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歌利亚狂语索战

17 非利士人招聚他们的军旅,要来争战,聚集在属犹大梭哥,安营在梭哥亚西加中间的以弗大悯 扫罗以色列人也聚集,在以拉谷安营,摆列队伍,要与非利士人打仗。 非利士人站在这边山上,以色列人站在那边山上,当中有谷。 非利士营中出来一个讨战的人,名叫歌利亚,是迦特人,身高六肘零一虎口; 头戴铜盔,身穿铠甲,甲重五千舍客勒; 腿上有铜护膝,两肩之中背负铜戟; 枪杆粗如织布的机轴,铁枪头重六百舍客勒。有一个拿盾牌的人在他前面走。 歌利亚对着以色列的军队站立,呼叫说:“你们出来摆列队伍做什么呢?我不是非利士人吗?你们不是扫罗的仆人吗?可以从你们中间拣选一人,使他下到我这里来。 他若能与我战斗,将我杀死,我们就做你们的仆人。我若胜了他,将他杀死,你们就做我们的仆人,服侍我们。” 10 非利士人又说:“我今日向以色列人的军队骂阵。你们叫一个人出来,与我战斗。” 11 扫罗以色列众人听见非利士人的这些话,就惊惶,极其害怕。

12 大卫犹大伯利恒以法他耶西的儿子,耶西有八个儿子。当扫罗的时候,耶西已经老迈。 13 耶西的三个大儿子跟随扫罗出征,这出征的三个儿子,长子名叫以利押,次子名叫亚比拿达,三子名叫沙玛 14 大卫是最小的。那三个大儿子跟随扫罗 15 大卫有时离开扫罗,回伯利恒放他父亲的羊。 16 非利士人早晚都出来站着,如此四十日。

大卫闻歌利亚言则愤

17 一日,耶西对他儿子大卫说:“你拿一伊法烘了的穗子和十个饼,速速地送到营里去,交给你哥哥们。 18 再拿这十块奶饼,送给他们的千夫长,且问你哥哥们好,向他们要一封信来。” 19 扫罗大卫的三个哥哥和以色列众人,在以拉谷与非利士人打仗。 20 大卫早晨起来,将羊交托一个看守的人,照着他父亲所吩咐的话,带着食物去了。到了辎重营,军兵刚出到战场,呐喊要战。 21 以色列人和非利士人都摆列队伍,彼此相对。 22 大卫把他带来的食物留在看守物件人的手下,跑到战场,问他哥哥们安。 23 与他们说话的时候,那讨战的,就是属迦特非利士歌利亚,从非利士队中出来,说从前所说的话。大卫都听见了。 24 以色列众人看见那人,就逃跑,极其害怕。 25 以色列人彼此说:“这上来的人你看见了吗?他上来是要向以色列人骂阵。若有能杀他的,王必赏赐他大财,将自己的女儿给他为妻,并在以色列人中免他父家纳粮当差。” 26 大卫问站在旁边的人说:“有人杀这非利士人,除掉以色列人的耻辱,怎样待他呢?这未受割礼的非利士人是谁呢?竟敢向永生神的军队骂阵吗?” 27 百姓照先前的话回答他说:“有人能杀这非利士人,必如此如此待他。”

28 大卫的长兄以利押听见大卫与他们所说的话,就向他发怒,说:“你下来做什么呢?在旷野的那几只羊,你交托了谁呢?我知道你的骄傲和你心里的恶意,你下来特为要看争战!” 29 大卫说:“我做了什么呢?我来岂没有缘故吗?” 30 大卫就离开他转向别人,照先前的话而问。百姓仍照先前的话回答他。

