The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 169
SECT. CLXIX.
DAvid continued ſometime in Saul's Court, but finding an alienation in Saul's affection towards him, he withdrew himſelf and returned to keep his Fathers ſheep, ſee Ch. 17.15. The Philiſtines about this time either out of deſire to avenge their former ſhameful loſs (when Jonathan and his Armour-bearer put their whole Army to flight, Ch. 14. or out of jealouſie of the growing power of the Iſraelites through the many victories lately obtained by Saul againſt his other neighbours, or ſtirred up by God to accompliſh what he intended to do, now invade the land of Iſrael with a great Army, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah in the Tribe of Judah; and Saul and the men of Iſrael gathered together and pitched by the valley of Elah near unto them. So the Philiſtines were on a mountain on one ſide, and the Iſraelites on a mountain on the other, a valley being between them. Thus each party kept their ground of advantage for a time, not joining battel, but only skirmiſhing now and then. And there came forth a Champion out of the Camp of the Philiſtines, whoſe name was Goliath of Gath *See Joſh. 11.22., whoſe height was ſix cubits and a ſpan, that is three yards and three hands breadth, ſo he was higher than any ordinary man by a yard and a foot; and he had arms ſuitable to his vaſt ſtature, he had an helmet of ſteel, and a coat of mail made after the ſimilitude of Fiſh-ſcales, one piece lying over another, and the weight thereof was five thouſand ſhekels of braſs, ſo that counting a ſhekel at half an ounce (which was the weight of the common ſhekel) Goliath's Coat weighed two thouſand and five hundred ounces, that is, one hundred fifty and ſix pounds, and four ounces, or thereabout, aſſigning to every pound twelve ounces. And he had greaves or boots of braſs upon his legs, See 1 Chron. 20.5.a target or gorget of braſs between his ſhoulders, and the ſtaff of his ſpear was like a Weavers beam, and his ſpears head weighed twenty five pounds, and one went before him bearing his ſhield, and he ſtood and cried to the armies of Iſrael, Why are ye come out to ſet your battel in array? that is, what need we bring a whole Army on each ſide to fight it out? let us caſt all upon a ſingle combat; am not I a Philiſtine, and choſen by them for there Champion, and you ſervants of Saul, therefore do you choſe out a man from among you to fight with me, and let us two decide the controverſie; if he be able to kill me, then the Philiſtines ſhall be your ſervants; but if I prevail againſt him, then ſhall ye be our ſervants. And then in an inſulting manner he further ſaid, I defie the armies of the Iſraelites this day; when Saul and all Iſrael heard theſe words, they were greatly diſmayed, none of the whole Army daring to anſwer this proud Philiſtines challenge, no not Jonathan himſelf, whom God had endued with ſo great a meaſure of courage and fortitude, that he and his Armour-bearer had alone routed the whole Army of the Philiſtines, as we may ſee Ch. 14. but we muſt conſider that both faith and courage are the gifts of God, which when he withholdeth, thoſe that were at other times as bold as a Lion may ſhrink for fear. God alſo now meant to magnifie David, and make him famous among the people, that ſo there might be a way made for the fulfilling his purpoſe and promiſe of advancing him to the Throne. The Philiſtine for forty days together morning and evening preſented himſelf before the Army, challenging any Iſraelite to come forth and combate him, but not a man among them durſt undertake him; at laſt it ſo happened that Jeſſe the Bethlemite (who was at that time an old man, and being unfit for war ſtayed at home) having his three eldeſt Sons in the Camp with Saul, he thought good to ſend his youngeſt Son David (who kept his ſheep) to ſee how they did, and to carry to them ſome proviſions, viz. an Ephah *An Ephah was ſome thing ſhort of our Engliſh Buſhel containing ten Omers, and every Omer about a pottle.of parched corn, and ten loaves, and to carry alſo to their Captain ten cheeſes (poſſibly that he might uſe them with the more kindneſs and reſpect▪ and to bring him from them ſome token or pledg that they were alive, whereby he ſhould aſſuredly know that he had done what he commanded him. Saul and the Iſraelites were encamped on a mountain that lay cloſe upon the valley of Elah, and in the valley the two armies often skirmiſhed one with another. David riſing early in the morning, and leaving the ſheep to the care of a keeper, he took the proviſions which his Father had ſent, and haſted away with them, and when he came to the Trench where the Carts and Carriages lay which brought proviſions to the Army, the hoſt was drawing forth to be ſet in battel-array, and ſhouted to the Battel. The Philiſtines alſo on the other Hill had put themſelves in battel-array, and they ſtood army againſt army ready to fight if they could get any advantage againſt each other. David ſeeing this, left what he had brought in the hands of the Keeper of the Carriages, and ran into the army, and ſaluted his Brethren; as he talked with them behold Goliath the Philiſtines Champion came forth, and drawing up towards the army of the Iſraelites, ſpake in that inſulting manner as he had done before, and defyed the army of the Iſraelites. The Iſraelites were ſo diſmayed at his vaſt ſtature, that not one was found