582
Patriarchs and Prophets
was respectful but decided: “What have I now done? Is there not a
cause?”
The words of David were repeated to the king, who summoned
the youth before him. Saul listened with astonishment to the words of
the shepherd, as he said, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy
servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” Saul strove to turn David
from his purpose, but the young man was not to be moved. He replied
in a simple, unassuming way, relating his experiences while guarding
his father’s flocks. And he said, “The Lord that 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. And Saul said unto David, Go, and
the Lord be with thee.”
For forty days the host of Israel had trembled before the haughty
challenge of the Philistine giant. Their hearts failed within them as
they looked upon his massive form, in height measuring six cubits and
a span. Upon his head was a helmet of brass, he was clothed with a
coat of mail that weighed five thousand shekels, and he had greaves of
brass upon his legs. The coat was made of plates of brass that overlaid
one another, like the scales of a fish, and they were so closely joined
that no dart or arrow could possibly penetrate the armor. At his back
the giant bore a huge javelin, or lance, also of brass. “The staff of
his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six
hundred shekels of iron; and one bearing a shield went before him.”
Morning and evening Goliath had approached the camp of Israel,
saying with a loud voice, “Why are ye come out to set your battle in
array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a
man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight
with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail
against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a
man, that we may fight together.”
Though Saul had given David permission to accept Goliath’s chal-
lenge, the king had small hope that David would be successful in his
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courageous undertaking. Command was given to clothe the youth in
the king’s own armor. The heavy helmet of brass was put upon his
head, and the coat of mail was placed upon his body; the monarch’s
sword was at his side. Thus equipped, he started upon his errand, but
erelong began to retrace his steps. The first thought in the minds of