1 Samuel 17:12-20

English Standard Version

¹² Now David was ^(A)the son of an ^(B)Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, ^(C)named Jesse, ^(D)who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years.^{[a] 13} The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And ^(E)the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. ^14 (F)David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, ¹⁵ but David went back and forth from Saul ^(G)to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. ¹⁶ For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.

¹⁷ And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah^[b] of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. ^18 (H)Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. ^(I)See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.”

¹⁹ Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. ²⁰ And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to ^(J)the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry.