The Combat—1Sa_17:8-52
We may be sure that it was not without burning indignation that David beheld the gigantic and proud pagan stand forth to defy the host of Israel, nor without astonishment and grief that he witnessed the consternation his presence inspired. Judging by his own fearless spirit, he reckoned that some valiant man would stand forth, to repay him scorn for scorn, and blow for blow. But it was not so. None moved, except to tremble in dismay. Not even the valiant Saul, nor his daring son, durst undertake this adventure. David then learned that this scene had been repeated several days, that the king had vainly sought to stimulate the courage of some bold man by offering the hand of his daughter in marriage, and other advantages, to the man who should bring that vast champion low.
The son of Jesse felt the spirit of patriotism and heroic daring work within him; and he began to make such pointed inquiries, as drew down the ungracious sneers of his elder brother—the tall and handsome Eliab. Regardless of this, he pursued his inquiries in such a manner that the matter at last reached the ears of the king, who, willing in his despair to catch at what seemed little better than a straw, caused him to be brought before him. Taking into account the change wrought in his appearance by the lapse of time, and by the growth of his beard—as well as from his appearing in the guise of a shepherd with the usual implements connected with that employment, it does not seem to us very surprising that the king did not know him again; besides, it is likely that Saul’s memory had been somewhat impaired by his disease, whilst the constant variety and change of persons presented to the notice of a king, would tend to reduce any slight recollection he might have entertained to a vague and dim impression that he had at some former period seen some person of whom this young man reminded him. Seeing this to be the case, David did not then attempt to make himself known, neither did he make any studied concealment, but left the disclosure to circumstances.
In the presence of the king, David spoke as one ready to undertake this enterprise, and as assured that the victory in this strange combat would be his. The king was pleased with his spirit, but kindly pointed out that the antagonist with whom he proposed to wage mortal strife was not only a man of gigantic proportions and enormous strength, but also a skilled man at arms—practised in war from his youth. David humbly related the story of the lion and the bear, which he had aforetime slain in defence of his flock. This he did, not in vain ostentation of his own exploits, though in the East more self-praise of this sort is allowed than would be considered becoming among us; but to point out the source of his confidence—“The Lord who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” Saul could not fail to be impressed by this; for his self-consciousness must have apprised him at that moment that this was the true heroic confidence for Israel, and that in which of all others he was most deficient. This impression doubtless disposed him, without further demur, to consent to risk the lot of Israel upon the issue of a conflict between this young man and the enormous Philistine. He said at once—“Go, and the Lord be with thee.” Nevertheless, he insisted that the heroic youth should be suitably equipped for the conflict in complete armor. But when thus arrayed, David felt himself embarrassed rather than strengthened by this heavy panoply, and quickly casting it off, stood forth, light and agile in his simple shepherd’s dress. The weapon he chose was his own sling, much used by shepherds in repelling the assailants of their flocks, and in the use of which they often, like David, possessed extraordinary expertness. It was also formerly used, and is still much employed, by husbandmen in driving away birds from the cornfields. It was, however, also much used in war; and, in skilled hands, delivered stones with the force almost of a shot against the enemy. Saul’s own tribe of Benjamin was famous for its left-handed slingers, who could cast stones at a hair and not miss. Slings were also used in war by both the Egyptians and the Assyrians. Among the latter, the sling consisted of a double rope with a thong, probably of leather, to receive the stone; it was swung round the head. The stinger held a second stone in his left hand, and at his feet is frequently seen, in the sculptures, a heap of stones ready for use. The Persian slingers also, as we learn from several passages in Xenophon, were very expert in casting unusually large stones, and could annoy their enemies when out of the reach of their darts or arrows. The sling of the ancient Egyptians, which probably was of the same sort as that of David, was a thong of leather or string plaited, broad at the middle, and having a loop at one end, by which it was fixed upon and firmly held by the hand; the other extremity terminated in a lash, which escaped from the fingers when the stone was thrown; and when used, the slinger whirled it two or three times round his head to steady it and to increase the impetus. Leaden plummets were sometimes thrown from the sling by the Greeks, who often added insult to injury, by inscribing them with some such word as AGWNIS, or DEXAI—“Take this;” but simple pebbles found on the sea-shore or in the brooks were usually employed; the Egyptians used round stones for this purpose, which they carried in a small bag or scrip hanging from a belt over the shoulder. So David selected five smooth pebbles from the brook, and put them into his shepherd’s bag.
Egyptian Slingers
The use of the sling was, however, rather despised by regular heavy armed troops—and Goliath opened his great eyes with disdain and astonishment, when he beheld this light shepherd spring forward to confront him, armed only with his pastoral sling. His pride was grievously affronted that this simple implement should be deemed adequate to a conflict with one so strong and so terribly arrayed—“Am I a dog,” he roared, “that thou comest against me with staves?” Note: By this it is probable that David had a staff in one hand, and that, not discerning the sling in his other hand, Goliath conceived that this was the intended weapon of conflict. Mrs. Postans states, that “the shepherds of the East always carry a staff, which they hold in the centre, the object of its use not being as a support, but to beat bushes and low brushwood into which flocks stray, and where snakes and other reptiles abound.”—Journal of Sacred Literature, iv. 51. He then cursed the young man “by his gods,” and poured forth insulting threats upon his head—“Come to me,” he said, “and I will give thy flesh to the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field!” In the single combats of the East—even in those preceding and bringing on general actions, the opposed champions are still wont thus to kindle each other’s wrath by mutual abuse, and the reader of Homer will recollect many examples of the same practice. These often extend to long addresses, and each party waits as patiently as he can till the other has done, without allowing himself to be provoked to cut short the harangue by force of arms. The staple of these harangues usually consists of boastings of their own exploits, with abuse of the opponent, and threats of what shall be done to him. In the present case, we seem to have only an abstract of Goliath’s harangue—for it is not stated in what terms he cursed the son of Jesse by his gods. But David’s speech is given in full, and it beautifully manifests the spirit by which he was animated, and which is evinced in all his subsequent career. He assumes nothing to himself—his trust is not in the might of his own arm—it is to the Lord he looks for victory—and it is to Him he beforehand ascribes all the glory which may flow from it. He said to the Philistine—“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, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.”
The giant then strode forth to meet the young Hebrew, who stood still, but taking from his bag one of the stones, he fitted it to his sling, which he whirled around his head, and discharged with such force, and with so true an aim, that it smote the Philistine in almost the only exposed part of his person, the middle of his forehead, and crunched through the strong bone deep into his brain. His vast frame sunk to the ground, with a heavy crash which cast terror into the hearts of the Philistines; while David stepping lightly forward, drew the giant’s own great sword from its sheath, and therewith separated his head from his body, and bore it triumphantly away. Taking advantage of the consternation into which the Philistines were cast by this downfall of their champion, the Israelites arose with a triumphant shout—the hearty utterance of which was in full proportion to their previous dismay—and pursued the Philistines, who fled before them, with such earnestness and zeal, that they gave not over the chase until the fugitives who escaped their swords, had reached the very gates of their own towns.
Autor: JOHN KITTO