Saul and the Israelites are facing the Philistines at Socoh in Judah. Twice a day for forty days Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, comes out between the lines and challenges the Israelites to send out a champion of their own to decide the outcome of the battle in single combat, but Saul and all the Israelites are afraid. David is present, bringing food for his elder brothers. When told that Saul has promised to reward any man who will defeat the Philistine champion, David declares he is not afraid. Saul reluctantly agrees and offers his armour, which David declines in favour of his sling and five stones he takes from a brook.

David and Goliath confront each other, Goliath with his armour and shield-bearer, David with his staff and sling. “And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.” But David replies: “This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is Yahweh’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

David then strikes Goliath in the head with a stone from his sling; the Philistine falls on his face to the ground. David seizes Goliath’s sword and kills him, then cutting off his head. The shocked Philistines flee and are pursued by the Israelites “as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron”. David puts the armour of Goliath in his own tent, and takes the head to Jerusalem. Saul sends Abner to inquire whose son this is who has routed the Philistines and killed their champion. Abner brings David before Saul, who asks him whose son he is. “And David answered, ‘I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite’.”

The film is notable for its use of location shooting for numerous scenes, especially at the French estates of Malmaison and Fontainebleau, the Palace of Versailles, and Napoleonic battles including Austerlitz and Waterloo.