Saul, 15. And David departed again from Saul, to keep his father’s flock in Bethlehem.

And the Philistine came early in the morning and in the evening, and presented himself forty days.

And Jesse said unto David his son, Take for thy brethren these ephahs of sackbread, and these ten loaves, and run into the army to thy brethren,

And these ten fresh cheeses, and bring them unto the centurion; and see thy brethren, if it be well with them, and take what they command thee.

And Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of the oak, fighting against the Philistines.

And David arose early in the morning, and left the sheep with the keeper, and carried, and went as Jesse had commanded him, and came to the chariot-house. And the host was come forth, and armed themselves, and cried out in battle.

For Israel had armed themselves, and the Philistines were armed against their stuff.

And David left the vessel which he bare under the keeper of the vessels, and ran unto the witness; and went in, and saluted his brethren.

And while he yet spake unto them, behold, a giant named Goliath, the Philistine of Gath, came up out of the Philistine’s stuff, and spake as before: and David heard it.

But every man of Israel, when he saw the man, fled from him, and was sore afraid.

And all the people of Israel said, Have ye seen this man come up? For he is come up to speak evil of Israel. And whosoever smiteth him, the king will make him very rich, and give him his daughter, and will make his father’s house free in Israel.

And David said unto the men that sat with him: What shall be done to him that smiteth this Philistine, and turneth away the reproach from Israel? For who is this Philistine, this
uncircumcised man, that mocketh the testimony of the living God?

And the people said unto him, As before, So shall it be done unto him that smiteth him.

And Eliab his elder brother heard him speak with the men, and was wroth with anger against David, and said, Why art thou come down? and why hast thou forsaken the few sheep that are there in the wilderness? I know thy presumption, and the wickedness of thine heart. For thou art come down to see the battle.

And David said, What have I done now? Is it not commanded me?

And he turned from him to another, and spake as he spake before. And the people answered him as before.

And when they heard the words that David spake, they declared them before Saul, and he sent for him.

And David said unto Saul, Let no man’s heart fail him for this cause: let thy servant go and fight with the Philistine.

And Saul said unto David, Thou canst not go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art a boy, but this man is a man of war from his youth.

And David said unto Saul, Thy servant was tending his father’s flock, and there came a lion and a bear, and carried away a sheep from the fold.

And I ran after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth. And when he was come upon me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

So thy servant smote both the lion and the bear. Now therefore this Philistine, the uncircumcised, shall be as one of them, because he hath defiled the stuff of the living God.

And David said, The LORD that delivered me from the lion and from the bear, he shall deliver me also from this Philistine.

And Saul said unto David, Go thy way; the LORD be with thee. And Saul clothed David with his garments, and put a helmet of brass upon his head, and put on him a coat of mail.

And David girded his sword upon his garments, and began to walk, because he had never tried it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go thus, for I am not accustomed: and he put it from him.

And he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, and in the sack; and he took the sling in his hand, and made himself the Philistine.

And the Philistine went also, and made himself David, and his shield-bearer before him.

And when the Philistine saw, and looked upon David, he despised him. For he was a lad, brownish and fair.

And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest unto me with staves? And he cursed David by his God.

And he said unto David, Come unto me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

And David said unto the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come unto thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the testimony of Israel, whom thou hast heard.

This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand, and I will smite thee, and take away thy head from thee, and give the carcase of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that Israel hath one God, 47. And that all this congregation may know that the LORD helpeth not with sword nor with spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will deliver you into our hand.

And when the Philistine arose, and came near against David, David made haste, and ran from the witness against the Philistine.

And David put his hand into his pocket, and took a stone out of it, and cast it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, and the stone entered into his forehead, and he fell to the earth upon his face.

So David overcame the Philistine with the sling, and with the stone; and smote him, and slew him. And since David had no sword in his hand,

And he ran, and stood by the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw that their strongest was dead, they fled.

And the men of Israel and Judah arose, and called, and pursued after the Philistines unto the valley, and unto the gates of Ekron. And the Philistines fell slain by the way of the gates unto Gath, and unto Ekron.

And the children of Israel returned from pursuing the Philistines, and spoiled their camp.

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

And when Saul saw David going out against the Philistines, he said to Abner the captain of his host, Whose son is the lad? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I know not.

And the king said, Ask then whose son the young man is.

And David returned from the battle of the Philistine, and Abner took him, and brought him before Saul: and he had the Philistine’s head in his hand.

And Saul said unto him, Whose son art thou, boy? And David said: I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.
(1 Samuel)
Chapter 18
David’s praise, peril of life, and marriage.

And it came to pass, when he had spoken to Saul, that the heart of Jonathan was joined unto the heart of David: and Jonathan loved him as his own heart.

And Saul took him that day, and suffered him not to come again to his father’s house.

And Jonathan and David made a covenant together: for he loved him as his own heart.

And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe which he had on, and gave it to David, and his coat, and his sword, and his bow, and his girdle.

And David went out whither Saul sent him, and kept himself wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war: and he pleased all the people well, even the servants of Saul.

And it came to pass, when he was come again from the battle of the Philistines, that the women of all the cities of Israel went out to meet king Saul with singing and with dancing, and with joy, and with violins.

And the women sang one against another, and played, saying, Saul hath smitten a thousand, but David ten thousand.

And Saul was very wroth, and the word displeased him, and said, They have given David ten thousand, and have given me a thousand: the kingdom will be yet; 9. And Saul looked sore upon David from that day forward.

And the next day the evil spirit of God came upon Saul, and prophesied in the house at home: and David played upon the strings with his hand, as he did every day. And Saul had a spear in his hand.

And he shot him, and thought: I will spear David against the wall. And David turned from him twice.

And Saul was afraid of David: for the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.

And Saul put him away, and made him ruler over a thousand men: and he went out and came in before the people.

And David behaved himself wisely in all his doings: and the LORD was with him.

And when Saul saw that he thought himself wise, he shrank from him.

But all Israel and Judah loved David: for he went out and came in before them: 17. And Saul said unto David, Behold, my greatest daughter Merob will I