David and Goliath — Battle of Elah

1024 BC Valley of Elah Status: ended Casualties: Goliath; the Philistine host routed

For forty days the giant of Gath defied the armies of the living God. The shepherd boy David, refusing Saul's armour, took five smooth stones from the brook. One stone, one sling — and the Philistines fled to Ekron. 1 Samuel 17.

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Belligerents

Israel under Saul
Philistines under Goliath of Gath

Casualties

Goliath; the Philistine host routed

Key events

Forty days of defiance, morning and evening
David refuses Saul's armour: 'I have not proved it'
One stone, sunk into the forehead
Goliath's own sword used to take his head
The Philistines flee; the wounded fall by the way to Shaaraim

Aftermath

David enters Saul's court; the women sing 'Saul hath slain his thousands, David his ten thousands' — and Saul eyed him from that day forward. The pattern of the underdog faithful and the giant felled by faith is the Bible's most-quoted military image.

Weapons & matériel

A staff, five smooth stones, a shepherd's sling
Goliath's spear like a weaver's beam (~7 kg head); coat of mail (~57 kg)

Sources

1 Samuel 17

From World at War, an interactive atlas by Jairus Pereira. Figures are approximate, drawn from Wikipedia, UCDP, ACLED and academic sources — a design artefact, not an authoritative register. Contact.