大卫自请出战

31 有人听见大卫所说的话,就告诉了扫罗扫罗便打发人叫他来。 32 大卫扫罗说:“人都不必因那非利士人胆怯,你的仆人要去与那非利士人战斗。” 33 扫罗大卫说:“你不能去与那非利士人战斗,因为你年纪太轻,他自幼就做战士。” 34 大卫扫罗说:“你仆人为父亲放羊,有时来了狮子,有时来了熊,从群中衔一只羊羔去, 35 我就追赶它,击打它,将羊羔从它口中救出来。它起来要害我,我就揪着它的胡子,将它打死。 36 你仆人曾打死狮子和熊,这未受割礼的非利士人向永生神的军队骂阵,也必像狮子和熊一般。” 37 大卫又说:“耶和华救我脱离狮子和熊的爪,也必救我脱离这非利士人的手。”扫罗大卫说:“你可以去吧,耶和华必与你同在。” 38 扫罗就把自己的战衣给大卫穿上,将铜盔给他戴上,又给他穿上铠甲。 39 大卫把刀挎在战衣外,试试能走不能走。因为素来没有穿惯,就对扫罗说:“我穿戴这些不能走,因为素来没有穿惯。”于是摘脱了。 40 他手中拿杖,又在溪中挑选了五块光滑石子,放在袋里,就是牧人带的囊里。手中拿着甩石的机弦,就去迎那非利士人。

击杀歌利亚

41 非利士人也渐渐地迎着大卫来,拿盾牌的走在前头。 42 非利士人观看,见了大卫,就藐视他,因为他年轻,面色光红,容貌俊美。 43 非利士人对大卫说:“你拿杖到我这里来,我岂是狗呢?”非利士人就指着自己的神咒诅大卫 44 非利士人又对大卫说:“来吧!我将你的肉给空中的飞鸟、田野的走兽吃。” 45 大卫非利士人说:“你来攻击我,是靠着刀枪和铜戟。我来攻击你,是靠着万军之耶和华的名,就是你所怒骂带领以色列军队的神。 46 今日耶和华必将你交在我手里。我必杀你,斩你的头,又将非利士军兵的尸首给空中的飞鸟、地上的野兽吃,使普天下的人都知道以色列中有神; 47 又使这众人知道,耶和华使人得胜不是用刀用枪,因为争战的胜败全在乎耶和华。他必将你们交在我们手里。” 48 非利士人起身,迎着大卫前来。大卫急忙迎着非利士人,往战场跑去。 49 大卫用手从囊中掏出一块石子来,用机弦甩去,打中非利士人的额,石子进入额内,他就仆倒,面伏于地。

非利士人溃败

50 这样,大卫用机弦甩石,胜了那非利士人,打死他,大卫手中却没有刀。 51 大卫跑去,站在非利士人身旁,将他的刀从鞘中拔出来,杀死他,割了他的头。非利士众人看见他们讨战的勇士死了,就都逃跑。 52 以色列人和犹大人便起身呐喊,追赶非利士人,直到迦特[a]以革伦的城门。被杀的非利士人倒在沙拉音的路上,直到迦特以革伦 53 以色列人追赶非利士人回来,就夺了他们的营盘。 54 大卫将那非利士人的头拿到耶路撒冷,却将他军装放在自己的帐篷里。

押尼珥引大卫见扫罗

55 扫罗看见大卫去攻击非利士人,就问元帅押尼珥说:“押尼珥啊,那少年人是谁的儿子?”押尼珥说:“我敢在王面前起誓,我不知道。” 56 王说:“你可以问问那幼年人是谁的儿子。” 57 大卫打死非利士人回来,押尼珥领他到扫罗面前,他手中拿着非利士人的头。 58 扫罗问他说:“少年人哪,你是谁的儿子?”大卫说:“我是你仆人伯利恒耶西的儿子。”

Footnotes

  1. 撒母耳记上 17:52 或作:该。

大卫迎战歌利亚

17 非利士人在犹大的梭哥招聚军队,准备作战。他们在梭哥和亚西加之间的以弗·大悯扎营。 扫罗和以色列人也聚集起来在以拉谷安营,摆好阵势准备迎战。 双方的军队在两边的山上对峙,中间隔着山谷。 非利士营中有个名叫歌利亚的巨人出来讨战。他来自迦特,身高三米, 头戴铜盔,身穿重达五十七公斤的铠甲, 腿上有铜护膝,肩背铜戟。 戟柄粗如织布机的轴,铁戟头重七公斤。有卫士拿着他的盾牌走在前面。 他挑战以色列人,说:“你们为什么列阵打仗呢?我是非利士人,你们是扫罗的仆人,你们选一个人下来跟我一比高下。 如果他打得过我,将我杀了,我们就做你们的奴隶。但如果我战胜他,把他杀了,你们就要做我们的奴隶,服侍我们。 10 我今天向以色列军队骂阵,你们找一个人出来跟我比个高下吧!” 11 扫罗和所有以色列人听了非利士人的这些话,都吓得惊恐不已。