that durſt adventure to fight with him. David hearing the daring words of the Philiſtine, and ſeeing the people much perplexed that he ſhould thus defie them, and that none among them ſhould be found that had courage enough to undertake him, he asks what ſhall be done to the man that ſhall kill this Philiſtine, and ſo take away the reproach from Iſrael; for what is this uncircumciſed Philiſtine (ſays he) that he ſhould dare thus to defie the armies of the Living God? And poſſibly he inquired after the reward promiſed, only to let the ſtanders-by perceive that he himſelf had ſome thoughts of undertaking the combate, but not ſo much for the ſake of the reward, as to vindicate the honour of God and his people. The people told him the King would enrich that man with great riches that ſhould undertake it, and would give him his daughter to wife, and make his Fathers houſe free in Iſrael, that is free from Taxes, and other impoſitions, and ſo innoble his family. Eliab (David's eldeſt brother) perceiving by the manner of his talking with the people that he had ſome inclination to undertake this Giant, his anger was kindled againſt him, and very ſternly he askt him for what purpoſe he came thither, and with whom had he left ſheep he was appointed to keep? intimating that he was fitter to keep ſheep and play on his harp, than to be a Souldier; and then upbraiding him with arrogance and ambition, I know (ſays he) thy pride, and the naughtineſs of thy heart, for thou art come hither that thou maiſt ſee the battel, and try if thou canſt by ſome deſperate action get thy ſelf a name. David meekly anſwers, What have I done to deſerve ſo ſharp a reproof from thee? Is there not ſufficient cauſe that I ſhould come when my Father hath ſent me? and being come. have I not cauſe to be concern'd with other Iſraelites, and to ſpeak as I have done, when I hear God thus diſhonoured, and his own peculiar people thus ſcorn'd and reproach'd by a blaſphemous wretch, an uncircumciſed Infidel? Then David finding ſuch harſh uſage from his brother, turned from him to others, to whom he ſpake after the ſame manner he had done before, and intimated his willingneſs to fight with this Giant, if no body elſe would undertake him, and 'tis like he ſpake the more freely, that ſo what he ſaid might come to the Kings ears. Saul hearing of it ſent for him, to whom humbly addreſſing himſelf, he ſaid, My Lord let no mans heart fail him becauſe of this hideous monſter, for I my ſelf (though the weakeſt of many) truſting in Gods power and aſſiſtance will encounter him, if no body elſe will do it. Saul ſaid alas! thou art not able to go againſt him, for thou art but a youth, and not bred in war, and he a man of full age, and vaſt ſtature, and trained up in war from his youth. David humbly replies that he had had experience of Gods extraordinary aſſiſtance vouchſafed to him; for keeping his Fathers ſheep there came a Lion and a Bear, one at one time, and the other at another, and ſeiſing each of them a Lamb out of the flock, he purſued after them, and when the Lion turned upon him, he took him by the beard (or hair of his nether chap) and ſlew him, and took the prey from him, and ſo ſerved the Bear alſo, and he doubted not but this blaſphemous miſcreant (who defyed the armies of the Living God) ſhould (through the Divine aſſiſtance) be as eaſily conquered as one of them; for that God (ſays he) who delivered me out of the paw of the Lion, and the paw of the Bear, will I truſt deliver me alſo out of the hands of this uncircumciſed Philiſtine. Saul hearing him expreſs ſo great courage and confidence in God, and that grounded upon the former experience he had had of his extraordinary aſſiſtance, he gave him leave to enter the liſts with this Giant, and wiſhed him good ſucceſs, and prayed that God would be with him in it. But he thought fit firſt to arm David well with armour taken out of his own armoury, and ſo he put on his head an helmet of braſs, and armed him with a coat of mail, and David girded his ſword upon his armour, and aſſayed to go with his armour on, but he quickly found himſelf uneaſie, and therefore ſaid, I cannot go*V. 39. Non ſum aſſu…factus talia ferre. Vatab. with theſe, having not been uſed to wear ſuch arms, they are a burden to me. So he put them off, and took his ſtaff in his hand, and his ſling, and choſe him five ſmooth ſtones out of the brook, and put them into his ſhepherds bag, and ſo went out to meet the Philiſtine. When Saul ſaw him thus going forth, he askt Abner whoſe Son he was? for it ſeems having been diſtempered with frantick fits, he had forgotten him, though he had formerly known him, and greatly loved him, and Abner being General of the Army, and ſo much abſent from Court had not (it ſeems) taken any notice of him when he was there, and therefore told the King he knew not. Saul bad him enquire whoſe Son that ſtripling was. David now (armed only with his ſtaff and ſling) goes out to meet the Philiſtine who came up towards him with his armour-bearer carrying his great ſhield before him;V. 43. Baculis, Enallage numeri eſt, ut Gen. 21.7. when this monſtrous Giant ſaw David come towards him (who was but a youth, and his countenance rather amiable than terrible, not like the countenance of a Souldier) he diſdained him, and ſaid, What, am I a dog that thou comeſt out to me with a ſtaff? then curſing him by his gods, he ſaid, let Dagon and the other gods we