The Anointing of David and the Duel with Goliath

After the break with Saul, God sent Samuel to Bethlehem, to Jesse: among his sons I have seen a king for Myself. Jesse brought out seven. First came Eliab, tall and impressive, and Samuel thought: this is he. The answer became a formula: "Man looks at the eyes, but the Lord looks at the heart." None of the seven was chosen. "Are these all your sons?" — "The youngest is tending the sheep." They brought in a ruddy boy with beautiful eyes, and Samuel poured oil on him from a horn, in front of his brothers.

Soon a champion from Gath stepped between the camps in the valley of Elah — Goliath, six cubits and a span tall, with a spear shaft "like a weaver's beam." For forty days he taunted Israel. No one answered.

David came with bread for his brothers, heard the taunts, and asked: who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the ranks of the living God? Given Saul's armour, he could not walk in it. He took a sling and five smooth stones and went out: you come with sword and spear, I come in the name of the Lord of Hosts.

One stone struck the forehead. The women sang, "Saul has slain his thousands, David his tens of thousands" — and Saul's jealousy began.