THAT, to fpare the effufion of human blood, they should decline a general engagement, and leave the decifion of their quarrel to the valour of a fingle champion chofen on each fide, whofe defeat, or victory, should determine that of his country, who were to follow his fate: --- - If, fays he, your man be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your fervants; but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then fhall ye be our fervants, and ferve us: concluding all with a bold defiance of the Ifraelite army, and demand of an antagonist.

THE challenge was plaufible: but however seemingly founded upon fortitude and humanity, was not in reality the effect of either. The cafe was thus: The Philiftines had one man amongst them of a very fingular make and character; his stature was gigantick, and his ftrength proportionable; he was nine feet nine inches high *, and his very arms and armour were more than a load for another man. He is generally believed

*Pliny tells us, that a man of that ftature was brought from Arabia to Rome, in the reign of Claudius, 1. 7. c. 16. where he mentions the remains of other men of much greater dimenfions.

to be a Philiftine nobleman, and, as a mark of dignity, an armour-bearer carried his fhield before him; a diftinction which Alexander the Great *, and other ancient heroes, always affected. It is no wonder then if the Philiftines confided more in the ftrength and prowess of this man, than in that of their mercenary forces, which were their chief ftrength; and therefore chofe rather to reft their caufe upon his fingle arm, than the iffue

of a general engagement.

BESIDES all this, they well knew, that fuch a challenge, from fuch a man, was admirably fitted to ftrike a general terror into the adverfe army, inafmuch as it could not fail to make an impreffion of fear upon the breast of every fingle man in it. If then the Ifraelites accepted the challenge, the Philistines were affured of conqueft; if they declined it, it must be from the impreffion of an univerfal fear, which would better open their way to victory in a general

engagement.

* Arrian tells us (1.6. p. 244. Edit. Gronov.) that Alexander had the fhield taken out of the temple of Trojan Palias, carried before him in all his battles.

IN this diftrefs David found the forces of his country; Saul and all Ifrael mightily dismayed, not daring fo much as to stand the terror of the Philiftine's presence, but retiring to their trenches as he approached : and here, as it was natural, their conversation wholly turned upon this champion, and the reward offered by the king to any one that should flay him in combat; no less than the freedom of his family, added to great riches, and the honour of the king's alliance by marriage with one of his daughters; asking one another (as the manner of men is who could think of nothing elfe) Had they seen him? and telling one another (what every one of them knew) what reward should be given to the man that fubdued him.

DAVID liftened to their accounts, and mixed in their enquiries with an eager curiofity, expreffing at the same time fome degree of wonder, that no one had yet accepted the challenge: What shall be done, fays he, to the man that killeth this Philiftine, and taketh away the reproach from Ifrael? And again; For who is this uncircumcifed Philiftine, that be should defy the armies of the living God? The workings of David's modefty and valour D 4

are

are finely painted in thefe queftions: his modefty would not fuffer him directly and openly to accept the challenge, and profess himfelf Goliab's antagonist; and yet the

fortitude of his own beating breast, and the glory of the undertaking, left him wholly at a loss why others fhould decline it. His eldest brother, Eliab, obferved his ardour, and was offended at it: he, who knew David's fpirit, foon faw his design; and, filled with indignation left David fhould atchieve what he himself had not dared to undertake, he reproved him with the most taunting queftions, Why he left his flock ? and what he had to do there? upbraiding him at the fame time, that nothing but vanity, and a vicious curiofity, had drawn him thither tho', without doubt, he was well acquainted with his true errand. To all this, David (who found his indignation rifing, but would not allow himself to indulge it against his elder brother) made no other reply, than by afking his brother what he had done to offend him? and whether the greatness of the occafion did not justify all the questions he could afk about it? Then, turning to fomebody elfe, he renewed his enquiries; and, stung

with double indignation, at the ill treatment of his brother, and the infolence of the Philiftine, he broke out into fuch open declarations of accepting the challenge, as were quickly brought before Saul; and being called and examined in his presence, continued undaunted in his refolution.

SAUL endeavoured to diffuade him from fo rash and desperate an attempt, by a remonftrance of his youth, and Goliah's confirmed ftrength, and experienced valour; but to no purpose. David defended his defign, by relation of his success against enemies full as dangerous as Goliah.

Thy fervant, faid he, and there came a lion lamb out of the flock,

THERE is an united dignity and humility in the relation, which no words but his own can come up to; kept his father's sheep; and a bear, and took a and I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arofe against me, I caught him by his beard, and fmote him, and flew him. Thy fervant flew both the lion and the bear and this uncircumcifed Philiftine shall be as one of them, Seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

;

HERE