7. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam and the point of his spear weighed six hundred iron shekels. His shield bearer was walking in front of him.
8. He stood and called to the battle lines of Israel and said to them, “Why have you come out to form ranks for battle? Am I not the Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Commission for yourselves a man and let him come down to me.
9. If he is able to fight with me and he defeats me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail over him and defeat him, then you will be our servants and you will serve us.”
10. Then the Philistine said, “I hereby defy the battle lines of Israel today! Give me a man so that we may fight each other!”
11. When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and very afraid.
12. Now David was the son of an Ephrathite. This man was from Bethlehem of Judah, and his name was Jesse. He had eight sons; in the days of Saul this man was old, yet he still walked among the men.
13. The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone and followed Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, his second oldest was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah.
14. Now David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul,
15. but David went back and forth from Saul to feed the sheep of his father in Bethlehem.
16. Now the Philistine came forward early and late, and he took his stand for forty days.
17. Then Jesse said to his son David, “Please take for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and bring them quickly to the camp for your brothers.
18. And these ten portions of cheese you will bring to the commander of the thousand; find out how your brothers are doing, and take their pledge.”
19. Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the valley of Elah fighting the Philistines.