1 Samuel 17:5-15

5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he wore a bronze armor plate weighing 120 pounds.

6 He had bronze armor protecting his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders.

7 The shaft of his spear was as big as a weaver's beam, and the iron spearhead weighed fifteen pounds. His shield-bearer went ahead of him.

8 He stood and yelled at the armies of Isra'el, "Why come out and draw up a battle line? I'm a P'lishti, and you are servants of Sha'ul, so choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.

9 If he can fight me and kill me, we'll be your slaves; but if I beat him and kill him, you will become slaves and serve us."

10 The P'lishti added, "I challenge Isra'el's armies today - give me a man, and we'll fight it out!"

11 When Sha'ul and all Isra'el heard those words of the P'lishti, they were shaken and terrified.

12 Now David was the son of that Efrati from Beit-Lechem in Y'hudah named Yishai. He had eight sons; and in the time of Sha'ul he was old - the years had taken their toll.

13 Yishai's three oldest sons had followed Sha'ul to battle; the names of his three sons who went to battle were Eli'av the firstborn, next to him Avinadav, and the third Shammah.

14 David was the youngest; the three oldest followed Sha'ul.

15 David went back and forth from Sha'ul to pasture his father's sheep at Beit-Lechem.

1 Samuel 17:5-15 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.