stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第36节
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calling out something in a taunting voice； he was a gigantic man； the
largest David had ever seen； and he was all dressed in armor； that shone in
the sun： he had a helmet of brass upon his head； and he was armed with a
coat of mail； and he had greaves of brass upon his legs； and a target of
brass between his shoulders； his spear was so tremendous that the staff of
it was like a weaver's beam； and his shield so great that a man went before
him； to carry it。
〃Who is that？〃 asked David。
〃It is Goliath； of Gath； champion of the Philistines；〃 said the soldiers
about。 〃Every day； for forty days； he has come forth； so； and challenged us
to send a man against him； in single combat； and since no one dares to go
out against him alone； the armies cannot fight。〃 （That was one of the laws
of warfare in those times。）
〃What！〃 said David； 〃does none dare go out against him？〃
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As he spoke； the giant stood still； on the hillside opposite the
Israelitish host； and shouted his challenge； scornfully。 He said； 〃Why are
ye come out to set your battle in array？ Am I not a Philistine； and ye
servants of Saul？ Choose you a man for you； and let him come down to
me。 If he be able to fight with me； and to kill me； then will we be your
servants； but if I prevail against him； and kill him； then shall ye be our
servants； and serve us。 I defy the armies of Israel this day； give me a man；
that we may fight together！〃
When King Saul heard these words； he was dismayed； and all the men
of Israel； when they saw the man； fled from him and were sore afraid。
David heard them talking among themselves； whispering and murmuring。
They were saying； 〃Have ye seen this man that is come up？ Surely if any
one killeth him that man will the king make rich； perhaps he will give him
his daughter in marriage； and make his family free in Israel！〃
David heard this； and he asked the men if it were so。 It was surely so；
they said。
〃But；〃 said David； 〃who is this Philistine； that he should defy the
armies of the living God？〃 And he was stirred with anger。
Very soon； some of the officers told the king about the youth who was
asking so many questions； and who said that a mere Philistine should not
be let defy the armies of the living God。 Immediately Saul sent for him。
When David came before Saul； he said to the king； 〃Let no man's heart fail
because of him； thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine。〃
But Saul looked at David； and said； 〃Thou art not able to go against
this Philistine； to fight with him； for thou art but a youth； and he has been
a man of war from his youth。〃
Then David said to Saul； 〃Once I was keeping my father's sheep； and
there came a lion and a bear； and took a lamb out of the flock； and I went
out after the lion； and struck him； and delivered the lamb out of his mouth；
and when he arose against me； I caught him by the beard； and struck him；
and slew him！ Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear； and this
Philistine shall be as one of them； for he hath defied the armies of the
living God。 The Lord； who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out
of the paw of the bear； he will deliver me out of the hand of this
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Philistine。〃
〃Go；〃 said Saul； 〃and the Lord be with thee！〃
And he armed David with his own armor； he put a helmet of brass
upon his head； and armed him with a coat of mail。 But when David girded
his sword upon his armor； and tried to walk； he said to Saul； 〃I cannot go
with these； for I am not used to them。〃 And he put them off。
Then he took his staff in his hand and went and chose five smooth
stones out of the brook； and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had；
and his sling was in his hand； and he went out and drew near to the
Philistine。
And the Philistine came on and drew near to David； and the man that
bore his shield went before him。 And when the Philistine looked about and
saw David； he disdained him； for David was but a boy； and ruddy； and of a
fair countenance。 And he said to David； 〃Am I a dog； that thou comest to
me with a cudgel？〃 And with curses he cried out again； 〃Come to me； and
I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air； and to the beasts of the
field。〃
But David looked at him； and answered； 〃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
defied。 This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand； and I will smite
thee； and take thy head from thee； 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 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。〃
And then； when the Philistine arose； and came； and drew nigh to meet
David； David hasted； and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine。 And
when he was a little way from him； he put his hand in his bag； and took
thence a stone； and put it in his sling； and slung it； and smote the Philistine
in the forehead； so that the stone sank into his forehead； and he fell on his
face to the earth。
And David ran； and stood upon the Philistine； and took his sword； and
drew it out of its sheath； and slew him with it。
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Then； when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead； they fled。
But the army of Israel pursued them； and victory was with the men of
Israel。
And after the battle； David was taken to the king's tent； and made a
captain over many men； and he went no more to his father's house； to herd
the sheep； but became a man； in the king's service。
THE SHEPHERD'S SONG
David had many fierce battles to fight for King Saul against the
enemies of Israel； and he won them all。 Then； later； he had to fight against
the king's own soldiers； to save himself； for King Saul grew wickedly
jealous of David's fame as a soldier； and tried to kill him。 Twice； when
David had a chance to kill the king； he let him go safe； but even then； Saul
kept on trying to take his life； and David was kept away from his home
and land as if he were an enemy。 But when King Saul died； the people
chose David for their king； because there was no one so brave； so wise； or
so faithful to God。 King David lived a long time； and made his people
famous for victory and happiness； he had many troubles and many wars；
but he always trusted that God would help him； and he never deserted his
own people in any hard place。
After a battle； or when it was a holiday； or when he was very thankful
for something； King David used to make songs； and sing them before the
people。 Some of these songs were so beautiful that they have never been
forgotten。 After all these hundreds and hundreds of years； we sing them
still； we call them Psalms。
Often； after David had made a song； his chief musician would sing
with him； as the people gathered to worship God。 Sometimes the singers
were divided into two great choruses； and went to the service in two
processions； then one chorus would sing a verse of David's song； and the
other procession would answer with the next； and then both would sing
together； it was very beautiful to hear。 Even now； we sometimes do that
with the songs of David in our churches。
One of the Psalms that everybody loves is a song that David made
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when he remembered the days before he came to Saul's camp。 He
remembered the days and nights he used to
