH559, “Do you see howH7200 thisH2088H3588 manH376 keeps coming outH5927 to defyH2778 IsraelH3478? To the manH376 whoH834 kills himH5221 the kingH4428 will giveH6238 greatH1419 richesH6239. AndH853 he will giveH5414 him his daughter in marriageH1323 andH853 exemptH6213 his father’sH1 houseH1004 from taxationH2670 in IsraelH3478.”

26DavidH1732 askedH559H413 the menH582 who were standingH5975 with himH5973H559, “WhatH4100 will be doneH6213 for the manH376 whoH834 killsH5221 thisH1975 PhilistineH6430 and removesH5493 this disgraceH2781 fromH5921 IsraelH3478? Just whoH4310 is thisH2088H3588 uncircumcisedH6189 PhilistineH6430, thatH3588 he should defyH2778 the armiesH4634 of the livingH2416 GodH430?”

27The peopleH5971 toldH559 him about theH2088 offerH1697, sayingH559, “That is whatH3541 will be doneH6213 for the manH376 whoH834 kills himH5221.”

28Now when David’s oldestH1419 brotherH251 EliabH446 heard himH8085 speakingH1696 toH413 the menH582, his angerH639H446 burnedH2734 against DavidH1732. “WhyH4100 have you come downH3381 hereH2088?” he askedH559. “And withH5921 whomH4310 did you leaveH5203 thoseH2007 fewH4592 sheepH6629 in the wildernessH4057? IH589 knowH3045 your prideH2087 and wickednessH7455 of heartH3824H3588—you have come downH3381 toH4616 seeH7200 the battleH4421!”

29“WhatH4100 have I doneH6213 nowH6258H3808?” saidH559 DavidH1732. “Was it notH1931 just a questionH1697?” 30Then he turnedH5437 from himH681 towardH413H4136 anotherH312 and askedH559 about theH2088 offerH1697, and those peopleH5971 answered himH7725 just asH1697 the first ones had answeredH7223.

31

Now David’sH1732 wordsH1696 were overheardH8085H1697 and reportedH5046 toH6440 SaulH7586, who sent for himH3947.

32And DavidH1732 saidH559 toH413 SaulH7586, “Let noH408 man’sH120 heartH3820 failH5307 on account ofH5921 thisH2088 PhilistineH6430. Your servantH5650 will goH1980 and fight himH3898H5973!”

33But SaulH7586H413H1732 repliedH559, “You cannotH3808H3201 go outH1980 againstH413 thisH2088 PhilistineH6430 to fightH3898 himH5973H3588. You areH859 just a boyH5288, and heH1931 has been a warriorH376H4421 from his youthH5271.”

34DavidH1732 repliedH559, “Your servantH5650 has been tendingH7462H1961 his father’sH1 sheepH6629, and whenever a lionH738H854 or a bearH1677 cameH935 and carried offH5375 a lambH7716 from the flockH5739, 35I wentH3318 after itH310, struck it downH5221, and deliveredH5337 the lamb from its mouthH6310. If it reared upH6965 against meH5921, I would grabH2388 it by its furH2206, strike it downH5221, and kill itH4191. 36Your servantH5650 has killedH5221 lionsH738H1571 andH1571 bearsH1677; thisH2088 uncircumcisedH6189 PhilistineH6430 will beH1961 like oneH259 of them, forH3588 he has defiedH2778 the armiesH4634 of the livingH2416 GodH430.”

37DavidH1732 addedH559, “The LORDH3068, whoH834 delivered meH5337 from the clawsH3027 of the lionH738 and the bearH1677H1931, will deliver meH5337 from the handH3027 of thisH2088 PhilistineH6430.”

“GoH1980,” saidH559 SaulH7586, “and may the LORDH3068 beH1961 with youH5973.”

David Slays Goliath

38Then SaulH7586 clothedH3847 DavidH1732 in his own tunicH4055, putH5414 a bronzeH5178 helmetH6959 onH5921 his headH7218, and dressedH3847 himH853 in armorH8302. 39DavidH1732 strappedH2296 his swordH2719 overH5921 the tunicH4055 and triedH2974 to walkH1980, butH3588 he was notH3808 accustomedH5254 to them.

“I cannotH3808H3201 walkH1980 in theseH428H3588,” DavidH1732 saidH559 toH413 SaulH7586. “I am notH3808 accustomedH5254 to them.” So DavidH1732 took themH5493 offH5921. 40And David tookH3947 his staffH4731 in his handH3027, selectedH977 fiveH2568 smoothH2512 stonesH68 fromH4480 the brookH5158, and putH7760 themH853 in the pouchH3219 of his shepherd’sH7462 bagH3627. And with his slingH7050 in handH3027, he approachedH5066H413 the PhilistineH6430.

