Saul's pleasure in David vanished quickly as David

[Mary Naeem]

Saul's pleasure in David vanished quickly as David rose in strength and fame. In perhaps one of the best known biblical accounts, David slew the giant Goliath. The Philistines were at war with the Israelites and taunted Israel’s military forces with their champion, Goliath from Gath. They proposed a dual between Goliath and whoever would fight him. But no one in Israel volunteered to battle the giant. David's older brothers were part of Saul's army; after Goliath had been taunting the Israelites for forty days, David visited his brothers at the battlefield and heard the Philistine’s boasts. The young shepherd asked, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26). David's oldest brother became angry and accused David of pride and coming only to watch the battle. But David continued to talk about the issue.