12 大卫是以法他人耶西的儿子。扫罗执政期间,耶西已经年纪老迈,住在犹大的伯利恒,有八个儿子。 13 他的三个儿子已经跟随扫罗去打仗了,他们是长子以利押、次子亚比拿达和三子沙玛。 14 大卫年纪最小,他的三个哥哥跟随扫罗期间, 15 他有时去扫罗的军营,有时回伯利恒为他父亲放羊。 16 这非利士人早晚都出来骂阵,长达四十天。

17 一天,耶西对大卫说:“你带上十公斤烤麦和十个饼,赶快到军营中送给你的哥哥们。 18 再带十块奶饼送给他们的千夫长,看望一下他们,带个信儿回来。 19 他们跟随扫罗率领的以色列军在以拉谷跟非利士人打仗。”

20 大卫清早起来把羊交给一个牧人看顾,然后照父亲的吩咐带着食物出发了。他来到军营的时候,大军正吶喊着出战。 21 以色列人与非利士人摆好阵势,两军对垒。 22 大卫把带来的东西交给负责看守的人保管,自己跑到阵中去问候哥哥们。 23 他们正在交谈的时候,非利士军中的迦特人歌利亚出来像往常一样向以色列军骂阵,大卫都听见了。 24 以色列人一看见歌利亚都竞相奔逃,极其害怕。 25 以色列人彼此议论说:“看那个人!他是来向以色列军骂阵的。谁要能杀死他,王必有重赏,还会把女儿嫁给他为妻,并免去他父亲家在以色列应缴的赋税。” 26 大卫问站在旁边的人:“如果有人杀了这非利士人,洗掉以色列人的羞辱,他会得到什么呢?这个未受割礼的非利士人是谁?竟敢向永活上帝的军队骂阵!” 27 他们就把刚才的话一一告诉大卫。

28 大卫的长兄以利押听见他跟人说话,就愤怒地对他说:“你来这里做什么?你把旷野的那几只羊交给谁了?我知道你骄傲自大,心怀恶意,你来只是想看打仗。” 29 大卫说:“我做错了什么?我问一下都不行吗?” 30 他又去问其他人同样的问题,得到了同样的答复。 31 有人听见了大卫的话,就去告诉扫罗,扫罗便派人来召大卫。 32 大卫对扫罗说:“大家不要因这个非利士人而丧胆,让仆人去战他。” 33 扫罗说:“你不能去,你年纪还小,他却是一个久经沙场的战士。” 34 大卫说:“我一直替父亲放羊,有时候狮子或熊会从羊群中叼走羊, 35 我会去追打它,把羊从它口中救出来。如果它起来攻击我,我就揪着它的胡子把它打死。 36 我曾打死过狮子和熊。这未受割礼的非利士人竟敢向永活上帝的军队骂阵,他的下场也必像狮子和熊一样。 37 耶和华曾经从狮子和熊的利爪下拯救我,祂也必从非利士人手中拯救我。”扫罗对大卫说:“去吧,愿耶和华与你同在。” 38 扫罗把自己的战袍给大卫穿上,又给他戴上自己的头盔,穿上自己的铠甲。 39 大卫把刀挎在战袍上,试着走了几步,却不习惯这种装束,就对扫罗说:“我穿着这些无法作战,因为我不习惯。”他便摘下头盔,卸下铠甲, 40 然后拿着杖,在溪里捡了五块光滑的石头放进牧人用的袋子,拿着投石器向歌利亚走去。

41 歌利亚也迎着大卫走来,卫士拿着他的盾牌走在前面。 42 歌利亚见大卫是个面色红润、相貌英俊的少年,就藐视他。 43 他对大卫说:“你拿着棍子来战我,难道我是一条狗吗?”他就凭自己的神明咒诅大卫, 44 又说:“你过来,我要把你的肉丢给天上的飞禽和地上的走兽。” 45 大卫答道:“你是靠刀枪剑戟来攻击我,我是靠万军之耶和华的名,就是你所蔑视的以色列军队的上帝来迎战你。 46 今天,耶和华必把你交在我手中,我必杀死你,砍掉你的头,用非利士军兵的尸体喂天上的飞禽和地上的走兽,使普天下都知道以色列有上帝。 47 这里所有的人都必知道耶和华拯救人不靠刀枪,因为祂掌管战争的胜负。祂必把你们交在我们手中。” 48 歌利亚迎面走来的时候,大卫就飞快地跑上去应战, 49 他从袋里拿出一块石子用投石器猛力抛去,石子击中歌利亚的额头,嵌了进去,他迎面栽倒在地。

