10. The Philistine also said, “Today I stand and make fun of the army of Israel. I dare you to send me one of your men and let us fight.”
11. Saul and the Israelite soldiers heard what Goliath said, and they were very afraid.
12. David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was from the Ephrathah family in Bethlehem, Judah. Jesse had eight sons. In Saul’s time Jesse was an old man.
13. Jesse’s three oldest sons went with Saul to the war. The first son was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah.
14. David was the youngest son. The three oldest sons were in Saul’s army,
15. but David left Saul from time to time to take care of his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
16. The Philistine came out every morning and evening and stood before the Israelite army. Goliath insulted Israel like this for 40 days.
17. One day Jesse said to his son David, “Take this basket of cooked grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers in the camp.
18. Also take these ten pieces of cheese for the officer who commands your brothers’ group of 1000 soldiers. See how your brothers are doing. Bring back something to show me your brothers are all right.
19. Your brothers are with Saul and all the Israelite soldiers in the Valley of Elah. They are there to fight against the Philistines.”
20. Early in the morning, David had another shepherd take care of the sheep while he took the food and left as Jesse had told him to. David drove their wagon to the camp. The soldiers were going out to their battle positions just as David arrived. The soldiers began shouting their war cry.
21. The Israelites and Philistines were lined up and ready for battle.
22. David left the food with the man who kept supplies. Then he ran to the place where the Israelite soldiers were and asked about his brothers.