וַיַּאַסְפוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים אֶת מַחֲנֵיהֶם לַמִּלְחָמָה וַיֵּאָסְפוּ שֹׂכֹה אֲשֶׁר לִיהוּדָה וַיַּחֲנוּ בֵּין שׂוֹכֹה וּבֵין עֲזֵקָה בְּאֶפֶס דַּמִּים

The Philistines gathered their camps for war, and they gathered at Sokho, which is of Judah, and they encamped between Sokho and Azeka, in a place called Efes Damim.

וְשָׁאוּל וְאִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל נֶאֶסְפוּ וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּעֵמֶק הָאֵלָה וַיַּעַרְכוּ מִלְחָמָה לִקְרַאת פְּלִשְׁתִּים

Saul and the men of Israel gathered, and they encamped in the Valley of Ela, and they deployed for battle against the Philistines.

ופְלִשְׁתִּים עֹמְדִים אֶל הָהָר מִזֶּה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל עֹמְדִים אֶל הָהָר מִזֶּה וְהַגַּיְא בֵּינֵיהֶם

The warriors of the Philistines were standing on the mountain on this side, and Israel, its fighters, was standing on the mountain on that side, and the valley was between them, as during war forces seek to establish themselves on high ground.

וַיֵּצֵא אִישׁ הַבֵּנַיִם מִמַּחֲנוֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּים גָּלְיָת שְׁמוֹ מגַּת גָּבְהוֹ שֵׁשׁ אַמּוֹת וָזָרֶת

The champion, the warrior who was selected for a preliminary duel between the two armies, came out from the Philistine camps, his name was Goliath, of the city of Gat; his height was six cubits and a span. He was a giant of a man.

וְכוֹבַע נְחֹשֶׁת עַל רֹאשׁוֹ וְשִׁרְיוֹן קַשְׂקַשִּׂים הוּא לָבוּשׁ וּמִשְׁקַל הַשִּׁרְיוֹן חֲמֵשֶׁת אֲלָפִים שְׁקָלִים נְחֹשֶׁת

A bronze helmet was on his head, and he was clad with armor of mail, small metal chains placed one over the other; the weight of the armor was five thousand shekels of bronze. The coat was large and heavy, as befitting the man’s size.

וּמִצְחַת נְחֹשֶׁת עַל רַגְלָיו וְכִידוֹן נְחֹשֶׁת בֵּין כְּתֵפָיו

Bronze greaves, protective armor, were on his legs, and a bronze javelin borne between his shoulders.

וְעֵץ חֲנִיתוֹ כִּמְנוֹר אֹרְגִים וְלַהֶבֶת חֲנִיתוֹ שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת שְׁקָלִים בַּרְזֶל וְנֹשֵׂא הַצִּנָּה הֹלֵךְ לְפָנָיו

The shaft of his spear was large, like a weavers’ beam, upon which the threads of the warp are stretched out, and the blade of his spear was a weight of six hundred shekels, and was made of iron. This was clearly a large and heavy man, but his maneuverability was questionable. His shield-bearer was walking before him. The shield was large and broad, surrounding the fighter from several sides.

וַיַּעֲמֹד וַיִּקְרָא אֶל מַעַרְכֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם לָמָּה תֵצְאוּ לַעֲרֹךְ מִלְחָמָה הֲלוֹא אָנֹכִי הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי וְאַתֶּם עֲבָדִים לְשָׁאוּל בְּרוּ לָכֶם אִישׁ וְיֵרֵד אֵלָי

He, Goliath, stood and called to the armies of Israel, and he said to them: Why do you go out to do battle? Am I not a Philistine, a member of a free nation that is subject not to overbearing kings, but to local leaders, and by contrast, you are servants of Saul? Choose a man for you, and let him come down to me, so that we can face off in combat.