50 大卫就这样不用刀剑,只用投石器和一块石子战胜了那个非利士人,杀死了他。 51 大卫跑到那非利士人身边,从他刀鞘里拔出刀杀了他,并割下他的头颅。非利士人看见自己的英雄死了,纷纷逃跑。 52 以色列人和犹大人乘势吶喊,追杀非利士人,直追到迦特和以革伦的城门。通往迦特和以革伦的沙拉音大道上到处是非利士人的尸体。 53 以色列军队追杀非利士人回来,又掳掠了他们的营地。 54 大卫把那非利士人的头颅带到耶路撒冷,把那人的兵器存放在自己的帐篷中。

55 扫罗看见大卫出去迎战歌利亚,就问押尼珥元帅:“押尼珥啊,那少年是谁的儿子?”押尼珥答道:“王啊,我向你发誓,我真的不知道。” 56 扫罗王说:“你去查查他是谁的儿子。” 57 大卫杀了歌利亚回来,押尼珥就把他带到扫罗那里,他手上还拿着那非利士人的头颅。 58 扫罗问他:“年轻人,你是谁的儿子?”大卫答道:“我是你仆人伯利恒人耶西的儿子。”

歌利亞向以色列人挑戰

17 非利士人聚集他們的軍隊作戰。他們聚集在屬猶大的梭哥,在梭哥和亞西加之間的以弗.大憫安營。 掃羅和以色列人也聚集起來,在以拉谷安營;他們列出戰陣,要迎戰非利士人。 非利士人站在這邊山上,以色列人站在那邊山上,中間有山谷分隔。 有一個挑戰的人從非利士人的軍營中出來,名叫歌利亞,是迦特人,身高三公尺。 他頭戴銅盔,身穿鎧甲,鎧甲的銅重五十七公斤。 他的腿上有銅護膝,兩肩之間背著一根銅槍。 另外,他手上拿著矛,矛桿有織布的機軸那麼粗,矛頭的鐵重七公斤。還有一個拿大盾牌的人在他前面走。 歌利亞站著,向著以色列人的軍隊喊叫,對他們說:“你們為甚麼出來這裡擺列戰陣呢?我不是非利士人嗎?你們不是掃羅的僕人嗎?你們自己挑選一個人,叫他下到我這裡來吧。 如果他能與我決鬥,擊殺了我,我們就作你們的奴僕;但是,如果我能勝過他,擊殺了他,你們就作我們的奴僕,服事我們。” 10 那非利士人又說:“今天我向以色列人的軍隊罵陣。你們派一個人出來,我們可以決鬥!” 11 掃羅和以色列眾人聽見了那非利士人所說的這些話,就都驚惶,非常害怕。

大衛到達兵營

12 大衛是猶大伯利恆的以法他人耶西的兒子;耶西有八個兒子。在掃羅的日子,耶西已經年紀老邁了。 13 耶西的三個大兒子跟隨了掃羅去作戰。去了作戰的這三個兒子的名字是:長子以利押、次子亞比拿達、三子沙瑪。 14 大衛是最小的,那三個年長的都跟隨掃羅去了。 15 大衛有時離開掃羅,回到伯利恆牧放他父親的羊群。 16 那非利士人每天早晚都近前來,站著罵陣,一連有四十天之久。

17 有一天,耶西對他的兒子大衛說:“你拿這十公斤烘了的穀子和這十個餅去給你的哥哥們;你要跑到營裡去給你的哥哥們, 18 又拿這十塊乳酪去給他們的千夫長,看看你的哥哥們平安不平安,把他們的家書帶回來。” 19 掃羅和大衛的哥哥們,以及以色列眾人都在以拉谷與非利士人作戰。

