The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-08-08

ing Kirjath-Arba, (Hebron-, where they |
were seen by the spies sent from Ka
desh-barnea. From there they were
driven by Caleb, during the conquest
of Canaan, and they took up their
abode among the Philistines, still fur
Their westward along the plains of the
Great Sea. During the reign of David
they finally disappear from history.
In the narrative we are studying, we
find the army of the Philistines and
the army of Saul confronting each 9TH
err in the valley of Elah, some fifteen
miles West of Bethlehem. Three of
Jesse's sons are in the army, and their
father sends them some provisions by
the hand of his younger son, David,
who it seems had already made more
than one trip over the same route. On
this occasion he finds the army of Is
rael almost panic stricken. For forty
days man of prodigious sizes and
strength had emerged twice day,
from the Philistine camp, and in the
open valley had dared any man of
Israel to fight him single handed, pro-
posing to let the issue of the combat
settle the national differences.
When the young shepherd saw the
champion and heard his challenge, his
heart was stirred within him, and he
secretly resolved to fight him himself.
| Beginning to make some inquiries
about the matter, his elder brother
suspected his purpose, and contemptu-
ously rebuked him-even accusing him
of having left the sheep unprotected.
When the words of David were report
ed to Saul he sent for him, and to him
David announced his purpose to fight
Saul first attempted to dissuade him
from the rash undertaking. But after
the young man had shown the kind
of spirit that was in him, and had
related some incidents that had al
ready taken place, he bade him go
and assured him of Jehovah's help. AS
a precaution, however, he had the
young man to put on his armor and
grid on his sword.
Finding his movements hampere(
by the extra apparel, he laid it al
aside, and resuming his shepherds
staff and sling, and taking some peb
bles from the brook, he'went forth t.
meet his formidable antagonist. The
giant "disdained' the slender, I'm
armed youth, perhaps he felt sor
! of pity for him; but che cursed Davit
by his gods" David's reply indicated
that he relied on higher power thai
= his own strength for help. He wen
to the battle, he declared Gin tn
name of Jehovah of hosts, the God O
the armies of Israel" and assure
the Boosting giant that all the cart
should know that there was a Go
in Israel"
I AS they approached each other, d.
vid ran toward him, and placing
stone in his sling, cast it with all hi
might. 1t struck the giant full in tn
forehead, and he fell to the eartl
With the sword of his fallen foe tn
/ young man severed his head from hi
body. and with the CHASTITY trophy sti
in his hand, he was taken before tn
| king.
l. The Philistines fed in a panic whe
| their champion fell. and Saul's arm
| pursued after them with great saug
ter till they reached the gates of the
own walled cities.
We are confronted by a serious di
ficulty in placing che encounter wit
Goliah, and the consequent meetin
of Saul and David, after David's a
pointment as court musician and {
Saufs armor-bearer. This last name
office was very confidential one, r
quiring from its very nature grei
degree of intimacy. 1t seems incre
ible that Saul should have been so /
| norant of David's identity, if he ha
sent such a message as this express
to Jesse: Send me thy son David, wi
= is with the sheep" and who Their
= upon became a member of his hous
hold whom The loved greatly"
By placing the encounter with G
Hath first in the order of time, all Il
conditions of both accounts are su
stantiallv met