Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

17 The P’lishtim rallied their troops for war, assembling at Sokhoh in Y’hudah and setting up camp between Sokhoh and ‘Azekah in Efes-Damim. ² Sha’ul and the men of Isra’el assembled, set up camp in the Elah Valley and drew up their battle line opposite the P’lishtim. ³ The P’lishtim occupied a position on one hill and Isra’el a position on another hill, with a valley between them.

⁴ There came out a champion from the camp of the P’lishtim named Golyat, from Gat, who was nine feet nine inches tall. 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. ¹⁶ Meanwhile, the P’lishti approached with his challenge every morning and evening for forty days.

¹⁷ Yishai said to David his son, “Please take your brothers five bushels of this roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread; hurry, and carry them to your brothers at the camp. ¹⁸ Also bring these ten cheeses to their field officer. Find out if your brothers are well, and bring back some token from them. ¹⁹ Sha’ul and your brothers, with all the army of Isra’el, are in the Elah Valley, fighting the P’lishtim.”

²⁰ David got up early in the morning, left the sheep with a helper, took his load and set out, as Yishai had ordered him. He arrived at the barricade of the camp just as the troops were going out to their battle stations and shouting the war cry. ²¹ Isra’el and the P’lishtim had set up their battle lines facing each other. ²² David left his equipment in charge of the equipment guard, ran to the troops, went to his brothers and asked if they were well. ²³ As he was talking with them, there came the champion, the P’lishti from Gat named Golyat, from the ranks of the P’lishtim, saying the same words as before; and David heard them.

¹² Meanwhile, through the emissaries many signs and miracles continued to be done among the people. United in mind and purpose, the believers met in Shlomo’s Colonnade; ¹³ and no one else dared to join them. Nevertheless, the people continued to regard them highly; ¹⁴ and throngs of believers were added to the Lord, both men and women. ¹⁵ They went so far as to bring the sick into the streets and lay them on mattresses and stretchers, so that at least Kefa’s shadow might fall on them as he passed by. ¹⁶ Crowds also gathered from the towns around Yerushalayim, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits; and every one of them was healed.