David

David, the son of Jesse, was a handsome boy who could charm people with his wonderful music. But he was to be more than a sweet singer, for Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, declared that David should be king of Israel and poured sacred oil on his head.

Saul, who was then the king of Israel, had spells of madness, and David was sent for to try to calm him with his music. He was so successful that after a while the king seemed to be completely cured; so David returned home and stayed there quietly until his father sent him to the camp of the Israelites with food for his brothers.

He found Saul's army in great uproar because Goliath, a mighty warrior of the Philistines, had come out before both armies and offered to fight any man who would face him. Goliath wore a bronze helmet on his head, and his body was well protected with armor of iron and bronze, while he carried a huge spear and sword and a heavy shield. As he stood before the two camps, he shouted, "I defy the armies of Israel this day! Give me a man, and let us fight together!"

When David arrived and heard the story, he said, "Who is this Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" And David offered to go against Goliath.

So he went out in his shepherd's clothes, with only his staff and sling. Goliath was very angry and cried out, "Am I a dog that you come against me with a staff?" Then he began to mock David. But David answered, "You come against me with a sword and a shield, but I come against you trusting in the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, whom you have defied."

Then, as Goliath came nearer,

David took a stone from the bag at his side, put it into his sling, took careful aim, and struck Goliath in the middle of the forehead. The giant fell to the ground, stunned.

David ran up to him, took Goliath's mighty sword, and cut off his head.

This act brought a great victory to Saul's army, and the king was delighted with David's courage. Jonathan, Saul's eldest son, loved David from that time, and they became like brothers. David also married Saul's daughter and was put in charge of his men of war.

But when all the people praised David, and Saul saw how much they loved him, he grew jealous. David had to flee for his life and hide from the king. During these wanderings, he wrote some of his most beautiful psalms.

Finally, Saul was killed in battle, and David became king. He ruled Israel for nearly forty years, making it a great and powerful nation. When he died, he was buried in Jerusalem, which was called the City of David because he had captured it from the enemy.