The Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
The Philistines proposed a battle in which two representative champions from Israel and Philistia would duel it out, a not uncommon method of limiting war in the ancient world (cf. 2 Samuel 2). [Note: Harry A. Hoffner Jr., "A Hittite Analogue to the David and Goliath Contest of Champions?" Catholic Biblical Quarterly 30 (1968):220. See also George I. Mavrodes, "David, Goliath, and Limited War," Reformed Journal 33:8 (1983):6-8.] However, the Israelites had no one who could compete with Goliath physically. That was the only dimension to the conflict that Saul and his generals saw. Since Saul was the tallest Israelite and the king, he was the natural choice for an opponent. However, as earlier (1 Samuel 14:1-2), Saul was staying in the background when he should have been leading the people.