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) 2} Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah^(D) and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. ³ The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

⁴ A champion named Goliath,^(E) who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.^{[a] 5} He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels^[b]; ⁶ on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin^(F) was slung on his back. ⁷ 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.

⁸ 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. ⁹ 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.

⁴¹ Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer^(A) 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,^(B) and he despised^(C) him. ⁴³ He said to David, “Am I a dog,^(D) 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^(E) and the wild animals!^(F)”

⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin,^(G) but I come against you in the name^(H) of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.^{(I) 46} This day the Lord will deliver^(J) you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses^(K) of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world^(L) will know that there is a God in Israel.^{(M) 47} All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword^(N) or spear that the Lord saves;^(O) for the battle^(P) 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^(Q) 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^(R) off his head with the sword.^(S)

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^[a] and to the gates of Ekron.^(T) Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim^(U) road to Gath and Ekron. ⁵³ When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.