David and Goliath: The Full Bible Story (1 Samuel 17 KJV)

David with his sling facing Goliath — David and Goliath in the valley of Elah

It is one of the most famous fights ever recorded. A shepherd with a sling faced the champion of the Philistines, and the LORD gave Israel the victory.

The story: The valley of Elah · The giant · David arrives · Saul's armor · In the name of the LORD · The stone · Afterward

The Armies in the Valley of Elah

The Philistines gathered at Shochoh, and Saul and the men of Israel pitched by the valley of Elah. The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side and Israel on a mountain on the other, with the valley between them (1 Samuel 17:1–3).

Goliath of Gath

And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.— 1 Samuel 17:4 (KJV)

He wore a helmet of brass and a coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels of brass, and "the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam" (1 Samuel 17:5–7). He defied Israel morning and evening for forty days (1 Samuel 17:16), and Saul and all Israel "were dismayed, and greatly afraid" (17:11). More about Goliath.

From the Psalms
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.— Psalm 20:7 (KJV)
Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:— Psalm 144:1 (KJV)

David Arrives with Bread and Cheese

Jesse sent David to bring food to his three oldest brothers in the army (1 Samuel 17:17–18). David heard the giant's challenge and asked, "who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26). When Saul said he was but a youth, David told of the lion and the bear (17:33–37).

Saul's Armor and Five Smooth Stones

Saul put his own armor on David, but David said, "I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them," and put them off. He took his staff, chose five smooth stones out of the brook, put them in his shepherd's bag, and his sling was in his hand (1 Samuel 17:38–40).

"In the Name of the LORD of Hosts"

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.— 1 Samuel 17:45 (KJV)

David added that all the earth would know there is a God in Israel, "for the battle is the LORD’s" (1 Samuel 17:46–47).

One Stone

And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.— 1 Samuel 17:49 (KJV)

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.— 1 Samuel 17:50 (KJV)

David ran, stood upon the Philistine, took his sword and cut off his head, and the Philistines fled (1 Samuel 17:51).

Afterward

Israel pursued the Philistines to Gath and Ekron (1 Samuel 17:52). Jonathan's soul "was knit with the soul of David" (David and Jonathan), and the women sang, "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands" (1 Samuel 18:1, 7). Years later David's own men killed four more giants of Gath.