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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>1 Samuel 17 New American Bible</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/1_samuel/17.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcc/1_samuel/17-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com/catholic">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NABRE</a> > 1 Samuel 17</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../1_samuel/16.htm" title="1 Samuel 16">◄</a> 1 Samuel 17 <a href="../1_samuel/18.htm" title="1 Samuel 18">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New American Bible Revised Edition</td><td width="1%" valign="top"></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><section id="ch09017" class="chapter"> <h1 id="cn09017" class="cn"></h1> <p class="pf"><span class="hemb">The Challenge of Goliath.</span> <span id="v09017001" class="ver">1</span>The Philistines rallied their forces for battle at Socoh in Judah and camped between Socoh and Azekah at Ephes-dammim. <span id="v09017002" class="ver">2</span>Saul and the Israelites rallied and camped in the valley of the Elah, drawing up their battle line to meet the Philistines. <span id="v09017003" class="ver">3</span>The Philistines were stationed on one hill and the Israelites on an opposite hill, with a valley between them.</p> <p><span id="v09017004" class="ver">4</span>A champion named Goliath of Gath came out from the Philistine camp; he was six cubits and a span<a id="rfn09017004-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn09017004-1">*</a> tall. <span id="v09017005" class="ver">5</span>He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a bronze breastplate of scale armor weighing five thousand shekels, <span id="v09017006" class="ver">6</span>bronze greaves, and had a bronze scimitar slung from his shoulders. <span id="v09017007" class="ver">7</span>The shaft of his javelin was like a weaver’s beam, and its iron head weighed six hundred shekels.<a id="rfn09017007-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn09017007-1">*</a> His shield-bearer went ahead of him.<a id="ren09017007-a" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017007-a">a</a> <span id="v09017008" class="ver">8</span>He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel: “Why come out in battle formation? I am a Philistine, and you are Saul’s servants. Choose one of your men, and have him come down to me. <span id="v09017009" class="ver">9</span>If he beats me in combat and kills me, we will be your vassals; but if I beat him and kill him, you shall be our vassals and serve us.” <span id="v09017010" class="ver">10</span>The Philistine continued: “I defy the ranks of Israel today. Give me a man and let us fight together.” <span id="v09017011" class="ver">11</span>When Saul and all Israel heard this challenge of the Philistine, they were stunned and terrified.</p> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">David Comes to the Camp.<a id="rfn09017012-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn09017012-1">*</a></span> <span id="v09017012" class="ver">12</span>David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah who had eight sons. In the days of Saul Jesse was old and well on in years.<a id="ren09017012-b" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017012-b">b</a> <span id="v09017013" class="ver">13</span>The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to war; the names of these three sons who had gone off to war were Eliab the firstborn; Abinadab the second; and Shammah the third. <span id="v09017014" class="ver">14</span>David was the youngest. While the three oldest had joined Saul, <span id="v09017015" class="ver">15</span>David would come and go from Saul’s presence to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.<a id="ren09017015-c" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017015-c">c</a></p> <p><span id="v09017016" class="ver">16</span>Meanwhile the Philistine came forward and took his stand morning and evening for forty days.</p> <p><span id="v09017017" class="ver">17</span>Now Jesse said to his son David: “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves for your brothers, and bring them quickly to your brothers in the camp. <span id="v09017018" class="ver">18</span>Also take these ten cheeses for the field officer. Greet your brothers and bring home some token from them. <span id="v09017019" class="ver">19</span>Saul and your brothers, together with all Israel, are at war with the Philistines in the valley of the Elah.” <span id="v09017020" class="ver">20</span>Early the next morning, having left the flock with a shepherd, David packed up and set out, as Jesse had commanded him. He reached the barricade of the camp just as the army, on their way to the battleground, were shouting their battle cry.<a id="ren09017020-d" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017020-d">d</a> <span id="v09017021" class="ver">21</span>The Israelites and the Philistines drew up opposite each other in battle array. <span id="v09017022" class="ver">22</span>David entrusted what he had brought to the keeper of the baggage and hastened to the battle line, where he greeted his brothers.<a id="ren09017022-e" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017022-e">e</a> <span id="v09017023" class="ver">23</span>While he was talking with them, the Philistine champion, by name Goliath of Gath, came up from the ranks of the Philistines and spoke as before, and David listened. <span id="v09017024" class="ver">24</span>When the Israelites saw the man, they all retreated before him, terrified. <span id="v09017025" class="ver">25</span>The Israelites had been saying: “Do you see this man coming up? He comes up to insult Israel. The king will make whoever kills him a very wealthy man. He will give his daughter to him and declare his father’s family exempt from taxes in Israel.”<a id="ren09017025-f" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017025-f">f</a> <span id="v09017026" class="ver">26</span>David now said to the men standing near him: “How will the man who kills this Philistine and frees Israel from disgrace be rewarded? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should insult the armies of the living God?”<a id="ren09017026-g" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017026-g">g</a> <span id="v09017027" class="ver">27</span>They repeated the same words to him and said, “That is how the man who kills him will be rewarded.” <span id="v09017028" class="ver">28</span>When Eliab, his oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he grew angry with David and said: “Why did you come down? With whom have you left those sheep in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and dishonest heart. You came down to enjoy the battle!”<a id="ren09017028-h" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017028-h">h</a> <span id="v09017029" class="ver">29</span>David protested, “What have I done now? I was only talking.” <span id="v09017030" class="ver">30</span>He turned from him to another and asked the same question; and everyone gave him the same answer as before. <span id="v09017031" class="ver">31</span>The words that David had spoken were overheard and reported to Saul, who sent for him.