Bible Chapter Summary
1 Samuel 17 Summary
David Slays Goliath
The Philistines gather at Shochoh and pitch battle against Israel in the valley of Elah. A champion named Goliath of Gath, six cubits and a span tall, armored in brass and bearing an enormous spear, comes forth and defies the armies of Israel for forty days, challenging them to single combat. When David arrives at the camp bringing provisions for his brothers, he hears Goliath's taunt and boldly offers to fight him. Saul equips David with armor, but David refuses it and chooses five smooth stones and his sling. David declares that the Lord will deliver Goliath into his hand, strikes the Philistine in the forehead with a stone, and Goliath falls. David takes Goliath's sword and beheads him, and the Philistines flee.
Key themes
Key verses
1 Samuel 17:45-46
“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 17:49-50
“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 17:51
“Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.”
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