20 大衛清早起來,把羊群託給一個看守的人,就照著耶西所吩咐他的,帶著食物去了。他來到軍營中的時候,軍隊正出去列陣,吶喊助陣。 21 以色列人和非利士人都擺列陣勢,互相對峙。 22 大衛把身上的東西留在看守物件的人手中,跑到戰陣上去,向他的哥哥們問安。 23 大衛正與他們說話的時候,那個討戰的人,就是迦特的非利士人,名叫歌利亞,從非利士人陣中上來;他說的又是同樣的那些話,大衛都聽見了。 24 所有的以色列人一看見那人,就都從他面前逃跑,非常害怕。 25 以色列人彼此說:“這個上來的人你們看見了嗎?他上來是要向以色列人罵陣的。如果有人能擊殺他,王必賞賜他大財富,把自己的女兒給他作妻子,並且使他的父家在以色列中免納稅,免服役。”

26 大衛問站在他旁邊的人說:“如果有人擊殺這個非利士人,除去以色列人的恥辱,那人會得到怎麼的對待呢?這未受割禮的非利士人是誰呢?竟敢向永活的 神的軍隊罵陣?” 27 於是眾民用以上的那些話回答他說:“如果有人能擊殺他,那人必得這樣的對待。”

28 大衛與那些人說話的時候,他的大哥以利押聽見了,就向大衛發怒,說:“你為甚麼下這裡來呢?在曠野的那幾隻羊你託了給誰呢?我知道你的驕傲和你心裡的惡意。你下來是要看打仗。” 29 大衛說:“我現在作了甚麼事呢?不是只說了一句話嗎?” 30 大衛離開他的哥哥,轉向另一個人,問同樣的問題。眾民還是用先前的話回答他。

大衛自願出戰

31 有人聽見大衛所說的這些話,就告訴掃羅;掃羅就派人去把大衛接來。 32 大衛對掃羅說:“大家都不要因這非利士人喪膽,你的僕人要去與這非利士人決鬥。” 33 掃羅對大衛說:“你不能去與這非利士人決鬥,因為你年紀還輕,那人從小就作戰士。” 34 大衛對掃羅說:“你僕人是為父親放羊的,有時獅子或熊來了,從羊群中抓去一隻小羊, 35 我就出去追趕牠,擊打牠,從牠的嘴裡把小羊救出來。如果牠起來攻擊我,我就揪住牠的鬍鬚,擊打牠,把牠殺死。 36 你僕人不但擊殺過獅子,也擊殺過熊。這個未受割禮的非利士人也必像一隻獅子或熊一樣,因為他向永活的 神的軍隊罵陣。” 37 大衛又說:“那曾救我脫離獅爪和熊掌的耶和華,也必救我脫離這非利士人的手。”於是掃羅對大衛說:“你去吧!願耶和華與你同在。” 38 掃羅把自己的戰袍給大衛穿上,把銅盔戴在他的頭上,又給他穿上鎧甲。 39 大衛把刀佩帶在戰袍上。因為他以前沒有穿過,現在試著走一下。大衛對掃羅說:“穿戴著這些東西,我不能走動,因為我從前沒有穿過。”大衛就把這些裝備從身上脫下來。 40 他手中拿著自己的杖,又從溪裡挑選了五塊光滑的石子,放在口袋裡,就是牧人用的那種袋子,手裡又拿著甩石的機弦,就向那非利士人走近去。

大衛擊殺歌利亞

41 那非利士人也向著大衛慢慢走過來,拿大盾牌的人在他前面走。 42 那非利士人觀看,看見了大衛,就藐視他,因為他年紀還輕,面色紅潤,外貌英俊。 43 那非利士人對大衛說:“難道我是一條狗嗎?你竟拿杖來攻擊我。”於是指著自己的神咒詛大衛。 44 那非利士人又對大衛說:“你到我這裡來吧!我要把你的肉給空中的飛鳥和田野的走獸吃。” 45 大衛回答那非利士人:“你來攻擊我是靠刀、靠矛、靠槍,但我來攻擊你是靠萬軍之耶和華的名;萬軍之耶和華就是你所辱罵的以色列軍隊的 神。 46 今天耶和華要把你交在我手裡,我必擊殺你,砍下你的頭。今天我還要把非利士人軍隊的屍體給空中的飛鳥和地上的野獸吃。這樣,全地的人就都知道以色列中有一位 神。 47 也使這些人群都知道,耶和華拯救人不是靠刀,不是靠槍,因為戰爭的勝敗在於耶和華,他必把你們交在我們的手裡。” 48 那非利士人起身,迎著大衛慢慢走過來;大衛也趕快往陣上跑去,迎戰那非利士人。 49 大衛伸手入口袋裡,從裡面拿出了一塊石子來,用機弦甩去,擊中了那非利士人的前額;石子穿入前額裡面,他就仆倒,面伏於地。