אִם יוּכַל לְהִלָּחֵם אִתִּי וְהִכָּנִי וְהָיִינוּ לָכֶם לַעֲבָדִים וְאִם אֲנִי אוּכַל לוֹ וְהִכִּיתִיו וִהְיִיתֶם לָנוּ לַעֲבָדִים וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֹתָנוּ

If he is able to battle with me and he smites me, we will be slaves to you, but if I overcome him and smite him, you will be slaves to us and serve us instead of Saul.

וַיֹּאמֶר הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי אֲנִי חֵרַפְתִּי אֶת מַעַרְכוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה תְּנוּ לִי אִישׁ וְנִלָּחֲמָה יָחַד

The Philistine said: I have reviled the armies of Israel on this day. If you wish to remove your shame, give me a man and let us fight together. He may have hurled insults at the Israelite camp that are not specified here, but in any case, his main taunt was his scornful challenge to a one-on-one duel, in which he showed that they had no one who was prepared to fight him.

וַיִּשְׁמַע שָׁאוּל וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת דִּבְרֵי הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי הָאֵלֶּה וַיֵּחַתּוּ וַיִּרְאוּ מְאֹד

Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, and they were dismayed and greatly afraid, as Goliath’s comments were serving to encourage and strengthen the Philistines.

וְדָוִד בֶּן אִישׁ אֶפְרָתִי הַזֶּה מִבֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה וּשְׁמוֹ יִשַׁי וְלוֹ שְׁמֹנָה בָנִים וְהָאִישׁ בִּימֵי שָׁאוּל זָקֵן בָּא בַאֲנָשִׁים

Now David was the son of that aforementioned nobleman [efrati], a person of distinguished lineage, or from the family of Efrat, or from the land of Efrat, from Bethlehem of Judah, whose name was Yishai. Bethlehem was in the land of Efrat, and it too was called Efrat. And he, Yishai, had eight sons; the man in the days of Saul was elderly and no longer fit for battle, and he would come among men; people surrounded him wherever he went.

וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁלֹשֶׁת בְּנֵי יִשַׁי הַגְּדֹלִים הָלְכוּ אַחֲרֵי שָׁאוּל לַמִּלְחָמָה וְשֵׁם שְׁלֹשֶׁת בָּנָיו אֲשֶׁר הָלְכוּ בַּמִּלְחָמָה אֱלִיאָב הַבְּכוֹר וּמִשְׁנֵהוּ אֲבִינָדָב וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁי שַׁמָּה

As this was a time of emergency, the three eldest sons of Yishai went; they now followed Saul to war; alternatively, they had followed Saul in previous military drafts, The names of his three sons who went to war were Eliav, the firstborn; Avinadav, the second to him, and the third, who was called Shama.

וְדָוִד הוּא הַקָּטָן ושְׁלֹשָׁה הַגְּדֹלִים הָלְכוּ אַחֲרֵי שָׁאוּל

David was the youngest of all of them, or one of the youngest, and therefore he did not go out to the war; only the three eldest followed Saul.

וְדָוִד הֹלֵךְ וָשָׁב מֵעַל שָׁאוּל לִרְעוֹת אֶת צֹאן אָבִיו בֵּית לָחֶם

At that time, David was constantly going and returning from Saul, as his youthful assistant and musician, occasionally returning home to herd his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.

וַיִּגַּשׁ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי הַשְׁכֵּם וְהַעֲרֵב וַיִּתְיַצֵּב אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם

The Philistine approached and proclaimed his challenge every morning and evening and stationed himself in this manner for forty days.

וַיֹּאמֶר יִשַׁי לְדָוִד בְּנוֹ קַח נָא לְאַחֶיךָ אֵיפַת הַקָּלִיא הַזֶּה וַעֲשָׂרָה לֶחֶם הַזֶּה וְהָרֵץ הַמַּחֲנֶה לְאַחֶיךָ

During that period, Yishai said to David his son: Please, take to your brothers this ephah, a large unit of volume, more than 24 L in modern measurements, of roasted grain. These were eaten as sweets, since the kernels sweeten as they are parched. And also take these ten loaves of bread, and hurry to the camp to your brothers.

