Long, long ago there lived, in the country of Israel a boy named David.
He was a shepherd boy, and all day long he watched the quiet sheep as they ate sweet grass on the hillside.
Although David was only a boy, he was tall and strong and brave.
When he knew he was in the right, he feared nothing.
David's quiet life did not last long.
There was a great war between the people of Israel and men called the Philistines.
All the strong men in David's town went to join the army of Israel.
David could not go, as he had to tend the sheep, but his three older brothers went to the war.
For a long time David's father heard nothing from his three oldest boys.
At length he called David to him and said, "Take to your brothers a bag of this corn and these ten loaves of bread. Find out how your brothers are, and bring word to me."