When the words were heard which David spoke, they rehearsed them before Saul; and he sent for him.
"He took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the brook"  (1 Samuel 17:40).  All of the Bethlehemites were skillful in the use of the sling; and, "In the exercise of David's calling as a shepherd, he may have become as skillful in the use of it as those fellow-Benjamites of his, who could sling at a hair's breadth and not miss  (Judges 2:16)."[18]