1 Samuel 17

David and Goliath

1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at a Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. 3 The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named b Goliath, from c Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was 1 armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. 8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the d servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 "If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and e serve us." 10 And the Philistine said, "I f defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

12 Now David was g the son of that h Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had i eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The j names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. 15 But David occasionally went and returned from Saul k to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.

17 Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. 18 "And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and l see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them."

19 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. 22 And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. 23 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke m according to the same words. So David heard them.

24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. 25 So the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, n will give him his daughter, and give his father's house exemption from taxes in Israel." 26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away o the reproach from Israel? For who is this p uncircumcised Philistine, that he should q defy the armies of r the living God?" 27 And the people answered him in this manner, saying, s "So shall it be done for the man who kills him."

28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's t anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle." 29 And David said, "What have I done now? u Is 2 there not a cause?" 30 Then he turned from him toward another and v said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did.

31 Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. 32 Then David said to Saul, w "Let no man's heart fail because of him; x your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." 33 And Saul said to David, y "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth." 34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a z lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 "I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 "Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." 37 Moreover David said, a "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, b "Go, and the LORD be with you!"

38 So Saul clothed David with his 3 armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.

41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he c disdained 4 him; for he was only a youth, d ruddy and good-looking. 43 So the Philistine e said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine f said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" 45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. g But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have h defied. 46 "This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give i the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, j that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 "Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD k does not save with sword and spear; for l the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."

48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and m ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a n sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his o sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, p they fled. 52 Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of 5 the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to q Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron. 53 Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

