1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. 3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
4 ¶ And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. 6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. 7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. 8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. 9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. 10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
12 ¶ Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. 13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. 15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Beth-lehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. 17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn , and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; 18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
20 ¶ And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. 22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren. 23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them . 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel. 26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
28 ¶ And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
30 ¶ And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
32 ¶ And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
38 ¶ And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it . And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them . And David put them off him.
40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. 45 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. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.
48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 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. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 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. 52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. 53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
55 ¶ And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell. 56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is . 57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.
Dāvids un Goliāts
1 Filistieši pulcināja spēkus karam. Viņi sapulcējās Soho, kas Jūdā, un uzslēja nometni Efes-Damīmā starp Soho un Azēku. 2 Sauls un israēlieši sapulcējās, uzslēja nometni Ēlas ielejā un izkārtojās kaujai pret filistiešiem. 3 Filistieši nostājās vienā kalnā, israēlieši nostājās otrā kalnā, un starp tiem bija ieplaka. 4 No filistiešu nometnes iznāca spēkonis, vārdā Goliāts, no Gatas. Viņš bija sešas olektis un sprīdi garš. 5 Galvā tam bija vara bruņucepure, un viņš bija tērpies zvīņu bruņās. Bruņu svars bija pieci tūkstoši vara šekeļu. 6 Vara lielu aizsargi uz kājām un vara pīķis pār muguru. 7 Viņa šķēpa kāts kā audēja riestava un šķēpa smaile – seši simti šekeļu dzelzs. Tam pa priekšu gāja vairognesējs. 8 Viņš nostājās un sauca Israēla rindām: “Ko jūs te esat nostājušies kaujai? Vai es neesmu filistietis un jūs – Saula vergi? Izraugieties kādu vīru, kas nāks lejā pie manis! 9 Ja viņš mani pārspēs cīņā un nokaus, mēs būsim jūsu vergi, bet, ja es pārspēšu viņu un nokaušu, jūs būsiet mūsu vergi un vergosiet mums!” 10 Un filistietis teica: “Es šodien izaicinu Israēla rindas, dodiet man kādu vīru, ka sākam cīņu!” 11 Sauls un viss Israēls klausījās filistieša vārdos iztrūkušies un nobijušies.
12 Dāvids bija dēls efrātietim, kas no Betlēmes Jūdā un kam vārdā Jišajs, un tam bija astoņi dēli. Saula laikā šis vīrs bija jau diezgan vecs. 13 Trīs vecākie Jišaja dēli gāja līdzi Saulam karā, un šo trīs dēlu vārdi ir: pirmdzimtais Elīābs, otrs – Abīnādāvs, trešais – Šamma. 14 Dāvids bija jaunākais. Trīs vecākie bija devušies līdzi Saulam. 15 Dāvids gan gāja pie Saula, gan nāca atpakaļ ganīt sava tēva avis Betlēmē. 16 Bet filistietis nāca no rīta un vakarā un dižojās tā četrdesmit dienas.
17 Jišajs teica savam dēlam Dāvidam: “Ej, paņem priekš saviem brāļiem ēfu grauzdumu un šīs desmit maizes un steidz pie brāļiem uz nometni. 18 Bet šos desmit siera gabalus aiznes virsniekam, kas pār tūkstoti. Nodod sveicienus saviem brāļiem un pārnes ziņas no viņiem, 19 viņi kopā ar Saulu un visiem Israēla vīriem Ēlas ielejā karo ar filistiešiem.” 20 Rīta agrumā Dāvids atstāja ganu avis pieskatīt, ņēma nesamo un devās ceļā, kā Jišajs bija licis. Kad viņš sasniedza nometni, kareivji devās uz kaujas ierindu, kliegdami kara saucienu. 21 Israēls un filistieši nostājās kaujas ierindās viens otram pretī. 22 Dāvids atstāja savas lietas mantu uzraugam, skrēja uz kaujas ierindu un apsveicinājās ar brāļiem. 23 Kamēr viņš ar tiem runāja, redzi, filistiešu spēkonis Goliāts no Gatas nāca augšā no filistiešu ierindas un runāja savu sakāmo, un Dāvids to dzirdēja. 24 Bet visi Israēla vīri, šo vīru ieraugot, lielās bailēs bēga no viņa. 25 Un israēlieši runāja: “Vai redzat to vīru, kas te kāpj augšā? Viņš nāk izaicināt Israēlu! To vīru, kurš viņu nokaus, ķēniņš apdāvinās ar bagātīgām dāvanām un dos tam par sievu savu meitu, un viņa tēva namu atbrīvos no nodevām Israēlā.” 26 Tad Dāvids prasīja vīriem, kas stāvēja viņam līdzās: “Ko darīs tam vīram, kas nokaus šo filistieti un paglābs Israēlu no kauna? Kas gan ir šis neapgraizītais filistietis, ka viņš izaicina dzīvā Dieva kaujas ierindu?” 27 Un ļaudis viņam atkārtoja tos vārdus un teica: “Tā darīs tam vīram, kurš viņu nokaus!” 28 Viņa vecākais brālis Elīābs dzirdēja viņu runājam ar vīriem un aizsvilās dusmās pret Dāvidu. Viņš teica: “Kāpēc tu nāc te lejā? Kam tu atstāji tās dažas avis tuksnesī? Es zinu, ka tu esi iedomīgs un negantu sirdi! Tu nāc te lejā tikai tāpēc, lai noskatītos cīņu!” 29 Bet Dāvids atbildēja: “Ko tad es esmu izdarījis? Vai tad nevar pat paprasīt?” 30 Un viņš novērsās no tā un uzrunāja kādu citu ar tiem pašiem vārdiem, un ļaudis viņam atbildēja tāpat kā iepriekš. 31 To, ko Dāvids teica, bija dzirdējuši un atstāstījuši Saulam, un tas lika viņu atvest. 32 Dāvids teica Saulam: “Lai vīriem viņa dēļ nesašļūk dūša – tavs kalps ies un cīnīsies ar šo filistieti!” 33 Sauls teica Dāvidam: “Tu nevari iet cīnīties pret šo filistieti, jo esi vēl zēns, bet viņš ir karavīrs kopš jaunības.”
