1 Samuel 17:4-34

4 The Philistine army's champion came out of their camp. His name was Goliath from Gath. He was ten feet tall.

5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he wore a bronze coat of armor scales weighing 125 pounds.

6 On his legs he had bronze shin guards and on his back a bronze javelin.

7 The shaft of his spear was like the beam used by weavers. The head of his spear was made of 15 pounds of iron. The man who carried his shield walked ahead of him.

8 Goliath stood and called to the Israelites, "Why do you form a battle line? Am I not a Philistine, and aren't you Saul's servants? Choose a man, and let him come down to [fight] me.

9 If he can fight me and kill me, then we will be your slaves. But if I overpower him and kill him, then you will be our slaves and serve us."

10 The Philistine added, "I challenge the Israelite battle line today. Send out a man so that we can fight each other."

11 When Saul and all the Israelites heard what this Philistine said, they were gripped with fear.

12 David was a son of a man named Jesse from the region of Ephrath and the city of Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul's day he was an old man.

13 Jesse's three oldest sons joined Saul's army for the battle. The firstborn was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, the third was Shammah,

14 and David was the youngest. The three oldest joined Saul's army.

15 David went back and forth from Saul's camp to Bethlehem, where he tended his father's flock.

16 Each morning and evening for 40 days, the Philistine came forward and made his challenge.

17 Jesse told his son David, "Take this half-bushel of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers. Take them to your brothers in the camp right away.

18 And take these ten cheeses to the captain of the regiment. See how your brothers are doing, and bring back some news about them.

19 They, along with Saul and all the soldiers of Israel, are in the Elah Valley fighting the Philistines."

20 David got up early in the morning and had someone else watch [the sheep]. He took [the food] and went, as Jesse ordered him. He went to the camp as the army was going out to the battle line shouting their war cry.

21 Israel and the Philistines formed their battle lines facing each other.

22 David left the supplies behind in the hands of the quartermaster, ran to the battle line, and greeted his brothers.

23 While he was talking to them, the Philistine champion, Goliath from Gath, came from the battle lines of the Philistines. He repeated his words, and David heard them.

24 When all the men of Israel saw Goliath, they fled from him because they were terrified.

25 The men of Israel said, "Did you see that man coming [from the Philistine lines]? He keeps coming to challenge Israel. The king will make the man who kills this Philistine very rich. He will give his daughter to that man to marry and elevate the social status of his family."

26 David asked the men who were standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and gets rid of Israel's disgrace? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should challenge the army of the living God?"

27 The soldiers repeated [to David] how the man who kills Goliath would be treated.

28 Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard David talking to the men. Then Eliab became angry with David. "Why did you come here," he asked him, "and with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how overconfident and headstrong you are. You came here just to see the battle."

29 "What have I done now?" David snapped at him. "Didn't I [merely] ask a question?"

30 He turned to face another man and asked the same question, and the other soldiers gave him the same answer.

31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, who then sent for him.

32 David told Saul, "No one should be discouraged because of this. I will go and fight this Philistine."

33 Saul responded to David, "You can't fight this Philistine. You're just a boy, but he's been a warrior since he was your age."

34 David replied to Saul, "I am a shepherd for my father's sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,

1 Samuel 17:4-34 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 17

This chapter relates how the armies of Israel, and of the Philistines, prepared for battle, and where, 1Sa 17:1-3, describes a champion of the Philistines, who defied the armies of Israel, 1Sa 17:4-11, and while he was so doing, it informs us that David came into the camp, and he heard his words, and signified to one and another his inclination to fight with him, 1Sa 17:12-30, which being reported to Saul, David was sent for by him, and much discourse passed between them about it, 1Sa 17:31-37 when we are told the manner in which he engaged with the Philistine, and the victory he obtained over him, 1Sa 17:38-51 upon which the Philistines fled, and Israel pursued them; and on account of this action David was taken notice of by Saul, and brought to court again, as the following chapter shows, 1Sa 17:52-58.