David & Goliath

At the time, Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Israelites were on the hill of Socoh and the Philistines were on the hill of Azekah with only a valley in between them.

One day, Goliath, a 9 foot tall Philistine coated in 125 pounds of armor, stood at the top of Azekah and shouted to Israel: (1 Samuel 17:8-11)

“Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a philistine and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” Then the Philistine said “This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” On hearing the Philistine’s words,Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

(1 Samuel 17:6)

“For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and took his stand.”

One day, Jesse told David to take food to his older sons who were in King Saul's army. On the way, David here's one of the men saying that Saul is willing to give wealth, his daughter in marriage, and no taxes for whoever killed Goliath.

When David reached his brothers, he tells them he's willing to fight Goliath, but they imediatly get mad at him because he is too young, and too brave; they are jelouse.

(1 Samuel 17:31-37)

What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, who then sent for him. David told Saul, "No one should be discouraged because of this. I will go and fight this Philistine." Saul responded to David, "You can't fight this Philistine. You're just a boy, but he's been a warrior since he was your age." David replied to Saul, "I am a shepherd for my father's sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth. If it attacked me, I took hold of its mane, struck it, and killed it. I have killed lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them because he has challenged the army of the living God." David added, "The LORD, who saved me from the lion and the bear, will save me from this Philistine." "Go," Saul told David, "and may the LORD be with you."

Because David was too small for armor, he took with him a staff and 5 smooth stones (which he could hurl over 100 mph) and went to meet Goliath. When Golaith stepped forward, David did not tremble as he insulted him, but shouted back (1 Samuel 45-47)

"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but Icome against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the GOD of the armies of Israel, who you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beast of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a GOD in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's , and he will give all of you into our hands."

Then David kills him and cuts off his head with Goliath's own sword.

Saul gives David the highest ranking in his army, and loves him. David befriends Johnathan, Saul's son and lives happily in the kingdom, but only for so long.