Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-12-15

The readers u. Bible history Will &c inter-
es;ed in tie essay below. We have only to
say that If the writer Is correct, and he
seems to prove his point, the pictures have
all been wrong, time on; of mind.
For the Free Press.
David.
David is often spoken Of as Of small size when
he killed Goliath, as though he were half
grown l4I. whom, by a miracle, G.d enabled to
overcome tie Philistine. From the sacred writ
ings, however, It seems quite clear that he was
a full grown man-a young man, inleod, but
prccocious in mind and body, and there is moth
ing to Indicate to the contrary. Inferior to
Goliath in size and age, he was nevertheless,
himself young giant in s,ze AMI muscular
power, being about twen,y-oae years Of age,
and probably seven feet or more in height and Of
Hercalcan strength at tie time Of that re
markable duel.
His age. lie was thirty years Old when he
came to the throne. lie hal been in exile about
ten years. The most reliable accounts and ira
dltions differ, but make him, believe, twenty
when he was anoin;ei by Samuel, which was
before he met Goliath. I therefore put his age
about tweuty-cus az that time. Other facts in
iIcate that he was not boy. His father Was
an Old man, l sam. XVII, II. He was an ac-
eomplished musician, ''euuairg IL PleyiHg,"
/ q sam 1vI 49, a 1T musician for the royal
/ presence. lie was "prule1i IN mGiters," S.
/ gacious.wary,''a mighty rgIiaHi man, - "a NAN
| Of trGr" (JiL) He was the keeper OF his
Ether's sheep in the wilderness. infested by
bears and lions. q sam. XVI II, and XVII IS
35.) lie was thus man Of Judgment and ex-
parience, though young man. Saul indeed,
calls him ''stripling, reg youfh,' - ga young
man." Il san. XVII 81. 81, So ''He ,ras
but a youth and rudy and Of a fair cOuHtea-
aaee. (i5i{ y, and WI. 12.) This mode Of
speaking Of persons not old was common-Slul
is called "a choice young man and go0aly.'
Il sam. ". - when he hal son, Jonathan,
old enough to lie the leader Of q thousand sol
dlers, (iJid xIu. >. and see sam. 1. ,, 8
6, IS, 15,l-Slul gave David the chief command
"ssihim orcr the nea Of ,rar." q sam. XVIII
81
His strength. His strength was Ike that o
Samson. Is Samson killed a young lion (Judg
XIV. ), 6,) 50 David, while a shepherd, killed {
hungry lion. lie took the prey out Ofhis mouth
He caught him by the beard, and slew him. &
Sam XVII. So, S6.) lie also killed bear IN
der Ike circumstances. His strength in hi
hands and arms must have been enormous, thu
to have handled these powerful beasts. In thcs
, periods when the bow was the great weapon q
war, men Of great strength had bows Of steel
David's strength was 50 great that he cOul
break one of those steel bows, with his arms,
| Sam. XXI. 35) His strength, as well as hi
: size, enabled him to handle the sword Of the q
! ant with ease, weapon not be handled by boy
P II Sam. XVII. 51.l Tie use Of the giant
sword On that occasion, would not, perhap:
prove so much; for in that moment Of excite
e ment, he might well have swung a sword whic
: at other times would have been too heavy f
{ him; but we find, a year afterwards, when
:, was fleeing unarmed from Saul, he asked Ahiu
s elech for spear or a sword for his own us
J, and was told, "Thers is nose but the slVord