1 Samuel 29:5

Is not this David of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands? Cf 1 Samuel 18:7; 1 Samuel 21:11. The defeat which they had suffered at the time when Goliath had been slain still rankled in their memory, and their recollection of this achievement proved the means of rescuing David from the unpleasant necessity of going into battle on their side, although their fears would probably have been realized in that event. It was an act of grace and mercy on God's part which took him out of the battle.