41Now the PhilistineH6430H1980 cameH1980 closerH7131 and closer toH413 DavidH1732, with his shield-bearerH376H5375H6793 before himH6440. 42When the PhilistineH6430 lookedH5027 and sawH7200 DavidH1732, he despised himH959 becauseH3588 he wasH1961 just a boyH5288, ruddyH132 andH5973 handsomeH3303H4758. 43“Am IH595 a dogH3611,” heH6430 saidH559 toH413 DavidH1732, “thatH3588 youH859 comeH935 at meH413 with sticksH4731?” And the PhilistineH6430 cursedH7043 DavidH1732 by his godsH430. 44“ComeH1980H413 hereH6430,” he calledH559 toH413 DavidH1732, “and I will giveH5414 your fleshH1320 to the birdsH5775 of the airH8064 and the beastsH929 of the fieldH7704!”

45But DavidH1732 saidH559 toH413 the PhilistineH6430, “YouH859 comeH935 against meH413 with swordH2719 and spearH2595 and javelinH3591, but IH595 comeH935 againstH413 you in the nameH8034 of the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635, the GodH430 of the armiesH4634 of IsraelH3478, whomH834 you have defiedH2778. 46ThisH2088 dayH3117 the LORDH3068 will deliver youH5462 into my handH3027. ThisH2088 dayH3117 I will strike you downH5221, cut off your headH7218H5921, and giveH5414 the carcassesH6297 of the PhilistineH6430 armyH4264 to the birdsH5775 of the airH8064 and the creaturesH2416 of the earthH776. Then the wholeH3605 worldH776 will knowH3045 thatH3588 there isH3426 a GodH430 in IsraelH3478. 47And allH3605 thoseH2088 assembled hereH6951 will knowH3045 thatH3588 it is notH3808 by swordH2719 or spearH2595 that the LORDH3068 savesH3467; forH3588 the battleH4421 is the LORD’sH3068, and He will giveH5414 all of youH853 into our handsH3027.”

48

AsH3588H6965 the PhilistineH6430 startedH1980 forwardH7126 to attackH7122 himH1732, DavidH1732 ranH7323 quicklyH4116 toward the battle lineH4634 to meetH7122 himH6430. 49Then DavidH1732 reachedH7971H3027 intoH413 his bagH3627, tookH3947 outH8033 a stoneH68, and slung itH7049, strikingH5221 the PhilistineH6430 onH413 the foreheadH4696. The stoneH68 sankH2883 into his foreheadH4696, and he fellH5307 facedownH5921H6440 on the groundH776.

50Thus DavidH1732 prevailedH2388 overH4480 the PhilistineH6430 with a slingH7050 and a stoneH68; withoutH369 a swordH2719 in his handH3027H1732 he struck downH5221 the PhilistineH6430 and killed himH4191. 51DavidH1732 ranH7323 and stoodH5975 over himH413. He grabbedH3947 the Philistine’sH6430 swordH2719 and pulled itH8025 from its sheathH8593 and killed himH4191, and he cut offH3772 his headH7218 with the sword.

When the PhilistinesH6430 sawH7200 thatH3588 their heroH1368 was deadH4191, they turned and ranH5127. 52Then the menH582 of IsraelH3478 and JudahH3063 charged forwardH6965 with a shoutH7321 and pursuedH7291 the PhilistinesH6430 toH5704 the entranceH935 of GathH15167 and toH5704 the gatesH8179 of EkronH6138. And the bodiesH2491 of the PhilistinesH6430 were strewnH5307 along the ShaaraimH8189 roadH1870 toH5704 GathH1661H5704 and EkronH6138.

53When the IsraelitesH1121H3478 returnedH7725 from their pursuitH1814H310 of the PhilistinesH6430, they plunderedH8155 their campsH4264. 54DavidH1732 tookH3947 the headH7218 of the PhilistineH6430 and broughtH935 it to JerusalemH3389, andH853 he putH7760 Goliath’s weaponsH3627 in his own tentH168.

55As SaulH7586 had watchedH7200 DavidH1732 going outH3318 to confrontH7122 the PhilistineH6430, he saidH559 toH413 AbnerH74 the commanderH8269 of the armyH6635, “AbnerH74, whoseH4310 sonH1121 is thisH2088 young manH5288?”

“As surely as youH5315 liveH2416, O kingH4428,” AbnerH74 repliedH559, “I do notH518 knowH3045.”

56“Find outH7592H859 whoseH4310 sonH1121 thisH2088 young man isH5958!” saidH559 the kingH4428.

57So when DavidH1732 returnedH7725 from killingH5221 the PhilistineH6430, still holdingH6430 his headH7218 in his handH3027, AbnerH74 tookH3947 himH853 and brought himH935 beforeH6440 SaulH7586.

58“WhoseH4310 sonH1121 are youH859, young manH5288?” askedH559 SaulH7586.

“I am the sonH1121 of your servantH5650 JesseH3448 of BethlehemH1022,” DavidH1732 repliedH559.