"I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the
armies of Israel."--_1 Samuel 17:45._
THOUGH King Saul had beaten the Philistines, still they used to come
back again and try to conquer the Israelites.
Once they came with an army, and Saul had an army too. The Israelites
were on one hill and the Philistines on another hill, and there was a
valley between. Then out in front of the Philistines' camp came a giant
named Goliath; for there really were giants then, and Goliath had three
brothers as tall as himself.
Goliath was nearly twice as tall as any man we ever saw, and he had a
helmet on his head, and armour on his breast, and an enormous spear,
and a shield, and a man carried a shield before him. He stood out, and
called to know if any Israelite would fight with him. Then if Goliath
conquered the Israelite, the Philistines should be the lords over the
Israelites; but if an Israelite conquered Goliath, then the Israelites
should be lords over the Philistines.
But nobody felt bold or strong enough to go out to fight with this
great man; and day after day he came and walked up and down, and
laughed the Israelites to scorn for not daring to come out, they who
called themselves the servants of God.
[Illustration: DAVID SLAYING GOLIATH.--1 Sam. 17:50, 51.]
At last a young shepherd boy came to the camp. He had three brothers
among Saul's soldiers, and his father had sent him to take them some
loaves of bread, and see how they were. The shepherd boy's name was
David. When he came he saw the proud Goliath walking up and down
boasting against the Israelites; he asked the soldiers about him, and
was so eager that at last they brought him to the king; and Saul asked
him how it was that he, who was only a youth, could dare to think of
fighting with a man of war like Goliath.
David answered that when he was keeping his flocks a lion and a bear
had come and tried to take away a lamb. And God had made him strong to
kill both the lion and the bear, and saved him from danger; and he
trusted that in like manner God would help him if he fought with the
giant.
So Saul wanted to dress David in his own armour, but it was too large
for him, and he would not use it. All he did was to choose five smooth
stones out of the brook, and put them into his shepherd's bag. And he
took his sling, a long strip of leather, the ends of which he used to
hold in his hand to throw stones farther with, when he wanted to drive
beasts away from his flock. And with only his sling and his stone he
went out to meet the giant.
[Illustration: SAUL CASTING HIS JAVELIN AT DAVID.--1 Sam. 19:9, 10.]
Goliath was fierce and angry when he saw such a boy, and he thought it
was only laughing at him to send no better warrior to fight with him.
But David said, "Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and
with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts,
* * * whom thou hast defied."
[Illustration: THE PARTING OF DAVID AND JONATHAN.--1 Sam. 20:42.]
[Illustration: DAVID AND ABIGAIL.--1 Sam. 25:32, 33.]
Then David took one of his stones and slung it out of his sling. It
struck the very middle of the giant's forehead, and went deep in, and
down fell Goliath. All his great strength was of no use to him, and
David ran and stood upon him, and drew out his great sword from his
side, and cut off his head.
All the other Philistines fled away, and David gave thanks to God for
his great victory.
By-and-by David came to be king instead of Saul; and he loved God, and
trusted in Him so faithfully that God Himself called him a man after
His own heart.