David with the head of Goliath Painting by Caravaggio, Gallerie Borghese, Rome
The Israelites Paralysed By Fear
The Philistines were attacking the Israelites and terrifying them. Every day the Philistine champion, a giant of a man named Goliath, challenged an opponent to fight him, but none of the Israelites took up the challenge.
When young David visited his brothers with provisions, he was appalled at the Israelites' fear and offered to fight Goliath. His brothers and King Saul thought him too weak and Goliath taunted him on account of his size.
David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When 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. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul replied: " Well then, go and the LORD be with you." (1 Samuel 17:34-37)
Other People's Armour Is No Use
Saul offered David his armour, but David declined to wear it because it was far too big and heavy for him and he was not used to wearing it. Instead, he took his shepherd's staff in his hand, chose five smooth pebbles from the stream and with his sling in his hand advanced towards the Philistine.
Goliath advanced with his shield bearer in front of him and, when he saw David was little more than a young boy, he cursed David by his gods and said:
“Come here and I'll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals! ”
David's Response to Goliath's Boast
Unafraid, David replied:
“ You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, 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.”
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.
David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. (1 Samuel 17:45-51)
Saul's Jealousy & Growing Fear At David's Success
The Philistines fled when they saw their champion was dead and were thoroughly defeated. David eventually was taken to Saul carrying Goliath's head as a souvenir. But instead of being delighted by the young boy's victory, the king was jealous of the popularity it won him with the troops and was afraid of his success. It marked the beginning of Saul's attempts to show David who was in charge and of David's close friendship with Saul's son Jonathan.