וְאֵת עֲשֶׂרֶת חֲרִיצֵי הֶחָלָב הָאֵלֶּה תָּבִיא לְשַׂר הָאָלֶף וְאֶת אַחֶיךָ תִּפְקֹד לְשָׁלוֹם וְאֶת עֲרֻבָּתָם תִּקָּח

And bring these ten pieces of cheese to the leader of the thousand, the man in command of your brothers, as a gesture of courtesy, or to find favor with him, and inquire about the welfare of your brothers, and take, redeem, their collateral, which they hand over for their expenses. Some maintain that this means: Give me a sign of their welfare, or that Yishai was saying: Deliver me a report of their well-being, their doings, and their needs.

וְשָׁאוּל וְהֵמָּה וְכָל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּעֵמֶק הָאֵלָה נִלְחָמִים עִם פְּלִשְׁתִּים

Saul and they, David’s brothers, and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Ela, preparing themselves for fighting with the Philistines. It is likely that throughout those days there were constant minor skirmishes between the rival camps.

וַיַּשְׁכֵּם דָּוִד בַּבֹּקֶר וַיִּטֹּשׁ אֶת הַצֹּאן עַל שֹׁמֵר וַיִּשָּׂא וַיֵּלֶךְ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּהוּ יִשָׁי וַיָּבֹא הַמַּעְגָּלָה וְהַחַיִל הַיֹּצֵא אֶל הַמַּעֲרָכָה וְהֵרֵעוּ בַּמִּלְחָמָה

David arose early in the morning, and he left the sheep with a keeper, and he carried the provisions and he went as Yishai had commanded him. He came to the circle, the central gathering place of the army (see 26:5), and arrived just as the army that was going out to the battle line shouted in battle.

וַתַּעֲרֹךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּפְלִשְׁתִּים מַעֲרָכָה לִקְרַאת מַעֲרָכָה

Israel and the Philistines deployed, in a threatening stance, one army against the other.

וַיִּטֹּשׁ דָּוִד אֶת הַכֵּלִים מֵעָלָיו עַל יַד שׁוֹמֵר הַכֵּלִים וַיָּרָץ הַמַּעֲרָכָה וַיָּבֹא וַיִּשְׁאַל לְאֶחָיו לְשָׁלוֹם

David left the baggage that was upon him in the hand of the keeper of the baggage, the man in charge of guarding the equipment of those who had left for the battlefield, and ran to the battle line, and he came and inquired after his brothers’ well-being.

והוּא מְדַבֵּר עִמָּם וְהִנֵּה אִישׁ הַבֵּנַיִם עוֹלֶה גָּלְיָת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי שְׁמוֹ מִגַּת מִמַּעַרְכוֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּים וַיְדַבֵּר כַּדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיִּשְׁמַע דָּוִד

He was speaking with them, and behold, again the champion came up, Goliath the Philistine was his name, from Gat, from the armies of the Philistines, and he spoke according to those words, the taunts and invective, and David heard them. It is possible that the repetition of the name of the champion, as though he is presented here for the first time, indicates that David had not seen or heard the man before, which explains his emotional response.

וְכֹל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּרְאוֹתָם אֶת הָאִישׁ וַיָּנֻסוּ מִפָּנָיו וַיִּירְאוּ מְאֹד

All the men of Israel, when they saw the man approaching them, fled before him, and they were greatly afraid of his monstrously tall appearance. Goliath was probably of broad girth and appeared powerful as well.