</p> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">David Challenges Goliath.</span> <span id="v09017032" class="ver">32</span>Then David spoke to Saul: “My lord should not lose heart. Let your servant go and fight this Philistine.” <span id="v09017033" class="ver">33</span>But Saul answered David, “You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him, for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth.” <span id="v09017034" class="ver">34</span><a id="ren09017034-i" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017034-i">i</a> Then David told Saul: “Your servant used to tend his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or bear came to carry off a sheep from the flock, <span id="v09017035" class="ver">35</span>I would chase after it, attack it, and snatch the prey from its mouth. If it attacked me, I would seize it by the throat, strike it, and kill it. <span id="v09017036" class="ver">36</span>Your servant has killed both a lion and a bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be as one of them, because he has insulted the armies of the living God.”</p> <p><span id="v09017037" class="ver">37</span>David continued: “The same <span class="tetr">Lord</span> who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul answered David, “Go! the <span class="tetr">Lord</span> will be with you.”<a id="ren09017037-j" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017037-j">j</a></p> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">Preparation for the Encounter.</span> <span id="v09017038" class="ver">38</span>Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic, putting a bronze helmet on his head and arming him with a coat of mail. <span id="v09017039" class="ver">39</span>David also fastened Saul’s sword over the tunic. He walked with difficulty, however, since he had never worn armor before. He said to Saul, “I cannot go in these, because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. <span id="v09017040" class="ver">40</span>Then, staff in hand, David selected five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s bag. With his sling in hand, he approached the Philistine.</p> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">David’s Victory.</span> <span id="v09017041" class="ver">41</span><a id="rfn09017041-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn09017041-1">*</a> With his shield-bearer marching before him, the Philistine advanced closer and closer to David. <span id="v09017042" class="ver">42</span>When he sized David up and saw that he was youthful, ruddy, and handsome in appearance, he began to deride him. <span id="v09017043" class="ver">43</span>He said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with a staff?” Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods <span id="v09017044" class="ver">44</span>and said to him, “Come here to me, and I will feed your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.”<a id="ren09017044-k" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017044-k">k</a> <span id="v09017045" class="ver">45</span>David answered him: “You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the <span class="tetr">Lord</span> of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have insulted. <span id="v09017046" class="ver">46</span>Today the <span class="tetr">Lord</span> shall deliver you into my hand; I will strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will feed your dead body and the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field; thus the whole land shall learn that Israel has a God. <span id="v09017047" class="ver">47</span>All this multitude, too, shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the <span class="tetr">Lord</span> saves. For the battle belongs to the <span class="tetr">Lord</span>, who shall deliver you into our hands.”<a id="ren09017047-l" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017047-l">l</a></p> <p><span id="v09017048" class="ver">48</span>The Philistine then moved to meet David at close quarters, while David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. <span id="v09017049" class="ver">49</span>David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone, hurled it with the sling, and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone embedded itself in his brow, and he fell on his face to the ground. <span id="v09017050" class="ver">50</span>Thus David triumphed over the Philistine with sling and stone; he struck the Philistine dead, and did it without a sword in his hand.<a id="ren09017050-m" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017050-m">m</a> <span id="v09017051" class="ver">51</span>Then David ran and stood over him; with the Philistine’s own sword which he drew from its sheath he killed him, and cut off his head.<a id="ren09017051-n" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017051-n">n</a></p> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">Flight of the Philistines.</span> When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they fled. <span id="v09017052" class="ver">52</span>Then the men of Israel and Judah sprang up with a battle cry and pursued them to the approaches of Gath and to the gates of Ekron, and Philistines fell wounded along the road from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. <span id="v09017053" class="ver">53</span>When they returned from their pursuit of the Philistines, the Israelites looted their camp. <span id="v09017054" class="ver">54</span><a id="ren09017054-o" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017054-o">o</a> David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem; but he kept Goliath’s armor in his own tent.<a id="rfn09017054-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn09017054-1">*</a></p> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">David Presented to Saul.</span> <span id="v09017055" class="ver">55</span>As Saul watched David go out to meet the Philistine, he asked his general Abner, “Abner, whose son is that young man?” Abner replied, “On your life, O king, I have no idea.”<a id="ren09017055-p" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en09017055-p">p</a> <span id="v09017056" class="ver">56</span>And the king said, “Find out whose son the lad is.” <span id="v09017057" class="ver">57</span>So when David returned from slaying the Philistine, Abner escorted him into Saul’s presence. David was still holding the Philistine’s head. <span id="v09017058" class="ver">58</span>Saul then asked him, “Whose son are you, young man?” David replied, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”</p> </section> <br /><h1 class="cn"><a class="xref" href="intro.htm"><span class="ac">Book Introduction</span></a></h1><h1 class="cn"><a class="xref" href="footnotes.htm"><span class="ac">Footnotes</span></a></h1></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the <i>New American Bible, revised edition</i> © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. 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