So when David returned from striking down the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul. He still had the head of the Philistine in his hand.

¹ David prevailed over the Philistine with just the sling and the stone. He struck down the Philistine and killed him. David did not even have a sword in his hand. ² 

The Philistine drew steadily closer to David to attack him, while David quickly ran toward the battle line to attack the Philistine. ¹ 

Meanwhile for forty days the Philistine approached every morning and evening and took his position.

¹ The Philistine kept coming closer to David, with his shield bearer walking in front of him.

David asked the men who were standing near him, “What will be done for the man who strikes down this Philistine and frees Israel from this humiliation? ¹  For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he defies the armies of the living God?”

When Saul and all the Israelites ¹  heard these words of the Philistine, they were upset and very afraid.

The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you are coming after me with sticks?” ¹  Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

As he was speaking with them, the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, was coming up from the battle lines of the Philistines. He spoke the way he usually did, ¹  and David heard it.

David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, ¹  and he put Goliath’s ²  weapons in his tent.

David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged. ¹  Your servant will go and fight this Philistine!”

He inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

Then the Philistine said, “I defy Israel’s troops this day! Give me a man so we can fight ¹  each other!”

The Philistine said to David, “Come here to me, so I can give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the field!” ¹ 

When the Philistine looked carefully at David, he despised him, for he was only a ruddy and handsome boy.

But Saul replied to David, “You aren’t able to go against this Philistine and fight him! You’re just a boy! He has been a warrior from his youth!”

Your servant has struck down both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be just like one of them. ¹  For he has defied the armies of the living God!”

When the men ¹  arrived after David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women from all the cities of Israel came out singing and dancing to meet King Saul. They were happy as they played their tambourines and three-stringed instruments. ² 

¹ Now as Saul watched David going out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the general in command of the army, “Whose son is this young man, Abner?” Abner replied, “As surely as you live, O king, I don’t know.”

Samson went down to Timnah, where a Philistine girl caught his eye. ¹