![\"Israel](\"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/dav-go-385.jpg\")
Israel is often referred to as David versus Goliath<\/p><\/div>Israel is often referred to as David versus Goliath in many writings. So many times has the nation of 8.2 million held larger enemies at bay and overcome them that this seems to be the only proper comparison. Looking at the facts of David\u2019s single combat against the King\u2019s Champion, Goliath of Gad, the comparisons go beyond the physical stature of the combatants. David was a teenager, not considered soldier material by his family. His brothers were with Saul\u2019s army that was confronted by the Philistines. Saul had offered multiple incentives to his troops to take up the challenge by Goliath. Life without taxes, even a daughter\u2019s hand in marriage and a seat at his table: nothing drew a man from the ranks. But a teenager, sent to bring food to his brothers, took offense at Goliath\u2019s mocking of God. David challenged the soldiers to answer these affronts and they criticized him instead. After all that\u2019s tall talk from a boy not old enough to put on armor and shoulder a spear. Yet David persisted and volunteered to answer the challenge.<\/p>\n
Saul for some reason, certainly not his own, accepted. A loss to Goliath meant the surrender of the army under the terms of the challenge. Something moved Saul to accept this apparent risk. Saul offered David his armor and sword but David declined. David was a shepherd and used a sling. The sling is a serious weapon used for high velocity and impact defense. A shepherd needed to kill a predator far enough away from the flock and a sling stone was the preferred weapon. It also could be quickly reloaded with available rounds. In ancient armies slingers formed the backbone of the army with barrages of high velocity rocks aimed at individuals, like sharpshooter or snipers. David knew his enemy and his vulnerabilities and used them against him.<\/p>\n