וַיֹּאמֶר אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל הַרְּאִיתֶם הָאִישׁ הָעֹלֶה הַזֶּה כִּי לְחָרֵף אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל עֹלֶה וְהָיָה הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יַכֶּנּוּ יַעְשְׁרֶנּוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ עֹשֶׁר גָּדוֹל וְאֶת בִּתּוֹ יִתֶּן לוֹ וְאֵת בֵּית אָבִיו יַעֲשֶׂה חָפְשִׁי בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל

The men of Israel said to one another: Did you see that man who comes up? For he comes up to revile Israel, and it shall be that the man who smites him, the king will enrich him with great wealth, and he will give him his daughter as a wife, and he will make his father’s house free from paying taxes and the like, in Israel.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל הָאֲנָשִׁים הָעֹמְדִים עִמּוֹ לֵאמֹר מַה יֵּעָשֶׂה לָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יַכֶּה אֶת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי הַלָּז וְהֵסִיר חֶרְפָּה מֵעַל יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי מִי הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי הֶעָרֵל הַזֶּה כִּי חֵרֵף מַעַרְכוֹת אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים

Seeking to enter the warriors’ conversation, David said to the men who stood near him, saying: What will be done to the man who smites this Philistine and thereby removes the disgrace from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, of what importance is he, that he has reviled the armies of the living God by saying that there is no strong warrior in Israel?

וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הָעָם כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה לֵאמֹר כֹּה יֵעָשֶׂה לָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יַכֶּנּוּ

The people said to him according to that matter. They repeated to him the terms of the king’s promise, stating: So will be done to the man who will smite him.

וַיִּשְׁמַע אֱלִיאָב אָחִיו הַגָּדוֹל בְּדַבְּרוֹ אֶל הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיִּחַר אַף אֱלִיאָב בְּדָוִד וַיֹּאמֶר לָמָּה זֶּה יָרַדְתָּ וְעַל מִי נָטַשְׁתָּ מְעַט הַצֹּאן הָהֵנָּה בַּמִּדְבָּר אֲנִי יָדַעְתִּי אֶת זְדֹנְךָ וְאֵת רֹעַ לְבָבֶךָ כִּי לְמַעַן רְאוֹת הַמִּלְחָמָה יָרָדְתָּ

Eliav, his oldest brother, heard when he, David, spoke to the men, showing interest in what they were saying; and Eliav’s wrath was enflamed against David, and he said: Why did you descend here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your mischievousness, your lack of discipline, and the evil of your heart, for in order to see the battle you descended. You are nothing more than a curious, irresponsible child. It is possible that Eliav had not seen the provisions David brought from their father, as they had been left in the camp with the keeper of the baggage.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד מֶה עָשִׂיתִי עָתָּה הֲלוֹא דָּבָר הוּא

David said: What did I do now? Is it not merely talk? What do you want from me? I have not done anything wrong. Why are you pouncing on me?

וַיִּסֹּב מֵאֶצְלוֹ אֶל מוּל אַחֵר וַיֹּאמֶר כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה וַיְשִׁבֻהוּ הָעָם דָּבָר כַּדָּבָר הָרִאשׁוֹן

He, David, turned away from him, Eliav, and went toward another man, and he, David, said according to these same words: How is it that nobody is prepared to oppose this inciting Philistine? And the people answered him according to the previous words, with the same reply, again repeating the king’s message.

וַיִּשָּׁמְעוּ הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר דָּוִד וַיַּגִּדוּ לִפְנֵי שָׁאוּל וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ

The words that David had spoken were heard; they, men from the camp, told them before Saul, that there is one man who is not afraid of the giant, and is apparently willing to confront him, and when Saul heard the story, he took him, David.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל שָׁאוּל אַל יִפֹּל לֵב אָדָם עָלָיו עַבְדְּךָ יֵלֵךְ וְנִלְחַם עִם הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי הַזֶּה

David said to Saul: Let no person’s heart fall within him; do not be afraid. David was referring to the king indirectly, as a respectful form of address. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine. I am prepared to take up the challenge.

וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל דָּוִד לֹא תוּכַל לָלֶכֶת אֶל הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי הַזֶּה לְהִלָּחֵם עִמּוֹ כִּי נַעַר אַתָּה וְהוּא אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה מִנְּעֻרָיו

Saul said to David: You will be unable to go against this Philistine to fight with him, as you are an inexperienced lad and he is a man of war from his youth.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל שָׁאוּל רֹעֶה הָיָה עַבְדְּךָ לְאָבִיו בַּצֹּאן וּבָא הָאֲרִי וְאֶת הַדּוֹב וְנָשָׂא שֶׂה מֵהָעֵדֶר

David said to Saul: Your servant was a shepherd for his father among the sheep, and when I was out shepherding, my usual task, the lion, or even the bear would come and carry off a lamb from the flock.

