King Saul (Orson Welles), ruler of the Israelites, is facing war with the Philistines over the possession of the Arch of Alliance. Saul has heard from his prophets of a new king, taking his place on the throne, in the form of a young shepherd boy named David. Meanwhile, David has come to meet the Israelite army to bring supplies to his brothers and discovers the presence of Goliath, a Philistine soldier over nine feet tall who has challenged any single man in the Israelite army to a battle to decide the winner of the war. When no one will take up Goliath's challenge, young David, armed with only a sling and some stones, sets off to battle the monstrous Goliath.