1 Samuel 17:14-23

New American Standard Bible

¹⁴ So ^(A)David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul, ^15 (B)but David went back and forth from Saul ^(C)to tend his father’s flock at Bethlehem. ¹⁶ And the Philistine came forward morning and evening, and took his stand for forty days.

¹⁷ Then Jesse said to his son David, “^(D)Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brothers. ^18 (E)Bring also these ten slices of cheese to the commander of their thousand, ^(F)and look into the well-being of your brothers and bring back ^[a]confirmation from them. ¹⁹ For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the Valley of Elah, fighting the Philistines.”

David Accepts the Challenge

²⁰ So David got up early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper, and took the supplies and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the ^(G)entrenchment encircling the camp while the army was going out in battle formation, shouting the war cry. ²¹ Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle formation, army against army. ²² Then David left the ^(H)baggage in the ^[b]care of the baggage keeper and ran to the battle line. And he entered and ^[c]greeted his brothers. ²³ As he was speaking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke ^(I)these same words; and David heard him.