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15 followed Saul. But, Saul's fits being now over, and his fever become constant, David went and returned from Saul to feed his fa16 ther's sheep at Bethlehem. And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. And 17 Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched [corn,] and these ten loaves, and run 18 to the camp to thy brethren; And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of [their] thousand, that he may show them favour, and not put them upon any desperate service; and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge, bring a token that they are 19 alive and well. Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, [were] in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines, or skirmishing, and ready to fight.

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And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, or place of the carriage, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle; he found the army drawn up, the Philistine champion vapouring as usual, and saw the panic into which the Israelites were struck. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army 22 against army. And David left his carriage, the provisions he had

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brought to his brethren, in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his breth23 ren. And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words 24 as before, v. 8, and David heard [them.] And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore 25 afraid. And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up and it shall be, [that] the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel, from all taxes and customs, 26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? he ingiures more particularly into the reward that was to be given, and then adds, for who [is] this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? He was not so much moved by the reward, as by 27 zeal for God and his covenant. And the people answered him after this manner, saying, so shall it be done to the man that 28 killeth him. And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, he was moved with envy and jealousy, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. This was very unkind language, imputing his coming there to nothing but curiosity and pride; and intimating, that he 29 was more fit to tend a few sheep, than to fight a giant. And Da

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vid returned a very mild answer, and said, What have I now done? [is there] not a cause? had I not reason enough for coming here, when my father sent me, and for making this inquiry, when Israel's army and God are defied?

And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner and the people answered him again after the 31 former manner. And when the words were heard which David

spake, they rehearsed [them] before Saul: and he sent for 32 him. And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because 33 of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philis. tine to fight with him for thou [art but] a youth, and he a man of war from his youth; out of kindness to David he would 34 not have him to venture his life. And David, with great dignity and humility, said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of the 35 flock And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered [it] out of his mouth and when he arose against me, I caught 36 [him] by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy ser

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vant slew both the lion and the bear and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the ar37 mies of the living God. David said moreover, 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. David encouraged himself by three arguments; his success against these beasts, the uncircumcision of this Philistine, and that he had defied the armies of the living God; therefore he assured himself of success. And when Saul found him to be a man of so much courage, resolution, and faith, he said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of 39 mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved [it.] And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved [them ;] not having been accustomed to them, they were rather an incum40 brance than an help to him. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling [was] in his hand : and to show that he was not afraid, he drew near to the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and 42 the man that bare the shield [went] before him. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him : for he was [but] a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance; he expected to have met some tall, robust person; but finding a youth coming, who was not like a warrior, but amiable rather than 43 terrible, he thus addressed him; And the Philistine said unto David, [Am] I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? and the Philistine cursed David by his gods, frayed Dagon and Ash◄

taroth to destroy him ; a circumstance which David no doubt con 44 sidered as a token for good. And the Philistine said to David,

Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, 45 and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, in the most noble, courageous, and pious language, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of 46 the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that 47 there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear, or any human force: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands; 48 it is the Lord's cause, and he will make it successful. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh, stalking on with state and insolence, to meet David, that David hasted, and "while the Israelites were pitying David, and the Philistines despising him, he ran toward the army to meet 49 the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang [it,] and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth; the beaver of his helmet, or that pare which covers the forehead, was probably turned up in scorn, and 50 fearing no danger to that place, God directed the stone there. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but [there was] 51 no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled; they did not throw down their arms and become servants to Saul, as Goliath had promised, but ran away.

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And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, David probably leading the way, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron; great multitudes were de 53 stroyed. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

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And David took the head of the Philistine, and, after he had showed it to Saul, he brought it to Jerusalem: but he put his armour in his tent, and afterward laid it up in the tabernacle, (ch. 55 xxi. 9. And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner whose son [is] this youth? And Abner said, [As] thy soul liveth, king, I cannot tell; Saul's memory was probably much impaired, and as it was a year or two since David had left the court, he was altered in stature, and now had on kis shepherd's dress. Abner

might have been from home on some expedition while David was 56 with Saul, and for that reason did not know him now. And the 57 king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling [is.] And as

David returned from the slaughter of the Philistines, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philis58 tine in his hand. And Saul said to him, Whose son [art] thou, [thou] young man? And David answered, [I am] the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite; and laid the head of his enemy at the king's feet.

