The lonely hills and the wild ravines where David wandered with his flocks were the lurking place of beasts of prey. Not infrequently the lion from the thickets by the Jordan, or the bear from his lair among the hills, came, fierce with hunger, to attack the flocks. According to the custom of his time, David was armed only with his sling and shepherd's staff; yet he early gave proof of his strength and courage in protecting his charge. Afterward describing these encounters, he said: "When there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him." 1 Samuel 17:34, 35, R.V. His experience in these matters proved the heart of David and developed in him courage and fortitude and faith.

De ensomme bakkedrag og de øde slugter, hvor David færdedes med sine hjorde, var skjulesteder for vilde dyr. Det skete ikke sjældent, at hans hjorde blev angrebet af en sulten løve fra det tætte krat langs Jordan eller af en grådig bjørn fra højdedragene. Som det var skik dengang, var David kun bevæbnet med slynge og hyrdestav, men han viste tidligt, at han både havde kræfter og mod til at beskytte de dyr, som han havde ansvaret for. Ved en senere lejlighed skildrede han sine kampe med de vilde dyr således: "Kom der en løve eller en bjørn og slæbte et dyr bort fra hjorden, løb jeg efter den og slog den og rev det ud af gabet på den; kastede den sig så over mig, greb jeg den i skægget og slog den ihjel." 1. Sam. 17, 34-35. Disse oplevelser viser, at David havde mod, og de bidrog til at udvikle hans tapperhed, styrke og tro.