1 The Philistines gathered their armies for war. They met at Socoh in Judah and camped at Ephes Dammim between Socoh and Azekah.
2 Saul and the Israelites gathered in the Valley of Elah and camped there and took their positions to fight the Philistines.
3 The Philistines controlled one hill while the Israelites controlled another. The valley was between them.
4 The Philistines had a champion fighter from Gath named Goliath. He was about nine feet, four inches tall. He came out of the Philistine camp
5 with a bronze helmet on his head and a coat of bronze armor that weighed about one hundred twenty-five pounds.
6 He wore bronze protectors on his legs, and he had a bronze spear on his back.
7 The wooden part of his larger spear was like a weaver’s rod, and its blade weighed about fifteen pounds. The officer who carried his shield walked in front of him.