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back, and a spear, the metal head of which weighed about seventeen or eighteen
pounds.
Such was the sight which David beheld, when sent by his father to the army to
inquire after the welfare of his three elder brothers,^170 who had followed Saul into
the war, and at the same time, in true Oriental fashion, to carry certain provisions to
them, and to bring a present from the dairy produce^171 to their commanding officer.
The description of what follows is so vivid that we can almost see the scene. All is
truly Oriental in its cast, and truly Scriptural in its spirit.
David, who had never been permanently in Saul's service, had, on the outbreak of
the war, returned to his home.^172 When he now arrived at the "trench" which ran
round the camp, to trace and defend it, the army of Israel was being put in battle-
array against that of the Philistines on the opposite hill.
In true Oriental fashion, they were raising a shout of defiance while not venturing on
an attack. David left his baggage with the keeper of the baggage, and ran forward to
the foremost ranks, where, as he knew, the position of Judah, and therefore of his
brothers, must be (Numbers 2:3; 10:14). While conversing with them, the scene
previously described was re-enacted. As Goliath approached nearer and nearer, the
order of battle was dissolved before him. It is quite characteristic that these fear-
stricken Israelites should have tried to excite one another by dwelling on the insult
offered to Israel, and the rewards which Saul had promised to the victorious
champion of his people. Quite characteristic also, from what we know of him, was
the bearing of David. We need not attempt to eliminate from the narrative the
personal element, as we may call it, in the conduct of David. God appeals to outward
motives, even in what is highest - such as the loss or gain of our souls, - and the tale
of what was "to be done" to him who wrought such deliverance in Israel might well
fire a spirit less ardent than that of David to realize Israel's great need. But what was
so distinctive in David - who probably knew Saul too well confidently to expect the
literal fulfillment of his promises -was the spiritual response to the challenge of the
Philistine which sprung unbidden to his lips (ver. 26), and which, when the hour for
personal action came, was felt to be a deep reality to which his faith could
confidently appeal (vers. 36, 37). Truly we seem to breathe another atmosphere than
that hitherto in the camp of Israel; nor could his public career be more appropriately
begun, who was to pasture Israel according to the integrity of his heart, and to lead
them "by the skillfulness of his hands" (Psalm 78:70-72).
And here we have another instance of the prefigurative character of the history of
David. As "the brothers" and near kinsfolk of our blessed Lord misunderstood His
motives, and could not enter into the spirit of His work, so Eliab, when he imputed
to David a dissatisfied ambition that could not rest contented with humble
(^)