55 When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to r Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, s whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know." 56 So the king said, "Inquire whose son this young man is." 57 Then, as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul t with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" So David answered, u "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 41:46
    Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
    Proverbs 22:29
    Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
  2. Cross References
    Joshua 15:35
    Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah.
    2 Chronicles 28:18
    The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Sochoh with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages; and they dwelt there.
  3. Cross References
    2 Samuel 21:19
    Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of JaareOr'e-gim the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.
  4. Cross References
    Joshua 11:21
    And at that time Joshua came and cut off the Anakim from the mountains: from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel; Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities.
    Joshua 11:22
    None of the Anakim were left in the land of the children of Israel; they remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod.
  5. Cross References
    1 Samuel 8:17
    He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants.
  6. Cross References
    1 Samuel 11:1
    Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.
  7. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:26
    Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
    1 Samuel 17:36
    "Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."
    1 Samuel 17:45
    Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
    2 Samuel 21:21
    So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him.
  8. Cross References
    Ruth 4:22
    Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.
    1 Samuel 16:1
    Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.
    1 Samuel 16:18
    Then one of the servants answered and said, "Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him.
    1 Samuel 17:58
    And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" So David answered, " I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.
  9. Cross References
    Genesis 35:19
    So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
  10. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:10
    Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these.
    1 Samuel 16:11
    And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.
    1 Chronicles 2:13 - 15
    Jesse begot Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third.
  11. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:6
    So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before Him!
    1 Samuel 16:8
    So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one.
    1 Samuel 16:9
    Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one.
    1 Chronicles 2:13
    Jesse begot Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third.
  12. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:11
    And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.
    1 Samuel 16:19
    Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.
    2 Samuel 7:8
    Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.
  13. Cross References
    Genesis 37:13
    And Israel said to Joseph, "Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them." So he said to him, "Here I am.
    Genesis 37:14
    Then he said to him, "Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me." So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.
  14. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:8 - 10
    Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.
  15. Cross References
    Joshua 15:16
    And Caleb said, "He who attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.
  16. Cross References
    1 Samuel 11:2
    And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, "On this condition I will make a covenant with you, that I may put out all your right eyes, and bring reproach on all Israel.
  17. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:6
    Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.
    1 Samuel 17:36
    "Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."
    Jeremiah 9:25
    Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "that I will punish all who are circumcised with the uncircumcised -
    Jeremiah 9:26
    "Egypt, Judah, Edom, the people of Ammon, Moab, and all who are in the farthest corners, who dwell in the wilderness. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart."
  18. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:10
    And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
  19. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 5:26
    For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
    2 Kings 19:4
    'It may be that the LORD your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.'"
    Jeremiah 10:10
    But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.
  20. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:25
    So the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father's house exemption from taxes in Israel.
  21. Cross References
    Genesis 37:4
    But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.
    Genesis 37:8 - 36
    And his brothers said to him, "Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
    Proverbs 18:19
    A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.
    Matthew 10:36
    "and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'
  22. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:17
    Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp.
  23. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:26
    Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
    1 Samuel 17:27
    And the people answered him in this manner, saying, "So shall it be done for the man who kills him.
  24. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 20:1 - 4
    When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
  25. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:18
    Then one of the servants answered and said, "Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him.
  26. Cross References
    Numbers 13:31
    But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.
    Deuteronomy 9:2
    "a people great and tall, the descendants of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you heard it said, 'Who can stand before the descendants of Anak?'
  27. Cross References
    Judges 14:5
    So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him.
  28. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:10
    Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us.
    2 Timothy 4:17
    But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
    2 Timothy 4:18
    And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
  29. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:13
    May the LORD do so and much more to Jonathan. But if it pleases my father to do you evil, then I will report it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And the LORD be with you as He has been with my father.
    1 Chronicles 22:11
    Now, my son, may the LORD be with you; and may you prosper, and build the house of the LORD your God, as He has said to you.
    1 Chronicles 22:16
    "Of gold and silver and bronze and iron there is no limit. Arise and begin working, and the LORD be with you."
  30. Cross References
    Psalms 123:4
    Our soul is exceedingly filled With the scorn of those who are at ease, With the contempt of the proud.
    Proverbs 16:18
    Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
    1 Corinthians 1:27
    But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.
    1 Corinthians 1:28
    And the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are.
  31. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:12
    So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!
  32. Cross References
    1 Samuel 24:14
    After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
    2 Samuel 3:8
    Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, " Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman?
    2 Samuel 9:8
    Then he bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?
    2 Samuel 16:9
    Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!
    2 Kings 8:13
    So Hazael said, "But what is your servant - a dog, that he should do this gross thing?" And Elisha answered, "The LORD has shown me that you will become king over Syria.
  33. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:46
    This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
    1 Kings 20:10
    Then BenHadad sent to him and said, "The gods do so to me, and more also, if enough dust is left of Samaria for a handful for each of the people who follow me.
    1 Kings 20:11
    So the king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, 'Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.'
  34. Cross References
    2 Samuel 22:33
    God is my strength and power, And He makes my w...
    2 Samuel 22:35
    He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arm...
    2 Chronicles 32:8
    With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the...
    Psalms 124:8
    Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made h...
    2 Corinthians 10:4
    For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal b...
    Hebrews 11:33
    Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righ...
    Hebrews 11:34
    Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge...
  35. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:10
    And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
  36. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 28:26
    Your carcasses shall be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and no one shall frighten them away.
  37. Cross References
    Joshua 4:24
    "that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."
    1 Kings 8:43
    Hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.
    1 Kings 18:36
    And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word.
    2 Kings 19:19
    "Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone."
    Isaiah 52:10
    The LORD has made bare His holy arm In the eyes of all the nations; And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God.
  38. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:6
    Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore hi...
    2 Chronicles 14:11
    And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said...
    2 Chronicles 20:15
    And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you ...
    Psalms 44:6
    For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sw...
    Hosea 1:7
    Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, Wi...
    Zechariah 4:6
    So he answered and said to me: "This is the wor...
  39. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 20:15
    And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
  40. Cross References
    Psalms 27:3
    Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident.
  41. Cross References
    Judges 3:31
    After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.
    Judges 15:15
    He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and killed a thousand men with it.
    Judges 20:16
    Among all this people were seven hundred select men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair's breadth and not miss.
  42. Cross References
    1 Samuel 21:9
    So the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here." And David said, " There is none like it; give it to me.
    2 Samuel 23:21
    And he killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.
  43. Cross References
    Hebrews 11:34
    Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
  44. Cross References
    Joshua 15:36
    Sharaim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim: fourteen cities with their villages.
  45. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:50
    The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
  46. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:21
    So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.
    1 Samuel 16:22
    Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.
  47. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:54
    And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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