1. The Philistines gathered their armies for war. They met at Socoh in Judah. Their camp was at Ephes Dammim between Socoh and Azekah.
2. Saul and the Israelites gathered in the Valley of Elah. And they camped there. They took their positions to fight the Philistines.
3. The Philistines controlled one hill. The Israelites controlled another. The valley was between them.
4. The Philistines had a champion fighter named Goliath. He was from Gath. He was about nine feet four inches tall. He came out of the Philistine camp.
5. He had a bronze helmet on his head. And he wore a coat of scale armor. It was made of bronze and weighed about 125 pounds.
6. He wore bronze protectors on his legs. And he had a small spear of bronze tied on his back.
7. The wooden part of his larger spear was like a weaver’s rod. And its blade weighed about 15 pounds. The officer who carried his shield walked in front of him.
8. Goliath stood and shouted to the Israelite soldiers, “Why have you taken positions for battle? I am a Philistine, and you are Saul’s servants! Choose a man and send him to fight me.
9. If he can fight and kill me, we will become your servants. But if I defeat and kill him, you will become our servants.”
10. Then he said, “Today I stand and dare the army of Israel! Send one of your men to fight me!”
11. When Saul and the Israelites heard the Philistine’s words, they were very afraid.
12. Now David was the son of Jesse, an Ephrathite. Jesse was from Bethlehem in Judah. He had eight sons. In Saul’s time Jesse was an old man.