וְיָצָאתִי אַחֲרָיו וְהִכִּתִיו וְהִצַּלְתִּי מִפִּיו וַיָּקָם עָלַי וְהֶחֱזַקְתִּי בִּזְקָנוֹ וְהִכִּתִיו וַהֲמִיתִּיו

I would go out to chase after it, smite it, and save it, the lamb, from its mouth. It, the beast, did not flee, but rose against me to attack me, but I grabbed its beard, the animal’s face or fur, smote it, and killed it. Therefore, although I am not a warrior in the usual meaning of the term, I have fought hard and emerged victorious.

גַּם אֶת הָאֲרִי גַּם הַדּוֹב הִכָּה עַבְדֶּךָ וְהָיָה הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי הֶעָרֵל הַזֶּה כְּאַחַד מֵהֶם כִּי חֵרֵף מַעַרְכֹת אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים

Both the lion and the bear, your servant smote, and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, as he has reviled the armies of the living God.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד ה' אֲשֶׁר הִצִּלַנִי מִיַּד הָאֲרִי וּמִיַּד הַדֹּב הוּא יַצִּילֵנִי מִיַּד הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי הַזֶּה וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל דָּוִד לֵךְ וַה' יִהְיֶה עִמָּךְ

David further said: The Lord who delivered me from the hand of the lion and from the hand of the bear, He will come to my aid and deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. Saul said to David: Go, and may the Lord be with you. Saul agreed to send the young David because he could think of no other way of stopping Goliath, who was sowing fear and confusion among his men.

וַיַּלְבֵּשׁ שָׁאוּל אֶת דָּוִד מַדָּיו וְנָתַן קוֹבַע נְחֹשֶׁת עַל רֹאשׁוֹ וַיַּלְבֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ שִׁרְיוֹן

Saul dressed David with his garments, a uniform fit for battle, placed a bronze helmet on his head, and dressed him in armor.

וַיַּחְגֹּר דָּוִד אֶת חַרְבּוֹ מֵעַל לְמַדָּיו וַיֹּאֶל לָלֶכֶת כִּי לֹא נִסָּה וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל שָׁאוּל לֹא אוּכַל לָלֶכֶת בּאֵלֶּה כִּי לֹא נִסִּיתִי וַיְסִרֵם דָּוִד מֵעָלָיו

David girded his sword over his garments, and he endeavored, or began, to walk, but he was inexperienced; he was not used to this military uniform. David said to Saul: I will be unable to walk with these garments, as I am inexperienced. I am unused to them, and I must be nimble for the fight. David removed them from upon him.

וַיִּקַּח מַקְלוֹ בְּיָדוֹ וַיִּבְחַר לוֹ חֲמִשָּׁה חַלֻּקֵי אֲבָנִים מִן הַנַּחַל וַיָּשֶׂם אֹתָם בִּכְלִי הָרֹעִים אֲשֶׁר לוֹ וּבַיַּלְקוּט וְקַלְּעוֹ בְיָדוֹ וַיִּגַּשׁ אֶל הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי

He took his shepherd’s staff in his hand, and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the stream, and he placed them in his shepherd’s pouch, in his sack, and his slingshot was in his hand. He approached the Philistine.

וַיֵּלֶךְ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי הֹלֵךְ וְקָרֵב אֶל דָּוִד וְהָאִישׁ נֹשֵׂא הַצִּנָּה לְפָנָיו

When Goliath saw that someone was finally coming to fight him, the Philistine went and gradually approached David, and the man bearing the shield was before him.

