Page 208 - Bible History

SA , THE FIRST KING OF THE ISRAELITES 181
lently. The young harpist was David. Saul sent for David to entertain him and to cheer him. When Saul saw David and heard the sweet music he played on the harp, he was pleased and made him his armor­ bearer. He did not know that David had been anointed to succeed him as king.
3. DAvrn SLAYS GoLIAT
Again the Philistines sent their army to attack Saul. T The Israelites went forth and met them in the Valley : of Terebinth. The Philistines stood on a mountain on ag
one side, and the Israelites stood on a mountain on the other side, and the valley lay between them. A man came out from the camp of the Philistines whose name was Goliath. He was a giant and his height was over nine feet. On his head was a helmet of brass, and he was clothed with a heavy coat of mail. Greaves of brass covered his legs and a buckler of brass cov- ered his shoulders. The sta of his spear was like a
weaver's beam.
Goliath came into the valley and his armor-bearer
went before him. Standing, he cried out, ''I am a Philistine and you are the servants of Saul. Choose out a man of you and let him come down and ght me hand to hand. If he kills me, we will be servants to you ; if I kill him, you shall serve us. ''
When Saul and his army beheld Goliath and heard his challenge, they were lled with despair and were greatly afraid. No soldier was found who was brave enough to ght Goliath, even though Saul had o ered