Study Desk

So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me."

So Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight."

Now the Philistines gathered their camps for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.

But Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the valley of Elah and arranged themselves for battle to meet the Philistines.

And he stood and called out to the battle lines of Israel and said to them, "Why do you come out to arrange yourselves for battle? Am I not the Philistine and you slaves of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.

Then the Philistine approached, morning and evening, for forty days and took his stand.

Then Jesse said to David his son, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers.

Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, "What will be done for the man who strikes down this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should reproach the battle lines of the living God?"

And the people spoke to him in accord with this word, saying, "Thus it will be done for the man who strikes him down."

Then Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger burned against David, and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I myself know your arrogance and the wickedness of your heart, for you have come down in order to see the battle."

Then the words which David spoke were heard. And they told them to Saul, and he sent for him.

Then Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth."

And David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." And David took them off.

Then he took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook and put them in the shepherd's bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.

And the Philistine looked and saw David. And he despised him; for he was but a youth and ruddy, with a handsome appearance.

and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh does not save by sword or by spear; for the battle is Yahweh's, and He will give you into our hands."

Then Saul became very angry, for this saying was displeasing in his eyes; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?"

Then Saul hurled the spear for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David escaped from his presence twice.

And Saul was afraid of David, for Yahweh was with him but had turned away from Saul.

But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.