וַיַּבֵּט הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי וַיִּרְאֶה אֶת דָּוִד וַיִּבְזֵהוּ כִּי הָיָה נַעַר וְאַדְמֹנִי עִם יְפֵה מַרְאֶה

The Philistine looked and saw David, and he scorned him. David appeared to him as a creature who had no chance of opposing him, because he was a ruddy lad with a fair appearance. His reddish cheeks and beautiful appearance made him look like a child, even younger than his actual age.

וַיֹּאמֶר הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי אֶל דָּוִד הֲכֶלֶב אָנֹכִי כִּי אַתָּה בָא אֵלַי בַּמַּקְלוֹת וַיְקַלֵּל הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי אֶת דָּוִד בֵּאלֹהָיו

The Philistine said to David: Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks? The staff in your hand might be useful against a dog, but I am a Philistine giant. The Philistine cursed David by his gods. Some explain that this means he cursed David and his God.

וַיֹּאמֶר הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי אֶל דָּוִד לְכָה אֵלַי וְאֶתְּנָה אֶת בְּשָׂרְךָ לְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם וּלְבֶהֱמַת הַשָּׂדֶה

The Philistine said to David: Come to me and I will give your flesh to the birds of the heavens and to the animals of the field. Soon you will be killed and your flesh will be eaten by wild beasts.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי אַתָּה בָּא אֵלַי בְּחֶרֶב וּבַחֲנִית וּבְכִידוֹן וְאָנֹכִי בָא אֵלֶיךָ בְּשֵׁם ה' צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהֵי מַעַרְכוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר חֵרַפְתָּ

David said to the Philistine: You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, God of the armies of Israel, whom you reviled.

הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְסַגֶּרְךָ ה' בְּיָדִי וְהִכִּיתִךָ וַהֲסִרֹתִי אֶת רֹאשְׁךָ מֵעָלֶיךָ וְנָתַתִּי פֶּגֶר מַחֲנֵה פְלִשְׁתִּים הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה לְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם וּלְחַיַּת הָאָרֶץ וְיֵדְעוּ כָּל הָאָרֶץ כִּי יֵשׁ אֱלֹהִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל

This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will smite you, and I will remove your head from upon you, and I will give the carcasses of the Philistine camp this day to the birds of the heavens and to the beasts of the earth, and the entire land will know that God is among Israel.

וְיֵדְעוּ כָּל הַקָּהָל הַזֶּה כִּי לֹא בְּחֶרֶב וּבַחֲנִית יְהוֹשִׁיעַ ה' כִּי לַה' הַמִּלְחָמָה וְנָתַן אֶתְכֶם בְּיָדֵנוּ

And furthermore, all this assembly will know that not with the sword and with the spear will the Lord rescue, for the war is the Lord’s, and He will deliver you into our hand.

וְהָיָה כִּי קָם הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיִּקְרַב לִקְרַאת דָּוִד וַיְמַהֵר דָּוִד וַיָּרָץ הַמַּעֲרָכָה לִקְרַאת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי

It was when the heavy Philistine rose and he came slowly, cumbersomely, and approached toward David in an open area, probably in the valley between the two camps, that David hastened, and he ran to the battleground toward the Philistine.

וַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד אֶת יָדוֹ אֶל הַכֶּלִי וַיִּקַּח מִשָּׁם אֶבֶן וַיְקַלַּע וַיַּךְ אֶת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי אֶל מִצְחוֹ וַתִּטְבַּע הָאֶבֶן בְּמִצְחוֹ וַיִּפֹּל עַל פָּנָיו אָרְצָה

David extended his hand into the shepherd’s pouch into which he had placed the stones, and took a stone from there, and he slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead, which was insufficiently protected. The stone penetrated his forehead. Since it was slung with great force, the stone sunk deep into his forehead. And he, the Philistine, fell upon his face to the ground, as he lost his balance.

וַיֶּחֱזַק דָּוִד מִן הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי בַּקֶּלַע וּבָאֶבֶן וַיַּךְ אֶת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי וַיְמִיתֵהוּ וְחֶרֶב אֵין בְּיַד דָּוִד

David overpowered the Philistine with merely the slingshot and with the stone, and he smote the Philistine and killed him, but there was no sword in David’s hand.

