personal ornament.1 Sometimes a metal scale defended this part of the head. It was secured under the chin by a strong band or clasp-string, probably of metal like the helmet. The badges of distinction were one or two ostrich feathers, which were worn drooping.

Goliath's 'coat of mail' was, like his helmet, of brass. The Philistines, as represented in the Egyptian sculptures, wore in war 'a kind of corslet, quilted with leather or plates of metal, reaching only to the chest, and supported by shoulder-straps, leaving the shoulders and arms at full liberty.' The terms describing the giant's coat of mail, however, literally mean

2

'harness of scales,' denoting a scaled coat of mail, consisting of small plates like scales. An excellent authority3 thinks that it expresses armour in which the pieces of metal were sewed upon cloth, and not hinged into each other as in the kind of 'tiled armour' which Ahab appears to have worn when the random arrow smote him between 'the joints of his harness.' This corresponds well to the description of the Philistine corslet, though we are unable to recognise the squamous arrangement

1'They (the Hittites) had a hideously unsightly custom of shaving a square place just above the ear, leaving the hair on the side of the face and the whiskers, which hung down in a long plaited lock.'-OSBURN, p. 125. OSBURN, p. 138.

2

3 Col. C. H. SMITH, in Cyclop. of Bib. Literature, art. Arms, Armour.

of the pieces of metal in the figures of this or any other people represented in the Egyptian sculptures, except in the broad military girdle of one of the gods. This, however, shows the very ancient use of this species of armour, and recently this fact has been further attested by the discoveries at Nineveh. In these, the warriors who fought in chariots, and held the shield for the defence of the king, are generally seen in coats of scale armour, which descend either to the knees or to the ankles. A large number of the actual scales were discovered in the earliest palace of Nimrud. They are generally of iron, slightly embossed or raised in the centre; and some are inlaid with copper. They were probably, Layard thinks, fastened to

a shirt of felt or coarse linen.1 Such is the armour always represented in the most ancient sculptures. At later periods other kinds were used, the scales were larger, and appear to have been fastened to bands of iron or copper.

Of the greaves, such as Goliath wore for the defence of his legs, there is no example among the Egyptian representations of their own and foreign warriors. Their form is, however, well known from other ancient sources. They consisted usually of a pair of shin-covers, of brass or strong leather, bound by thongs around the calves and above the ankles. The Assyrian sculptures represent greaves as being worn both by spearmen and slingers, and they appear to have been laced in front. They were perhaps of leather,' says Layard, or like the boots of the Boeotians, of wood, or even of brass, as the greaves of Goliath.' They are seen in the annexed figure of an Assyrian warrior, whose equipment seems to afford much resemblance to that of Goliath, except as to his coat of scale armour.2

The shield in use among the Philistines was large and circu1 Nineveh and its Remains, ii. 335. 2 LAYARD, ii. 337.

lar, exactly resembling that of the Greeks in a later age. This, indeed, was the form of the shield among the Phoenicians; while we see shields square, oblong, and escutcheon-shaped among the inland natives of Canaan. The form of an Assyrian shield given above, is also quite similar to that of the Philistines. The Assyrians had other forms, but this is the most ancient. It was either of hide or of metal-perhaps, in some instances, of gold or silver. It was held by a handle fixed to the centre. Layard says: The archers, whether fighting on foot or in chariots, were accompanied by shield-bearers, whose office it was to protect them from the shafts of the enemy. The king was always attended in his wars by this officer; and even in peace, one of his eunuchs usually carried a circular shield for his use. This shield-bearer was probably a person of high rank, as in Egypt. On some monuments of the later Assyrian period, he is represented carrying two shields, one in each hand.' In a note this explorer refers to the instances in the Iliad of the same practice,1 and also to this of Goliath, who had 'one bearing his shield who went before him.'

The 'spear' of the Philistines and other people of Canaan was not such a long reed-like instrument as we find in use among the modern Arabs, and which has been accepted as the type of the oriental spear. It does not seem to have been quite five feet long, and might be also used as a javelin, like the spear of Saul. It was like the Assyrian spear, except that it was shorter, the latter being fully equal to a man's height. The iron head of a spear from Nimrud is in the British Museum; and it is remarkable that this is the only part of Goliath's accoutrement that is said to have been of iron, though his sword was also doubtless of this metal. The shaft of the Assyrian spear was probably of some strong wood, as that of Goliath certainly was.