1.

HOW

REFLECTIONS.

OW worthy of imitation by all young people, is the humility and modesty of David. He seemed glad to be dismissed from court, that he might retire to a plain private life; though he knew what God intended him for. He did not appear to be fond of preeminence; but was content to live in an humble station, till God should call him out to a more public and honourable one. Let young people learn, that humility is the greatest ornament, and the best preparative for advancement in the world; above all, that it is the way to secure the favour of God; who resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

2. We see the folly and wickedness of a proud, envious spirit. With what pride, ill nature, and rudeness did Eliab treat David ! but this was a sure sign of a base, cowardly spirit. He chode and trampled upon him, as if unworthy of his notice. It is to be feared this is too much the case with many elder brothers, who think they have a right to domineer over the younger. Men of proud, envious spirits, often run into indecent language, indulge groundless jealousies, and censure very unjustly. It should be our care to guard against this temper, and honour virtue and merit wherever we see it. Let brethren especially be kind, obliging, and affable, one to another.

3. We learn, not to render railing for railing. David was undoubtedly displeased at this unkind and unjust treatment, but he kept himself from passion, and with a soft answer turned away wrath. Though he had reason on his side, he did not rail, and return the abusive language, but bore it with an excellent temper. We have never more reason to guard our heart and tongue, than when we meet with ill treatment and scurrilous language; especially when we are conscious that we do not deserve it. David, when ruling his own spirit, was more honourable than when killing Goliath. He that hath rule over his own spirit, and shows it by bridling his tongue, is better than the mighty.

4. The servants of God ought to take encouragement from former appearances of Providence in their favour. How wisely and piously did David argue, that God would now deliver him, because he had before done so out of the paw of the lion and the bear. He recollected what he had done, that he still had the same power, and

therefore trusted that he would do it. So St. Paul reasons, (some think with allusion to this story) I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion; and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will freserve me unto his heavenly kingdom.

5. We learn from the whole story, that the strong man should not glory in his strength. Goliath, though one of the tallest men that ever lived, proportionably strong, and well armed, was overcome by a contemptible stone from David's sling. This monster, with his armour and weapons, was all brought down at once. How vain is it to boast of strength! What a mean thing to glory in, when life is so precarious, and so easily taken away! Let the enemies of God and his people, who proudly defy him and his armies, see how easily he can pour contempt upon them, and sink their glory in the dust. Let us all remember, that piety is the strength and ornament of the man; and while great Goliath's pride and vapouring is brought down, pious, humble David is the man whom God delighteth to honour.

CHAP. XVIII.

We have here David's honour, Saul's envy, and his attempts to destroy

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David.

ND it came to pass, when he had made an end of speak the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.* 2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house, but would have him to be 3 always with him. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul; they solemnly entered into a league of perpetual friendship, which extended to themselves 4 and their posterity. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that [was] upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle, that he might do him honour, and see him habited suitably to the noble ex5 ploits he had performed. And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, [and] behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, made him captain of the guards; and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants; he had the good will of Saul, of his courtiers, of the soldiers, and of all the people; but it was still a greater honour that he had grace to bear all this without pride and arrogance.

Probably David said something more than we have particular account of; which might further discover his prudence, modesty, courage, and piety. Jonathan loved him for these excellent virtues, and the services he had done for God, for the king, and for all Israel. A wise Providence intended this for the preservation of David, that he might have a friend at court to intercede for him, to give him notice of danger, and support and comfort him under all his difficulties and ill usage.

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