Giant Fears

^[1] Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. ^[2] Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah 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, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. ^[5] He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; ^[6] on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. ^[7] His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer 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 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 the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” ^[11] On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. ^[12] Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s time he was old and well advanced in years. ^[13] Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. ^[14] David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, ^[15] but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. ^[16] For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand. ^[17] Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. ^[18] Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them. ^[19] They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.” ^[20] Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. ^[21] Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. ^[22] David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers. ^[23] As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. ^[24] When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear. ^[25] Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his father’s family from taxes in Israel.” ^[26] David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” ^[27] They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.” Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.