HE VISITS THE ARMY.

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This fact appears to be clearly indicated by the terms of the sacred text :-" David went and returned

ton and Dr. Kennicott propose to omit the whole passage from verse 12 to 31, inclusive, of chap. xvii. of 1 Sam., as an interpolation, and as being without authority. The principal reason for this is the contradiction implied in David's having lived as a minstrel in Saul's court, and having been promoted to be his armour-bearer, as stated before, (v. 19-23,) and yet that now he should appear as a youth, and be unknown to Abner and Saul; and also the absence of those verses from the Vatican copy of the Septuagint. This fact, and the reasons urged in support of Kennicott's conclusion, led me to adopt this view in the "Sacred Annals." Subsequent consideration and research have, however, led me to a different conclusion. The rejection of so large a portion of text from the sacred canon, must be regarded as a very strong measure; and the more so as it necessitates the rejection also of the fiftieth verse of the same chapter, and of all the verses after the fifty-fourth,‚—a measure only to be justified by absolute necessity.

Bishop Horsley has found that this necessity does not exist; that the transposition of a few verses from one connexion to another will remove all the difficulty, and restore unity and harmony to the narrative. As it seems much more likely that a few verses should have been misplaced, than that three separate passages should have been foisted improperly into the text, this mode has been adopted in the present work. We give the bishop's reasons in his own words. "It appears, indeed, from many circumstances of the story, that David's combat with Goliath was many years prior, in order of time, to Saul's madness, aud to David's introduction to him as a musician. 1. David was quite a youth when he engaged Goliath. (1 ́ Sam. xvii. 33-42.) When he was introduced to Saul as a musician, he was of full age. (xvi. 18.) 2. His combat with Goliath was his first appearance in public life, (xvii. 56,) by When he was introduced as a musician, he was a man of established character. (xvi. 18.) 3. His combat with Goliath was his first military exploit. (38, 39.) He was a man of war when he was introduced as a musician. (xvi. 18.) He was unknown both to Saul and Abner at the time when he fought Goliath. He had not, therefore, yet been in the office of Saul's armour-bearer, or resident in any capacity at the court. Now the just conclusion from all these circumstances is, not that these twenty verses are an interpolation, but that the ten last verses of the preceding chapter, which relate to Saul's

from Saul to feed his father's sheep." (1 Sam. xvii. 15.) On the occasion of one of those visits, when sent with provisions for his brethren and a present for their captain, David reached the army just as Goliath had appeared in all his profane arrogance, to defy the army of Israel and their God.

He was

Nothing can be more hopeless than the attempt to portray the feelings of David at this moment. undoubtedly a young Hebrew who lived in the very spirit of his dispensation. To his mind, all the interpositions of God on behalf of His people were living facts; to his simple but strong faith, the certainty of Divine protection and interposition on behalf of him who dared to defend Israel and uphold the honour of Israel's God, was as sure as the truthfulness and faithfulness of God Himself; and with these convictions imbuing his whole soul, he stood amazed to see all the host of Israel, even their king and his most mighty warriors, cowering in terror, and retiring in dismay, madness, and David's introduction to the court upon that occasion, are misplaced. The true place for these ten verses seems to be between the ninth and tenth of the eighteenth chapter. Let these ten verses be removed to that place, and this seventeenth chapter be connected immediately with the thirteenth verse of chapter xvi., and the whole disorder and .nconsistency, that appears in the narrative in its present arrangement, will be removed."-HORSLEY'S "Biblical Criticism," vol. i., p. 332.

These facts and reasonings have commanded so much respect that Dr. Hales has adopted the proposed plan in his "Analysis of Chronology," and Townshend has incorporated it into his Chronological Arrangement of the Scriptures. I have pleasure here in adding that this was also the opinion of a larued friend of mine, but recently removed from us, whose perfect knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures was only exceeded by his fervent piety. The Rev. J. W. Etheridge, M.A., PH. D., &c., told me, shortly before his death, that he believed the difficulty was occasioned by these verses having been accidentally misplaced.

HE OFFERS TO FIGHT GOLIATH.

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before one colossal specimen of humanity, who had withal offended heaven, and exposed himself to Divine retribution by his pride and profanity.

Roused by these circumstances, he mingled with the soldiers, and talked with them on the subject, until, notwithstanding the stern rebuke of his eldest brother, his words were reported to Saul, and he was introduced to the royal presence. Nothing can more fully exhibit the terror and humiliation to which Saul and his army were reduced by this giant's defiance, than that the words of a strange lad, in the rear of the army, should have led to his being placed in contact with the king.

Brought into the presence of Saul, however, the young shepherd appears to have attained his object. Neither awed by the presence of majesty, nor appalled at the magnitude of the danger to which he was exposing himself, he calmly said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine." Pleased, but surprised at the cool daring thus displayed, the king replied: "Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, and he a man of wat from his youth." This check to the ardour of David brought out the real character of the young hero. He immediately told the king that, while keeping his father's sheep, a lion and a bear came and took a lamb from the flock; he interposed, and delivered the lamb from their power; and that when the wild beasts turned on him, he smote and slew them; adding, "Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine."

This calm decision of character, and strong faith in

God, overcame all the scruples of the king, and he said, "Go, and the Lord be with thee." But desirous that the young hero should meet the giant with some prospect of success, Saul supplied him with weapons and armour. David, however, felt encumbered with these appliances, and saying, "I cannot go with these," put them off, and laid them aside. Then, taking his staff, with five smooth stones from the brook in his shepherd's bag, and his sling in his hand, he went forth to meet his gigantic foe. Although there had been fighting between the Hebrews and the Philistines before Goliath made his appearance, when he arrived, the former had retired in dismay; and the proud challenger again repeated his haughty defiance of the Israelites and of their God.

This was only a repetition of what had taken place daily for forty days, until the host of Israel were disheartened and crushed by this long-continued reproach. In what way the acceptance of the giant's challenge was signified to the Philistines, we are not informed; but something of this sort appears to have taken place, for the Philistine champion evidently expected an antagonist on this day. And so it was. For as the metal-clothed mountain of humanity advanced in front of the Philistine army, and poured forth his profane defiance, there was seen emerging from the Hebrew lines a ruddy youth, without arms or armour. No armour-bearer carried a shield before him; quite alone he hasted to meet Goliath. The giant seeing such an antagonist, regarded him with disdain; and said, "Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?" and he cursed David by his gods, and threatened to give his flesh to the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field. To which the youthful Hebrew replied: "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a

DAVID'S ADDRESS TO THE GIANT.

37

shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of 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 carcases 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 there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands."

Here we must pause for a moment to direct attention to the sterling nobility of mind, and real piety, indicated in this address of the young hero. We may read over the speeches of the warriors, as given by Homer, Virgil, or Livy, and search in vain for a similar address. David displays no proud presumption of his own prowess, yet, unarmed as he was, he was full of confidence, certain of victory; but his was the confidence resulting from a strong faith in God. To this faith his unacquaintance with warfare, his lack of defensive armour, the colossal stature, massive coat of mail, and formidable weapons of his foe, were nothing. His faith united him to the Almighty God, and enabled him to realize the certain interposition of Divine power on his behalf. Under the mighty influence of this faith, he could say with unfaltering assurance, “All this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord's."

In this confidence David hasted to meet his giant foe; but, in doing so, he neglected no means in his power to insure the victory which he so fully anticipated. Taking a stone from his bag, he placed it in his sling, and slung it with unerring aim at the giant. The stone sank into his forehead, and the ponderous

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