Jesse, David’s father, was among those who crossed the river with Saul. He had thirteen sons, of whom David was the youngest. David used to shoot with a sling, and one day he said to his father, “My dear father, I have never shot anything with my sling without bringing it down.” His father said, “Rejoice, my son, for Allah has placed your provision in your sling.”

Then he came to him another time and said, “My dear father, I entered among the mountains and found a lion lying down. I mounted it and seized it by its ears, yet it did not attack me.” His father said, “Rejoice, my son, for this is a blessing Allah intends for you.” Then he came to him on another day and said, “My dear father, when I walk among the mountains and glorify Allah, there is not a mountain that does not glorify Him along with me.” His father said, “Rejoice, my son, for this is a blessing which Allah Most High has granted you.”

Goliath sent word to Saul: “Come out to face me yourself, or send out someone to fight me. If he kills me, my kingdom shall be yours; but if I kill him, your kingdom shall be mine.” This distressed Saul, so he announced among his troops, “Whoever kills Goliath, I shall give him my daughter in marriage and grant him half my kingdom.” But the people feared Goliath, and no one answered him.

Saul asked their prophet to supplicate Allah Most High, and he prayed to Allah concerning this matter. He then brought a horn containing sacred oil and an iron oven. It was said, “The one among you who will kill Goliath is the one upon whose head this horn is placed and the oil boils, until he anoints his head with it without its flowing onto his face, remaining upon his head like a crown; and who enters this oven, fills it, and does not rattle about within it.”

Saul summoned the Children of Israel and tested them, but none of them met the test. Then Allah revealed to their prophet that among Jesse’s sons was one through whom Allah would slay Goliath. Saul summoned Jesse and said, “Present your sons to me.” He brought out twelve men, each like a tall pillar (1), and Saul presented them one by one to the horn, but saw no sign. He said to Jesse, “Do you have any son besides them?” He replied, “No.” The prophet said, “My Lord has declared you a liar.” Jesse said, “Allah has spoken the truth, O Prophet of Allah. I do have a young son named David, but I was ashamed to let people see him because of his short stature and insignificant appearance, so I left him behind (2) with the sheep, tending them in such-and-such a mountain pass.” David was a short, sickly man (3)