Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-12-19
Readinq fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
(Original.l
DAVID AND GOLIATH,

[Onglnal
DAVID AND GOLIATH.
1t is probable that David, when anointed
king of Israel, was about fifteen years DID,
1t is also probable that no one, except the
family of Jesse, was present when David was
anointed king, and that the fact was kept a
secret So soon as the oil was poured on the
head Of David, Josephus says, Samuel "whis-
pered him in the ear, and acquainted him
that God had chosen him to be their king"
From this it would seem that even the family
of David was not positively Informed that
David was to be the successor of Saul. Sam
uel returned to Ramah, and David went to
watching his fathers sheep.
1t is difficult to ascertain, with certainty, on
what occasion Saul and David first came in
contact. From the narrative in 1st Sam. 16,
it would seem that so soon as David was
anointed, "the spirit Of the Lord departed
from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord
troubled him." To soothe this melancholy
of the king, music was recommended by the
courtiers. David was suggested as fit per-
son to make the music.
In the battle which occurred between Saul
and the Philistines in the valley Of Elah, C1st
Sam. 10 we find David coming into the camp
of the Israelites perfect stranger to both
Abner and Saul. Abner was captain of the
host, and was constantly about the palace,
and it seems impossible that David could
have been in the court of Saul and Abner
and not have known him. We ethink that the
killing of Goliath, of Gath, took place previ-
Gus to David's being taken to the court Of
Saul in the capacity of harper. No event
could be more fit to introduce the STRIPPING,
David, to the notice of Saul than the contest
with Goliath. For forty successive days this
giant had come out of the camp of the Phil
istines and challenged any one of the Israel
ties to a single combat. David had gone to
the camp 20 see how his brothers, Eliab,
Abinadab and Shammah, were faring It
might be asked why Jesse did not send some
one of his other sons but no answer could be
given except that God so ordered the trans
piring events as to bring his anointed into
public notice. When Goliath came out and
repeated his challenge, the soul of David was
stirred. He began to make inquiries about
the thing. 1t is easy to see that he did not
ask his brothers anything about it. No
doubt his brothers were ashamed Of him, and
Eliab flew into rage and poured volley Of
abuse upon David. Why Eliab abused Da-
vid for being proud and naughty, no one can
tell. Perhaps all the brothers of David, and
especially Eliab, felt towards him as the sons
of Jacob felt towards Joseph. From the
language of Eliab to David Qst Sam. II: 2S)
we may learn several things. Jesse was a
poor man hence Eliab asked David, with
whom he had left those fen sheep?" David
was daring and enthusiastic boy. Hence,
Eliab said that he knew he had come down
to the camp to see the battle. We may also
learn that David and his brethren had very
little intercourse. This is clear, both from
the unkind language of Eliab, and from the
fact that David seems not to have gone to his
brothers tent or quarters when he entered the
camp but went to the quartermaster's tent
and there deposited his carriage"
David was not to be bafled by the abuse
of his brother. The contest was arranged.
Never, perhaps, in the history of the world,
did such contest take place. The combat.
ants were dissimilar in every point of view.
Goliath was trained warrior of huge stature.
He is said to have been six cubits and span
high. The cubit is variously estimated.
Some regard it as being eighteen inches, 9TH
ers regard it as twenty-one inches, and others
regard it as twenty-one and one-half inches.
The span was a little more than ten inches
and half The lowest estimate of the cubit
would make Goliath nearly ten feet high, and
the highest would make him little more
than eleven and one-half feet high. In either
case he was an extraordinary man in height.
From the minute description which is given
of him, his strength was in proportion to his
immense size. He was covered with coat
of mail which weighed one hundred and fifty
six pounds, and the head of his spear alone
weighed eighteen pounds. These, together
with his other armor, the weight of which is
not given, would be more weight than an Or
dinary man could carry. Against this over.
grown monster in human form, David, a mere
stripling-a beardless boy-set out to engage
in mortal conflict. The freedom or slavery
of his nation depends upon the issue. If d.
vid is victorious, the Philistines are, by the ar
rangement, to be slaves to the Israelites but
if Goliath is victorious, the Israelites are to
become the slaves of the Philistines. Saul,
when he saw that no one else would 60 out to
contend with Goliath, no doubt, as the last
chance, permitted David to 60. The king
put his own armor on the boy; but David
felt that he could do nothing with the arms
of Saul Perhaps this was the first time the
boy had ever seen sword and it was awk-
ward in his hands. He laid the whole aside
and took his shepherds wallet and sling. As
he passed on to meet the giant, he picked up,
in crossing the little stream which ran be-
tween the two camps, five smooth stones and
placed them in his wallet. The contest was
soon ended. When the two combatants came
near each other, David placed stone in his
sling and slung it at Goliath and struck him
in the forehead. Perhaps this was the only
spot on the person of Goliath that was not
covered with armor. Goliath fell down and
| David rnshed nnon him and cut of his head