While Saul was king of Israel, the Philistines made war upon him and his people. Among them was a giant, named Goliath, who went out in front of Saul's camp, in the morning and evening, for forty days, and offered to fight any man in his army.

David, who was then a mere shepherd-boy, heard of this giant and his boastful challenge. He offered to go out and fight Goliath, trusting that God would enable him to conquer this proud enemy of his people. So he went out, taking with him only his sling and a few smooth pebbles. When Goliath saw him, he laughed at the Israelites for sending a mere boy to fight him. But David threw a stone with his sling with such force as to drive it into the giant's forehead. He then cut off his head with Goliath's own sword, and carried it to king Saul in triumph.