David Bible Quiz: 30 Questions on David and Goliath

David is one of the Bible's most complete portraits of a person: a shepherd boy, a giant-killer, a loyal friend, a fugitive, a poet, a king, a sinner who repented, and "a man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22). His story fills most of 1 and 2 Samuel.

This quiz follows David's life in order, from the day Samuel came to Bethlehem to the later years of his reign.

David the shepherd and giant-killer (1 Samuel 16–17)

1 Samuel 16 — What does the LORD look at?
1. The outward appearance
2. Height
3. Wealth
4. The heart
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Answer: The heart (1 Samuel 16:7)
"Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
1 Samuel 16 — How is David described when he was brought in?
1. Tall and pale
2. Ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking
3. Old and wise
4. Short and fat
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Answer: Ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking (1 Samuel 16:12)
The LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"
1 Samuel 16 — How many of Jesse's sons passed before Samuel before David was called?
1. Three
2. Ten
3. Seven
4. Twelve
Show answer
Answer: Seven (1 Samuel 16:10-11)
Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but the LORD had not chosen these.
1 Samuel 16 — What did David do for Saul when a distressing spirit troubled him?
1. Played the harp
2. Read the law
3. Brought him wine
4. Fought his enemies
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Answer: Played the harp (1 Samuel 16:23)
Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart.
1 Samuel 17 — How tall was Goliath?
1. Four cubits
2. Ten cubits
3. Six cubits and a span
4. Three cubits
Show answer
Answer: Six cubits and a span (1 Samuel 17:4)
About nine feet — a champion from Gath.
1 Samuel 17 — For how many days did Goliath challenge Israel?
1. Seven days
2. Forty days
3. Three days
4. One hundred days
Show answer
Answer: Forty days (1 Samuel 17:16)
The Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.
1 Samuel 17 — From which city was Goliath?
1. Gaza
2. Ashdod
3. Ekron
4. Gath
Show answer
Answer: Gath (1 Samuel 17:4)
A champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath.
1 Samuel 17 — What did David do after Goliath fell?
1. Ran away
2. Took Goliath's sword and cut off his head
3. Took his armor to wear
4. Made peace with the Philistines
Show answer
Answer: Took Goliath's sword and cut off his head (1 Samuel 17:51)
When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

David and Saul (1 Samuel 18–30)

1 Samuel 18 — What did Jonathan give David when they made a covenant?
1. A horse
2. His crown
3. A golden cup
4. His robe, armor, sword, bow and belt
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Answer: His robe, armor, sword, bow and belt (1 Samuel 18:3-4)
Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
1 Samuel 19 — How did Michal help David escape?
1. She hid him in a well
2. She let him down through a window and put an image in his bed
3. She dressed him as a woman
4. She bribed the guards
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Answer: She let him down through a window and put an image in his bed (1 Samuel 19:12-13)
She covered the image with clothes and put goats' hair at its head.
1 Samuel 20 — What signal did Jonathan use to warn David?
1. Shooting arrows beyond the boy
2. Lighting a fire
3. Blowing a horn
4. Sending a letter
Show answer
Answer: Shooting arrows beyond the boy (1 Samuel 20:20-22,36-37)
"Is not the arrow beyond you?" meant David must flee.
1 Samuel 21 — What did Ahimelech the priest give David to eat?
1. Manna
2. The holy bread (showbread)
3. Figs and raisins
4. Meat
Show answer
Answer: The holy bread (showbread) (1 Samuel 21:6)
There was no bread there but the showbread. Jesus mentioned this (Matthew 12:3-4).
1 Samuel 22 — Where did David hide when many came to him?
1. The cave of Adullam
2. The Jordan
3. Bethlehem
4. Mount Carmel
Show answer
Answer: The cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1-2)
Everyone in distress, in debt or discontented gathered to him — about four hundred men.
1 Samuel 23 — Which town did David save from the Philistines?
1. Jericho
2. Gibeah
3. Keilah
4. Ziklag
Show answer
Answer: Keilah (1 Samuel 23:1-5)
David inquired of the LORD, then struck the Philistines and saved Keilah.
1 Samuel 24 — What did David cut from Saul in the cave at En Gedi?
1. The corner of his robe
2. A lock of his hair
3. His sword belt
4. His sandal strap
Show answer
Answer: The corner of his robe (1 Samuel 24:4)
Afterward David's heart troubled him for doing even that.
1 Samuel 26 — What did David take from Saul's side while Saul slept?
1. His crown
2. His sword
3. His spear and jug of water
4. His robe
Show answer
Answer: His spear and jug of water (1 Samuel 26:12)
No one saw or knew or awoke, for a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.
1 Samuel 27 — To which Philistine king did David go to escape Saul?
1. Achish king of Gath
2. Agag
3. Nahash
4. Abimelech
Show answer
Answer: Achish king of Gath (1 Samuel 27:2)
David and his six hundred men went over to Achish.
1 Samuel 29 — Why did the Philistine lords not want David in the battle?
1. They feared he would turn against them
2. He was too young
3. He was sick
4. His men were too few
Show answer
Answer: They feared he would turn against them (1 Samuel 29:3-5)
"Is this not David, of whom they sang... 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"
1 Samuel 30 — What had the Amalekites done to Ziklag?
1. Made peace with it
2. Built a wall
3. Left it alone
4. Burned it and taken the women and children captive
Show answer
Answer: Burned it and taken the women and children captive (1 Samuel 30:1-2)
They did not kill anyone, but carried them away.

