2. Saul and the Israelite army assembled and camped in the Elah Valley, where they got organized to fight the Philistines.
3. The Philistines took positions on one hill while Israel took positions on the opposite hill. There was a valley between them.
4. A champion named Goliath from Gath came out from the Philistine camp. He was more than nine feet tall.
5. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore bronze scale-armor weighing one hundred twenty-five pounds.
6. He had bronze plates on his shins, and a bronze scimitar hung on his back.
7. His spear shaft was as strong as the bar on a weaver’s loom, and its iron head weighed fifteen pounds. His shield-bearer walked in front of him.
8. He stopped and shouted to the Israelite troops, "Why have you come and taken up battle formations? I am the Philistine champion, and you are Saul’s servants. Isn’t that right? Select one of your men, and let him come down against me.
9. If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will become your slaves, but if I overcome him and kill him, then you will become our slaves and you will serve us.
10. I insult Israel’s troops today!" The Philistine continued, "Give me an opponent, and we’ll fight!"
11. When Saul and all Israel heard what the Philistine said, they were distressed and terrified.
12. Now David was Jesse’s son, an Ephraimite from Bethlehem in Judah who had eight sons. By Saul’s time, Jesse was already quite old and far along in age.
13. Jesse’s three oldest sons had gone with Saul to war. Their names were Eliab the oldest, Abinadab the second oldest, and Shammah the third oldest.
14. (David was the youngest.) These three older sons followed Saul,
15. but David went back and forth from Saul’s side to shepherd his father’s flock in Bethlehem.
16. For forty days straight the Philistine came out and took his stand, both morning and evening.