These facts may help the reader to some idea of the appearance which the giant presented to the host of Israel, as he strode forth in his panoply of burnished brass.

1 Iliad, viii. 319, 327.

2 1 Sam. xix. 9, 10.

Goliath was not a Philistine. He was, as his name seems to imply, a stranger.' It would appear, from numerous detached passages and incidental references in the Bible, that the aboriginal inhabitants of Palestine, both east and west of the Jordan, were a race of giants, or at least of men above the ordinary stature. One tribe of them was called Rephaim, and had possessions in Bashan, where Og was the last of the race (Gen. xiv. 5; Deut. iii. 11). They had also a settlement near Jerusalem, and gave their name to the 'Valley of Rephaim;' and from them, in all probability, sprang Goliath, Sippai, and Lahmi (1 Chron. xx. 4, 5). Other tribes were called Emim (Gen. xiv. 5; Deut. ii. 10), Anakim (Num. xiii. 33), and Zuzim (Gen. xiv. 5; Deut. ii. 20), and are said to have been a people ‘great, and many, and tall.' The Jewish spies, in their exaggerated report, stated: "There we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers; and so we were in their sight.' This gigantic and warlike race of men was extirpated at an early period on the east of the Jordan, the last of them having been killed in the invasion of Moses; but in the west they continued long to terrify the Hebrews, having found a home among the Philistines (2 Sam. xxi. 18-22).

The height of Goliath it is now impossible to fix with precision. The Hebrew text says he measured 'six cubits and a span.' But critics differ as to the length of the cubit. Probably the estimate of Thenius is nearest the truth. He makes the cubit nineteen inches and a fraction, and the span half a cubit. Hence Goliath's height would be about 124 inches, or ten feet four inches.

Thirty-third Week-Third Day.

THE COMBAT.-I SAMUEL XVII. 8-52.

WE may be sure that it was not without burning indignation that David beheld the gigantic and proud pagan stand forth to defy the host of Israel, nor without astonishment and grief that he witnessed the consternation which his presence inspired. Judging by his own fearless spirit, he reckoned that some valiant man would stand forth, to repay him scorn for scorn, and blow for blow. But it was not so. None moved, except to tremble in dismay. Not even the valiant Saul, nor

his daring son, durst undertake this adventure. David then learned that this scene had been repeated several days, and that the king had vainly sought to stimulate the courage of some bold man, by offering the hand of his daughter in marriage, and other advantages, to the man who should bring that vast champion low.

The son of Jesse felt the spirit of patriotism and heroic daring stirred within him; and he began to make such pointed inquiries, as drew down the ungracious sneers of his eldest brother-the tall and handsome Eliab. Regardless of this, he pursued his inquiries in such a manner, that the matter at last reached the ears of the king, who, willing in his despair to catch at what seemed little better than a straw, caused the young man to be brought before him. Taking into account the change wrought in his appearance by the lapse of time, and by the growth of his beard-as well as from his appearing in the guise of a shepherd, with the usual implements connected with that employment-it does not seem to us very surprising that the king did not know him again; besides, it is likely that Saul's memory had been somewhat impaired by his disease, while the constant variety and change of persons presented to the notice of a king would tend to reduce any slight recollection he might have, to a vague and dim impression that he had at a former period seen some person of whom this young man reminded him. Seeing this to be the case, David did not then attempt to make himself known, neither did he make any studied concealment, but left the disclosure to circumstances.

In the presence of the king, David spoke as one who was ready to undertake this enterprise, and who was assured that the victory in this strange combat would be his. The king was pleased with his spirit, but kindly pointed out that the antagonist with whom he proposed to wage mortal strife, was not only a man of gigantic proportions and enormous strength, but also a skilled man-at-arms, practised in war from his youth. David humbly related the story of the lion and the bear, which he had aforetime slain in defence of his flock. This he did not in vain ostentation of his own exploits, though in the East

VOL. III.

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