It is not clear what would have happened if Israel did not bring a champion to fight against Goliath. Possibly the Philistines would have won by default.1 This might serve to explain why Saul was willing to let David go and fight even though he was not fully convinced that David had the military experience and skill necessary to threaten Goliath.
16 For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.