Goliath challenged the Israeli army

17 The Philistines gathered their army to fight the Israeli army. They gathered together near Socoh, in the area where the descendants of Judah lived. They set up their tents at Ephes-Dammim, which is between Socoh and Azekah. 2 Saul gathered the Israeli army near Elah Valley, and they set up their tents. Then they all took their places, ready to fight the Philistines. 3 So the Philistine and Israeli armies faced each other. They were on two hills, with a valley between them.

4 Then Goliath, from Gath city, came out from the Philistine camp. He was a champion warrior/soldier. He was ◄over 9 feet/3 meters► tall. 5 He wore a helmet made of bronze to protect his head, and he wore a coat made of metal plates to protect his body. The coat weighed ◄125 pounds/56 kg.►. 6 He wore bronze guards/protectors on his legs. He had a long bronze dagger fastened on his back. 7 He also had a big spear. It had a cord on it to enable him to throw it better (OR, which was as thick as a weaver’s beam). The tip of the spear was made of iron and weighed ◄15 pounds/almost 7 kg.►. A soldier carrying a huge shield walked in front of him.

8 Goliath stood there and shouted to the Israeli army, “Why are you all lined up for battle? I am the great Philistine soldier, and I think [RHQ] you are merely Saul’s slaves. Choose one man to fight for all of you, and send him down here to me! 9 If he fights with me and kills me, then my fellow Philistines will all be your slaves. But if I defeat him and kill him, then you Israelis will all be our slaves. 10 I defy/challenge you men of the Israeli army. Send me a man who will fight with me!” 11 When Saul and all the Israeli soldiers heard that, they were extremely terrified [DOU].