Introduction
When Goliath, a mountain of a man from Philistia, challenged Israel’s warrior-heroes to mortal combat only David, a shepherd boy, stepped up. King Saul felt shame that only this brave but hopeless boy was ready to fight for the nation. On the other hand, the prophet Samuel had foretold that a man ‘better than thou’ would take Saul’s crown, and it was a relief to know that there was no such man in all his kingdom.
NO miracle had been wrought for Israel since the days of Samson; but the trust that looked out of David’s face inspired Saul,* and he would have armed him for the encounter: but the slight stripling could not move under the great old king’s ponderous arms, and preferred trusting to the weapons he understood. His shepherd’s sling hung at his shoulder, and he chose him five smooth stones out of the brook — the missiles with which he had often driven away wolves and jackals from the flock, and with which he was as expert as the great slingers of Benjamin.
Fierce was the scorn of Goliath at the sight of the only champion Israel could produce; a shepherd boy coming out with a staff and a sling, as if against a wild dog; but no sooner was the defiance spoken on either side than an unerring stone, sent forth from the sling; struck the Philistine* on the forehead, and stretched him on the ground. Then the young shepherd ran up, stood on the huge body, drew the mighty sword, despatched him with it, and cut off his head.
Saul was Israel’s first king, and ruled from about 1037 BC to about 1010 BC. It was not God’s intention that Israel should have such a ruler, but the people clamoured for it, pointing out that other nations had strong central governments. The concession was made, but the subsequent history both of Saul and of the Kings of Israel and Judah testified to God’s wisdom; for though he brought great glory to David and Solomon, it proved all too true that under her later kings Israel became ‘like as all the nations that are about me’.
Philistia was an ancient heathen kingdom located on the Mediterranean coast, west of Bethlehem; it included the cities of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron and Gath. The term ‘philistine’ is used today to suggest a person who cannot appreciate fine things or culture, a usage traced to students in seventeenth-century Jena in Germany, who thus described townspeople who did not belong to the University’s social circle. The ancient Philistines themselves do not seem to have deserved such an epithet.
Précis
In the days of King Saul, a huge champion of the Philistines named Goliath challenged Israel to find a warrior willing to face him. Only David, a young shepherd boy, came forward. His only weapon was a sling and five pebbles, yet with a single stone David felled Goliath, and with the giant’s own sword struck off his head. (59 / 60 words)
In the days of King Saul, a huge champion of the Philistines named Goliath challenged Israel to find a warrior willing to face him. Only David, a young shepherd boy, came forward. His only weapon was a sling and five pebbles, yet with a single stone David felled Goliath, and with the giant’s own sword struck off his head.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, because, if, just, must, not, or, unless.
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