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There are two accounts in the Bible of the meeting between Saul and David. In the first story, Saul's retainers suggest that someone be found who could play upon the harp and thus soothe the troubled spirits of the king. David is recommended for this purpose. We are told that when the youth stood before Saul, the king loved him greatly and made David his armour-bearer. Thereafter, whenever Saul was troubled by his “evil spirit” the young man played for him and the king found relief.
In another role of his relationship, David is brought before the king when the youth offers to fight the giant Philistine, Goliath, who has tauntingly challenged the Hebrews as the two opposing armies faced each other on opposite hills across a valley. Saul tries to clothe David with his own suit of armour, probably the only one of its kind in the Hebrew camp, but David finds that he is hampered by this apparel and takes it off, explaining that he is not accustomed to it. Then, as the well-known story relates, David selects five smooth stones out of the brook, puts them in his shepherd's bag, and with his sling in his hand, goes out to meet Goliath. David slays the contemptuous challenger of the Hebrews by hurling a stone into the giant's forehead. In the battle that follows, the Hebrews are victorious.
In the second account of the meeting, we are told that “… when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host: ‘Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said: ‘As thy soul liveth,