The events of 1 Samuel 17 would fit comfortably today into a TV news report.
It would be 'Live, from our correspondent on the front line with the Israeli troops some 13 miles west of Bethlehem.' Kate Adie would be telling us how Goliath emerges in the distance from the Philistine army lines to shout his daily challenge: Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us ... This day I defy the ranks of Israel (1 Samuel 17.8-10).
'What about morale?', the studio anchor-man would ask. The reply would come back: 'Morale here is very low.' It certainly was. Goliath had completely shattered the confidence of the Israelite army. He stood before them some three metres tall. His strength was such that he could wear armour weighing as much as a young adult. No-one would accept his challenge. Whenever they heard the words of Goliath they were terrified (v.11) and whenever he came near, they ran away (v.24).
