RECORD OF SHÂUK’S [SAUL’S] WAR WITH KALIATH
[GOLIATH].

The origin of this event is that the Philistines had stretched forth the hand of enmity against the children of Esrâil, in the time of the prophets Emâm A’ali and Shamuil, and had completely overpowered them. Kaliath [Goliath], who is in Arabic called Jalût, attacked them several times, robbed and plundered them. After slaying the men and making the women prisoners, he imposed a tribute upon those who were spared by the sword. There­fore the children of Esrâil made great efforts during the reign of Tâlut [i.e., Saul], to remove this calamity, made it their principal business to expel the unbelieving A’mâlekites, and to avenge themselves upon them. They placed eighty thousand warriors at the disposal of Shâuk [i.e., Saul],* who invaded with them the country of Jalût [Goliath]. When the latter was informed of the approach of the army, he quickly got the ammunitions of war ready, and hastened to meet his antagonists. As Shamuil had, however, apprised Tâlut [Saul] that but a small portion of his army would obey him in all things, and that the others would rebel against him, and had given him the required information concerning the desert, its burning sun, the calamity of thirst, and the manner how to quench it, therefore Tâlut [Saul] harangued his army as soon as it had entered the desert, saying: ‘The great heat of the sun will distress you, and thirst will overpower you in this desert. But when you arrive near water, be careful not to drink more than one draught, because whoever consumes more than he needs, or takes some away to preserve it, will incur the wrath of the Almighty—w. n. b. pr.—his thirst will not be quenched, and he will have no share in the great victory.’ The warriors promised to obey his injunction, and marched on their expedition; but when they issued from the desert, and met, between Filisteen and Ardan, a river, which had been promised by his lord­ship the prophet, the majority, being extremely thirsty, leapt into the water, and the majority of the army was unable to restrain itself. Everyone who took one draught was satisfied, but whoever drank more, or wished to make a provision, remained thirsty as before. Tâlut then marched with four thousand of the obedient against Jalût; seventy-six thousand men, however, who had rebelled, lagged behind. Jalût encountered Tâlut with one hundred thousand swordsmen, and when the Esrâilites approached the army of Jalût, they exclaimed: ‘To-day we have no strength to contend with Jalût and his host.’ And most of them abandoned Tâlut. It is said that of the four thousand not more than three hundred and thirteen men remained with him, thus equalling the army of Bedr.* This company, however, marched in accordance with the verse, ‘How often have the few conquered the many!’ and intended to attack Jalût. Tâlut then drew up his warriors—who were distinguished by bravery among their contemporaries—in battle-array, and invoked the Lord of Self-existence, saying: ‘Lord! grant us patience, strengthen our footing, and cause us to vanquish the infidel nation!’ When Jalût perceived the smallness of Tâlut’s army, he was ashamed to attack in battle-array a company of three hundred and thirteen individuals, therefore he determined to challenge the sons of Esrâil to single combat. He mounted a piebald horse, armed himself, entered the battle-field, and invited Tâlut to come forward to fight him, or, if he could not do so, to send someone else with whom he might measure his strength. Hereupon Tâlut caused a herald to shout the following words: ‘Whoever will fight Jalût in single combat, and will conquer him, shall obtain my daughter for a wife, and shall govern my country.’ Though these words were often repeated, no one answered, from awe of the prowess and strength of Jalût, he being an extremely powerful and valiant infidel who had no rival. At last Dâud—u. w. b., etc.—stepped forth, offered himself to fight Jalût, and stood on the battle-field like a furious lion.