34 Bet Dāvids sacīja Saulam: “Tavs kalps bija gans sava tēva avīm; kad nāca lauva vai lācis un nesa no ganāmpulka prom jēru, 35 es metos tam pakaļ, pieveicu to un izglābu jēru no tā žokļiem. Kad tie slējās pret mani, es tos grābu aiz bārdas, pieveicu un nonāvēju. 36 Tavs kalps ir kāvis gan lauvu, gan lāci, un ar šo neapgraizīto filistieti būs tāpat kā ar tiem, jo viņš ir izaicinājis dzīvā Dieva kaujas ierindu.”
37 Un Dāvids piebilda: “Kungs izglāba mani no lauvas un lāča ķetnām, viņš izglābs mani arī no filistieša rokas.” Un Sauls teica Dāvidam: “Ej, Kungs ir ar tevi!” 38 Sauls ietērpa Dāvidu savā kaujas tērpā, lika tam galvā vara bruņucepuri un ietērpa viņu bruņās. 39 Dāvids apjoza zobenu virs kaujas tērpa un lūkoja staigāt, bet viņš nebija tā pieradis. Dāvids teica Saulam: “Es nevaru paiet, jo neesmu tā pieradis.” Un Dāvids to novilka. 40 Viņš paņēma rokā nūju, upmalā izraudzījās piecus gludus akmeņus un ielika tos gana somas kabatā, un lingu rokā gāja pretī filistietim. 41 Filistietis staigāja šurpu turpu un pienāca tuvu Dāvidam, bet viņa vairoga nesējs gāja tam pa priekšu. 42 Filistietis paskatījās, ieraudzīja Dāvidu un noniecināja viņu, jo tas bija tikai glīts sārtvaidzis zēns. 43 Filistietis teica Dāvidam: “Vai es suns, ka tu nāc pret mani ar nūju?” Un filistietis lādēja Dāvidu pie saviem dieviem. 44 Filistietis teica Dāvidam: “Panāc man šurp, es tavu miesu atdošu debesu putniem un lauka zvēriem!”
45 Bet Dāvids atbildēja filistietim: “Tu nāc pret mani ar zobenu, šķēpu un pīķi, bet es nāku pret tevi ar Pulku Kunga, Israēla karaspēka Dieva, vārdu, jo tu viņu esi izaicinājis. 46 Kungs šodien liks tevi manās rokās, un es tevi nokaušu un nošķelšu tev galvu. Filistiešu karapulka līķus es šodien atdošu debesu putniem un zemes radībai, lai visa zeme zina, ka Israēlam ir Dievs. 47 Lai visi šeit sapulcētie zina, ka ne jau ar zobenu vai šķēpu Kungs glābj, jo šis ir Kunga karš, un viņš jūs nodos mūsu rokās.” 48 Filistietis nāca virsū Dāvidam, un Dāvids žigli skrēja uz kaujas ierindu filistietim pretī. 49 Dāvids iebāza roku somā, izņēma no tās akmeni, lingoja un trāpīja filistietim pierē. Akmens ietriecās viņam pierē, un viņš nokrita ar seju pie zemes. 50 Tā Dāvids pievārēja filistieti ar lingu un akmeni – Dāvids filistieti pieveica un nonāvēja bez zobena. 51 Tad Dāvids pieskrējis nostājās pie filistieša, ņēma viņa zobenu, izvilka no maksts un nobeidza viņu – nocirta viņam galvu. Redzēdami, ka viņu spēkavīrs pagalam, filistieši bēga. 52 Israēla un Jūdas vīri cēlās, kliedza un dzinās pakaļ filistiešiem līdz pat ieplakai un Ekronas vārtiem. Nokautie filistieši palika uz Šaaraimas ceļa līdz pat Gatai un Ekronai. 53 Atgriezušies no filistiešu vajāšanas, Israēla dēli izlaupīja viņu nometni. 54 Dāvids ņēma filistieša galvu un atnesa uz Jeruzālemi, bet viņa ieročus nolika savā teltī.
55 Kad Sauls redzēja Dāvidu izejam pretī filistietim, viņš prasīja karaspēka virspavēlniekam Abnēram: “Abnēr, kā dēls ir šis zēns?” Un Abnērs atbildēja: “Dzīva tava dvēsele, ķēniņ, kā lai es to zinu?!” 56 Un ķēniņš teica: “Izjautā, kā dēls ir šis jauneklis!”
57 Un, tiklīdz Dāvids atgriezās, nokāvis filistieti, Abnērs ņēma un aizveda viņu pie Saula – vēl ar filistieša galvu rokās. 58 Sauls viņam jautāja: “Kā dēls tu esi, zēn?” Un Dāvids atbildēja: “Tava kalpa betlēmieša Jišaja dēls.”
