David Enters the Scene of Battle

12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite. This man was from Bethlehem of Judah, and his name was Jesse. He had[fn] eight sons; in the days of Saul this man was old, yet he still walked among[fn] the men. 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone and followed[fn] 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[fn] Saul, 15 but David went back and forth[fn] 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,[fn] and take their pledge.”[fn] 19 Now Saul and they[fn] and all the men of Israel were in the valley of Elah fighting the Philistines.

20 David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper, and he took the provisions and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment while the troops were going to the battle line, and they raised the war cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle lines, one battle line against the other.[fn] 22 David left the baggage he had with him in the care[fn] of the baggage keeper, ran to the battle line, and came and asked how his brothers were doing.[fn] 23 While he was speaking to them, the champion,[fn] whose name was Goliath the Philistine from Gath, was coming up from the caves[fn] of the Philistines. He spoke just as he had previously,[fn] and David heard his words. 24 When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from his presence and were very afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, “Did you see this man who has come up? For he is going up to defy Israel! It will be that the man who defeats him, the king will make him[fn] very rich with great wealth and will give him his daughter in marriage and will make his father’s house free in Israel.”[fn] 26 Now David had spoken to the men who were standing with him, saying, “What will be done for the man who defeats this Philistine and removes the disgrace from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he defies the battle lines of the living God?” 27 And the troops had spoken to him according to this word, saying, “So it will be done for the man who defeats[fn] him.”

28 His oldest brother Eliab heard while he was speaking to the men, and Eliab became very angry against David[fn] and said, “Why have you come down today, and with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumptuousness and the evil of your heart! For you have come down in order to see the battle!” 29 David replied, “What have I done now? I merely asked a question![fn] 30 He turned around from him to another opposite him and he spoke to him in the same way,[fn] and the people[fn] answered him as before.[fn]