Study Desk

So Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Let David now be my attendant for he has found favor in my sight."

Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.

And the Philistine came forward morning and evening, and took his stand for forty days.

Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brothers.

"For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the Valley of Elah, fighting the Philistines."

Then David said to the men who were standing by him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and rids Israel of the disgrace? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he has dared to defy the armies of the living God?"

The people answered him in agreement with this statement, saying, "This is what will be done for the man who kills him."

Now Eliab his oldest brother heard him when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger burned against David and he said, "Why is it that you have come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I myself know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle."

When the words that David spoke were heard, they informed Saul, and he sent for him.

But Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight him; for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior since his youth."

And David strapped on his sword over his military attire and struggled at walking, for he had not trained with the armor. So David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, because I have not trained with them." And David took them off.

Then he took his staff in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag which he had, that is, in his shepherd's pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.

When the Philistine looked and saw David, he was contemptuous of him; for he was only a youth, and reddish, with a handsome appearance.

and that this entire assembly may know that the LORD does not save by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD'S, and He will hand you over to us!"

Then Saul became very angry, for this lyric displeased him; and he said, "They have given David credit for ten thousands, but to me they have given credit for only thousands! Now what more can he have but the kingdom?"

Then Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David escaped from his presence, twice.

David was successful in all his ways, for the LORD was with him.

But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he would go out to battle and return before them.

Then Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD'S battles." For Saul thought, "My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him."

For Saul thought, "I will give her to him so that she may become a trap for him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore Saul said to David, "For a second time you may become my son-in-law, today."