David and Goliath

Scene 1The Standoff

The Philistine army camped on one hill. Saul's army camped on the hill across from them. The Valley of Elah lay between them, with a stream running through the bottom.

This valley mattered. It led from Philistine land up into the hills where Israel lived. David's hometown, Bethlehem, was only about 15 miles away. If the Philistines won here, the road into Israel's towns was open.

Neither army attacked. The Bible doesn't say why they waited. One likely reason: charging meant running downhill, crossing the stream, and fighting uphill against an enemy who was ready.

Scene 2The Giant's Challenge

Then a champion walked out from the Philistine camp. His name was Goliath, from the city of Gath.

He was enormous. He wore a bronze helmet and bronze armor that weighed about 125 pounds, as much as a grown adult. Bronze plates covered his legs. A bronze javelin hung across his back. The wooden shaft of his spear was as thick as a beam on a weaving loom. Its iron point alone weighed about 15 pounds. A soldier walked in front of him carrying his shield.

Goliath shouted across the valley. "Why are you lining up for battle? Choose one of your men and send him down to me. If he kills me, we'll be your servants. If I kill him, you'll be ours. I defy the ranks of Israel today! Send me a man to fight."

Sometimes wars were settled this way. Instead of thousands dying, each side sent one champion. The winner's army won everything.

Israel had a serious problem. The Philistines knew how to work iron. Israel had no blacksmiths at all. Israelites even had to go to the Philistines to sharpen their farm tools. Only Saul and his son Jonathan owned a sword or spear (1 Samuel 13:19–22). Most soldiers had no real weapons of war.

So Israel had one obvious choice: King Saul. He was the tallest man in Israel. He was the king the people had asked for, to fight their battles. He had one of the only swords in the army.

Saul didn't go. He and all his soldiers were terrified.

Goliath came out every morning and every evening. He did this for 40 days.

Scene 3David Arrives

David's three oldest brothers were in Saul's army. David was the youngest. He went back and forth from Saul's camp to take care of his father's sheep in Bethlehem.

Being a shepherd was lonely, dangerous work. Shepherds lived outdoors with the flock, found them water and grass, and guarded them from wild animals. Lions and bears lived in Israel back then (1 Samuel 17:34).

Soldiers often depended on food sent from home. So Jesse gave David a bag of roasted grain and ten loaves of bread for his brothers. He also sent ten portions of cheese for their commander. Jesse wanted news too. "Check on your brothers, and bring back something to show they're okay."

David got up early and left the sheep with another shepherd. He reached the camp just as the army was marching out and shouting the battle cry. He left the food with the supply keeper and ran to find his brothers.

While David was talking with them, Goliath stepped out and shouted his usual challenge. David heard it. He watched the Israelite soldiers run from Goliath in fear.

Scene 4The Reward and the Angry Brother

The soldiers told each other about a reward. King Saul had promised that whoever killed Goliath would get great riches. He would marry the king's daughter. His father's family would never pay taxes again.

David asked what would be done for the man who killed this Philistine. Then he asked a bigger question: "Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (17:26). To David, Goliath wasn't only insulting soldiers. He was insulting God.

Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him and got angry. "Why did you come down here? Who's watching those few sheep? I know how proud you are. You only came to watch the battle."

The Bible doesn't say exactly why Eliab reacted so harshly. But remember: Eliab was the tall, impressive oldest son that Samuel first thought God would choose. Instead, Eliab watched his youngest brother get anointed.

David said, "What did I do now? It was only a question." He turned to other soldiers and asked again. They gave him the same answer.

Scene 5David Volunteers

Someone told Saul what David was saying. Saul sent for him.

David said, "Don't let anyone lose heart because of this Philistine. I'll go and fight him."

Saul said, "You can't. You're only a boy. He has been a warrior since he was young."

David explained what shepherding had taught him. When a lion or a bear carried off a lamb, David went after it. He struck it and rescued the lamb from its mouth. When the animal turned on him, he grabbed it and killed it. "The LORD who rescued me from the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine."

Saul said, "Go, and may the LORD be with you."

Scene 6Armor That Doesn't Fit

Saul dressed David in his own tunic, armor, and bronze helmet. David strapped on Saul's sword and tried to walk. He couldn't. He had never trained in armor.

Remember, Saul was a head taller than everyone else. His armor was made for him.

David took it all off. He picked up his shepherd's staff. He walked down to the stream and chose five stones, worn smooth by the water. He put them in his shepherd's bag. With his sling in his hand, he walked toward Goliath.

A sling was a real weapon, not a toy. It was a strip of woven material or leather with a pouch in the middle. A slinger whirled it, then let one end go. Skilled slingers could hit very small targets (Judges 20:16).

Scene 7The Face-Off

Goliath came closer and closer, with his shield bearer in front of him. When he saw David, he looked down on him. David was only a boy, ruddy and handsome.

"Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" Goliath cursed David by his gods. "Come here, and I'll give your body to the birds and the wild animals."

David answered him:

"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied" (17:45).

David said that today the whole world would know there is a God in Israel. Everyone there would know the LORD doesn't save with sword or spear. "For the battle is the LORD's" (17:47).

Scene 8One Stone

Goliath started forward to attack. David ran quickly toward him. He reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it.

The stone hit Goliath on the forehead and sank in. Goliath fell facedown on the ground.

David had no sword. He ran and stood over the giant. He pulled Goliath's own sword out of its sheath and killed him with it. Then he cut off his head.

Remember what David said: the LORD doesn't save with sword or spear. David won without a sword. The only sword in the fight belonged to Goliath.

Scene 9The Chase

When the Philistines saw their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Goliath had promised they would become Israel's servants if he lost. They didn't stay to keep that promise.

The men of Israel and Judah, who had been afraid for 40 days, charged forward with a shout. They chased the Philistines all the way to the gates of the Philistine cities of Gath and Ekron.

Scene 10"Whose Son Is This?"

As David had gone out to fight, Saul asked Abner, the commander of his army, "Whose son is this young man?" Abner didn't know.

After the battle, Abner brought David to Saul. David was still holding Goliath's head. Saul asked him, "Whose son are you, young man?"

David said, "I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem."

Saul still didn't know that the young man in front of him, holding Goliath's head, was the king God had already chosen. But you do.