50 這樣,大衛用機弦和一塊石子勝過了那非利士人。大衛擊殺了那非利士人,但他手中沒有刀。 51 大衛跑過去,站在那非利士人的身邊,拿起他的刀來,把刀從鞘中拔出來,殺死他,又用刀砍下他的頭。非利士人看見他們的勇士死了,就都逃跑。 52 以色列人和猶大人就起來,高聲吶喊,追趕非利士人,直到迦特(按照《馬索拉文本》,“迦特”作“山谷”;現參照《七十士譯本》翻譯)的入口和以革倫的城門。被刺死的非利士人都倒在沙拉音的路上,直到迦特和以革倫。 53 以色列人窮追非利士人回來以後,就搶掠他們的營房。 54 大衛拿起那非利士人的頭,把它帶到耶路撒冷去,卻把那人的武器放在自己的帳棚裡。

掃羅召見大衛

55 掃羅看見大衛出去迎戰那非利士人,就問元帥押尼珥:“押尼珥啊,這個年輕人是誰的兒子?”押尼珥回答:“我敢指著王起誓,我不知道。” 56 王說:“你去問問這個少年是誰的兒子。” 57 大衛擊殺了那非利士人回來的時候,押尼珥迎接他,把他帶到掃羅面前,大衛手中還拿著那非利士人的頭。 58 掃羅問他:“年輕人啊,你是誰的兒子?”大衛回答:“我是你僕人伯利恆人耶西的兒子。”

David and Goliath

17 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled(A) at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh(B) and Azekah.(C) Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah(D) and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

A champion named Goliath,(E) who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.[a] He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels[b]; on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin(F) was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod,(G) and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.[c] His shield bearer(H) went ahead of him.

Goliath 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(I) a man and have him come down to me. If 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.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy(J) the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.(K) 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite(L) named Jesse,(M) who was from Bethlehem(N) in Judah. Jesse had eight(O) sons, and in Saul’s time he was very old. 13 Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab;(P) the second, Abinadab;(Q) and the third, Shammah.(R) 14 David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend(S) his father’s sheep(T) at Bethlehem.

16 For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.

17 Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah[d](U) of roasted grain(V) and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18 Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers(W) are and bring back some assurance[e] from them. 19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.”

20 Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. 22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies,(X) ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were. 23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual(Y) defiance, and David heard it. 24 Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.

25 Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter(Z) in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes(AA) in Israel.”

26 David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace(AB) from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised(AC) Philistine that he should defy(AD) the armies of the living(AE) God?”

27 They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

28 When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger(AF) at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”

29 “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. 31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.

32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart(AG) on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

33 Saul replied,(AH) “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion(AI) or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized(AJ) it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion(AK) and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued(AL) me from the paw of the lion(AM) and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with(AN) you.”

38 Then Saul dressed David in his own(AO) tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer(AP) in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome,(AQ) and he despised(AR) him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog,(AS) that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds(AT) and the wild animals!(AU)

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin,(AV) but I come against you in the name(AW) of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.(AX) 46 This day the Lord will deliver(AY) you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses(AZ) of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world(BA) will know that there is a God in Israel.(BB) 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword(BC) or spear that the Lord saves;(BD) for the battle(BE) is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling(BF) and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut(BG) off his head with the sword.(BH)

When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath[f] and to the gates of Ekron.(BI) Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim(BJ) road to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.

54 David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.

55 As Saul watched David(BK) going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Abner,(BL) whose son is that young man?”

Abner replied, “As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.”

56 The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.”

57 As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head.

58 “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him.

David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse(BM) of Bethlehem.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 17:4 That is, about 9 feet 9 inches or about 3 meters
  2. 1 Samuel 17:5 That is, about 125 pounds or about 58 kilograms
  3. 1 Samuel 17:7 That is, about 15 pounds or about 6.9 kilograms
  4. 1 Samuel 17:17 That is, probably about 36 pounds or about 16 kilograms
  5. 1 Samuel 17:18 Or some token; or some pledge of spoils
  6. 1 Samuel 17:52 Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew of a valley