David the king (2 Samuel)

2 Samuel 1 — What did the Amalekite bring David, claiming he had killed Saul?
1. Saul's sword
2. Jonathan's bow
3. Saul's head
4. Saul's crown and bracelet
Show answer
Answer: Saul's crown and bracelet (2 Samuel 1:10)
He hoped for a reward, but David had him executed for striking the LORD's anointed (1:15-16).
2 Samuel 2 — Where was David anointed king over the house of Judah?
1. Jerusalem
2. Hebron
3. Bethlehem
4. Gibeah
Show answer
Answer: Hebron (2 Samuel 2:4)
The men of Judah came and anointed David king over the house of Judah.
2 Samuel 5 — How old was David when he began to reign?
1. Thirty
2. Twenty
3. Forty
4. Seventeen
Show answer
Answer: Thirty (2 Samuel 5:4)
He reigned forty years.
2 Samuel 6 — What happened to Uzzah when he touched the ark?
1. He was healed
2. He became a priest
3. God struck him and he died
4. Nothing happened
Show answer
Answer: God struck him and he died (2 Samuel 6:6-7)
The oxen stumbled and Uzzah took hold of the ark; God struck him there for his error.
2 Samuel 7 — What did David want to build?
1. A house (temple) for the ark of God
2. A palace for himself
3. A wall around Jerusalem
4. A new altar in Hebron
Show answer
Answer: A house (temple) for the ark of God (2 Samuel 7:1-2)
"I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains."
2 Samuel 9 — Why did David seek out someone from Saul's house?
1. To kill him
2. To make him a servant
3. To show him kindness for Jonathan's sake
4. To take his land
Show answer
Answer: To show him kindness for Jonathan's sake (2 Samuel 9:1)
"Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"
2 Samuel 11 — Where was David when he should have been at war?
1. In Hebron
2. At the battle
3. In Bethlehem
4. He remained in Jerusalem
Show answer
Answer: He remained in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 11:1)
At the time when kings go out to battle, David remained at Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 12 — In Nathan's parable, what did the rich man take from the poor man?
1. His house
2. His field
3. His one little ewe lamb
4. His ox
Show answer
Answer: His one little ewe lamb (2 Samuel 12:1-4)
David said the man deserved to die — and Nathan said, "You are the man!"
2 Samuel 15 — How did Absalom win the people?
1. He stood by the gate and stole the hearts of the men of Israel
2. He paid them
3. He won a war
4. He was anointed by Samuel
Show answer
Answer: He stood by the gate and stole the hearts of the men of Israel (2 Samuel 15:2-6)
He said, "Oh, that I were made judge in the land."
2 Samuel 18 — How was Absalom caught?
1. His head caught in the branches of a great terebinth tree
2. His horse fell
3. His men betrayed him
4. He was trapped in a cave
Show answer
Answer: His head caught in the branches of a great terebinth tree (2 Samuel 18:9)
His mule went on, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth.
2 Samuel 22 — How does David's song in 2 Samuel 22 begin?
1. "The LORD is my shepherd."
2. "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer."
3. "Praise the LORD, O my soul."
4. "Blessed is the man."
Show answer
Answer: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer." (2 Samuel 22:2)
It is almost the same as Psalm 18.

Lessons from David's life

God looks at the heart. Samuel was told not to look at appearance (1 Samuel 16:7).
Courage comes from trust. David faced Goliath "in the name of the LORD of hosts" (1 Samuel 17:45).
Honour even when wronged. David twice refused to harm Saul, "the LORD's anointed" (1 Samuel 24:6; 26:9).
Repentance restores. After his sin with Bathsheba, David confessed, "I have sinned against the LORD" (2 Samuel 12:13; see Psalm 51).

More quizzes

For the kings who came after David, try the Kings round in our 50 Bible quiz questions for adults. For children, David and Goliath appears in our easy Bible quiz for kids. Play this quiz live with your group on MyBibleQuiz.

Frequently asked questions

How tall was Goliath?

1 Samuel 17:4 says Goliath's height was "six cubits and a span", roughly nine and a half feet (about 2.9 metres).

How many stones did David pick up to fight Goliath?

Five smooth stones from the brook (1 Samuel 17:40). He needed only one.

Who was David's best friend?

Jonathan, the son of King Saul. "The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David" (1 Samuel 18:1).

How long did David reign as king?

Forty years: seven years and six months in Hebron over Judah, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem over all Israel and Judah (2 Samuel 5:4-5).

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