worſhip confound thee: Come to me and I will give thy fleſh to the fowls of the air, and beaſts of the field. David reply'd, 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 the Armies of Iſrael whom thou haſt defyed. This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand (I know it by the inſpiration of the Spirit of God) and I will ſmite thee, and take off thine head, 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 field, that all the earth may know that there is a God (who is Almighty, and the only true God) who watcheth over Iſrael, and all this preſent aſſembly both of Iſraelites and Philiſtines ſhall know that the Lord ſaveth not with ſword or ſpear, (but he can ſave without theſe, and is not tyed to ſuch outward means) for the battel is the Lords, and he governeth it and giveth victory to whom he pleaſeth, and I know that he will this day give you Philiſtines into our hands. Goliath now prepared himſelf for the Combat, and came and drew night to meet David, and David accordingly haſted to meet him, and putting his hand into his Bag he took thence a ſtone and ſlung it with extraordinary force, and ſmiting the Philiſtine in his forehead, the ſtone ſunk into his head, (God ſo guiding and directing it) and he fell upon his face to the earth; then David ran to him, and trampled upon him, and having no ſword with him, he drew out the Philiſtines ſword out of its ſheath, and ſlew him, and cut off his head therewith. Thus David prevailed over the Philiſtine with a ſling and with a ſtone, God uſing ſuch contemptible means the more to manifeſt his own power and glory. The Philiſtines ſeeing their Champion thus conquered, and being ſtricken with a ſecret terrour from the Lord, they immediately fled, and the army of the Iſraelites with a great ſhout purſued after them, and did great execution upon them, inſomuch that the wounded of the Philiſtines fell and were ſcattered all along in the way of Shaaraim (a City in the Tribe of Judah) even unto Gath and Ekron. V. 54. David ſome years after (when he was conſtituted King, and had taken Zion from the Jebuſites, 2 Sam. 5.7.) brought the head of this Giant to Jeruſalem, and put his armour in the Tent which he there provided for the Ark of God, 1 Chron. 15.1. But Goliath's Sword was laid up in the Tabernacle of the Lord at Nob, 1 Sam. 21.9.The Philiſtines being thus diſcomfited, the Iſraelites returned and ſpoiled their Tents. Abner now brought David before Saul with the Head of the Giant in his hands; Saul asked him whoſe Son he was? he told him, he was the Son of Jeſſe the Bethlemite. Saul had now much diſcourſe with him, and ſo many excellent endowments of wiſdom, courage, zeal for the glory of God, and faith and confidence in his protection and aſſiſtance appearing in him (all which ſhewed him a perſon precious in the eyes of God) Jonathan's heart and affections were in an extraordinary manner drawn forth towards him, ſo that his ſoul was knit with the ſoul of David, and hereby God provided David a friend in Saul's Court to plead for him, and to reveal Saul's plots and evil intendments againſt him, and to be (by his true and real love) a comfort and ſupport to him in all his approaching troubles and diſtreſſes. And Jonathan and he made a Covenant of entire friendſhip, and brotherly love. Saul alſo now reſolv'd to keep him in his Court, and that he ſhould go no more home to his Father, and made him a Captain over ſome of his Troops, and David behaved himſelf ſo wiſely that he was highly valued by all the people, and even by Saul's ſervants themſelves; Jonathan alſo to teſtifie his true and great love to David, ſtript himſelf of his own robe and gave it to him, and gave him alſo his Sword and his Bow, and his Military Girdle, ſo that he put him both into a Courtiers and Souldiers Garb. Theſe things being done, they now march from the Camp to Gibeah where Saul dwelt. As they paſſed along, the women came forth out of all the Towns by the way (as the cuſtom*It ſeems it was the cuſtom in thoſe times that when God had given them any great victory over their enemies; the women were wont with dances and ſongs of triumph to celebrate the praiſes of God. See Exod. 15.20. Judg. 11.32. As women have uſually the heavieſt ſhare in the calamities of a Land that is over-run by an enemy, and that becauſe they are leaſt able to reſiſt, and are frequently taken for ſlaves, or raviſht and abus'd in a ſavage manner, ſo likewiſe they have the greateſt cauſe to rejoice when the enemy is vanquiſhed; and hence it may be aroſe this cuſtom of the womens triumphing at every great victory. was) with Inſtruments of Muſick, ſinging in Triumphing Songs, Saul hath ſlain his thouſands, and David his ten thouſands; they aſcribe ſo much to David, becauſe by his killing Goliath he was (under God) the cauſe of routing the whole army of the Philiſtines. And ſo ſolemn and glorious was this Triumph of the Iſraelites, that this paſſage in the womens ſong came to be repoted and known among the Philiſtines, as we may ſee Ch. 21.11. and Ch. 29.5. But this thing greatly offended Saul, and he ſaid they have aſcribed to David ten thouſands, and to me but thouſands, what can he have more but the Kingdom? From thenceforth therefore he began to have an evil eye againſt David, and to ſuſpect that he was the man of whom Samuel had told him that he ſhould be King in his room, Ch. 13. v. 14.
1 Sam. Ch. 17. wh. Ch. and Ch. 18. from 1, to 10.