Michal Read Online Free PDF

“Run along and see for yourself.”
    David stepped over a sack of grain and raced around a row of tents, then sprinted the rest of the way up the hill. Row upon row of Israelite soldiers filled his vision, bordering the edge of the hill overlooking the Valley of Elah. Across the wide, green valley, columns of red-feathered helmets moved forward. Moments later they began to bob in time with the stomping feet and hoarse cries of the Philistine army. They stopped abruptly at the summit of the opposite hill.
    Another returning, deafening shout erupted from the Israelites while David scanned the rows for Judah’s tribal banner and some sign of his brothers. There, four rows down, he spotted them and ran behind the battle lines to greet them.
    “There you are, Shammah.”
    “David!” Shammah clapped his thick arm around David’s shoulder and nearly squeezed the air from David’s lungs. “Did Father send you? Oh, tell me he sent some decent food.”
    David smiled. “Some of Mother’s best bread.” He turned at a tap on his shoulder to face his second-oldest brother. “Abinadab, I’ve missed you.”
    Abinadab wrapped large arms around David in a brotherly hug. “Hey, little brother! What brings you here?” He bent closer to David’s ear. “Did the king send for you again?”
    David shook his head. “Father was worried. There’s been no word for over a month. What’s going on?”
    Abinadab opened his mouth to speak when a collective hush fell in waves over the multiple rows of men. Across the valley a lone Philistine stepped out from the sea of heathens with red-feathered helmets and stood at the highest tip of the ridge.
    “Servants of Saul.” Was that booming roar a human voice?
    “Servants of Saul.” The words came clearer now, prodding David to push closer to the front lines, while the men around him took several unobtrusive steps backward.
    “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants, but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.” He paused, lifted a huge spear, and shook it at the heavens. “I defy the armies of Israel this day! Give me a man, that we may fight together.”
    David stared at the huge man, the Philistine’s words registering in his heart. This was no ordinary Philistine. He had to be close to six cubits and a span, covered from head to foot in plated armor. And his shield bearer was as sturdy as a brawny tree.
    Yet God was bigger. Did this Philistine think his size alone could defeat the men whose God fought for them? David’s fists flexed open and closed, and he whirled about to return to his brothers, but he found the ridge suddenly deserted. He glimpsed the backs of the retreating Israelites. Where were they going? He turned back at the sound of the giant’s bellowing laugh.
    “Still afraid of me, are you?” The man beat on his chest and shook his fist at the sky. “Some God you serve, Israelites! He cannot even save you from the likes of me!”
    Indignation burned in David’s chest like a living, breathing fire. He spun around again and ran after the withdrawing men. Pockets of soldiers grouped by tribes huddled near their tents. David slowed his pace and approached one of them.
    “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
    A hardened soldier wearing the colors of the tribe of Asher folded his arms, eyeing David up and down. “I heard the king has offered his daughter’s hand in marriage.”
    David faced another soldier, but the man averted his gaze as though he were ashamed. Well, he should be. David turned to a third. “Is that all he said?”
    “I don’t know about a marriage proposal, but I