וַיָּרָץ דָּוִד וַיַּעֲמֹד אֶל הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי וַיִּקַּח אֶת חַרְבּוֹ וַיִּשְׁלְפָהּ מִתַּעְרָהּ וַיְמֹתְתֵהוּ וַיִּכְרָת בָּהּ אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ וַיִּרְאוּ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּים כִּי מֵת גִּבּוֹרָם וַיָּנֻסוּ

David ran and stood over the Philistine, and he took his, Goliath’s, sword, and drew it from its scabbard, and he killed him. He stabbed the giant to death with his own sword, and then severed his head with it. The Philistines saw that their hero was dead, and they fled. Their flight was not necessarily due to Goliath’s terms of combat (see verse 9), but in fear over what might happen to them now that their great hero had been killed.

וַיָּקֻמוּ אַנְשֵׁי יִשְׂרָאֵל וִיהוּדָה וַיָּרִעוּ וַיִּרְדְּפוּ אֶת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּים עַד בּוֹאֲךָ גַיְא וְעַד שַׁעֲרֵי עֶקְרוֹן וַיִּפְּלוּ חַלְלֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים בְּדֶרֶךְ שַׁעֲרַיִם וְעַד גַּת וְעַד עֶקְרוֹן

The men of Israel and Judah rose, and they shouted a cry of war, and they pursued the fleeing Philistines until your approach to Gai, and until the gates of Ekron, a fortified city. The Philistines’ slain fell along this entire route, on the way to Shaarayim, until Gat and until Ekron.

וַיָּשֻׁבוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִדְּלֹק אַחֲרֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים וַיָּשֹׁסּוּ אֶת מַחֲנֵיהֶם

The children of Israel returned from pursuing the Philistines, and they plundered their now empty camp. Since the Philistines had stayed there for at least forty days, it would certainly have been well-equipped.

וַיִּקַּח דָּוִד אֶת רֹאשׁ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי וַיְבִאֵהוּ יְרוּשָׁלִָם וְאֶת כֵּלָיו שָׂם בְּאָהֳלוֹ

David took the head of the Philistine, and he brought it, probably a long time later, to Jerusalem, and he placed his, Goliath’s, gear, which was initially left in Saul’s camp and subsequently transferred to various other temporary quarters, in his tent. David ultimately placed some of Goliath’s equipment in the Temple.

וְכִרְאוֹת שָׁאוּל אֶת דָּוִד יֹצֵא לִקְרַאת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי אָמַר אֶל אַבְנֵר שַׂר הַצָּבָא בֶּן מִי זֶה הַנַּעַר אַבְנֵר וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְנֵר חֵי נַפְשְׁךָ הַמֶּלֶךְ אִם יָדָעְתִּי

When Saul saw David going forth against the Philistine, he said to Avner, the commander of the army: Avner, whose son is this valiant and determined lad? Avner said: As your soul lives, King, surely, I swear that I do not know.

וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁאַל אַתָּה בֶּן מִי זֶה הָעָלֶם

The king said: You ask, find out whose son is this youth.

וּכְשׁוּב דָּוִד מֵהַכּוֹת אֶת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי וַיִּקַּח אֹתוֹ אַבְנֵר וַיְבִאֵהוּ לִפְנֵי שָׁאוּל וְרֹאשׁ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי בְּיָדוֹ

When David returned from smiting the Philistine, Avner took him and brought him before Saul, and the head of the Philistine, which was very large and impressive, was in his hand.

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו שָׁאוּל בֶּן מִי אַתָּה הַנָּעַר וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד בֶּן עַבְדְּךָ יִשַׁי בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי

Saul said to him: Whose son are you, lad? David said: I am the son of your servant Yishai the Bethlehemite, and you can investigate my lineage. Presumably, David provided other details in addition to his father’s name.