10. Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel today. Send me a man so we can fight each other! ”
11. When Saul and all Israel heard these words from the Philistine, they lost their courage and were terrified.
12. Now David was the son of the Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah named Jesse. Jesse had eight sons and during Saul’s reign was already an old man.
13. Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war, and their names were Eliab, the firstborn, Abinadab, the next, and Shammah, the third,
14. and David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul,
15. but David kept going back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock in Bethlehem.
16. Every morning and evening for 40 days the Philistine came forward and took his stand.
17. One day Jesse had told his son David: “Take this half-bushel of roasted grain along with these 10 loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp.
18. Also take these 10 portions of cheese to the field commander. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring a confirmation from them.
19. They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines.”
20. So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with someone to keep it, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him.He arrived at the perimeter of the camp as the army was marching out to its battle formation shouting their battle cry.
21. Israel and the Philistines lined up in battle formation facing each other.
22. David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were.
23. While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words, which David heard.