Everyone can be a knight in shining armor

By Heather Vogel Frederick

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City lies a vast, soaring hall where footsteps seem to echo down the centuries and a silent army of warriors stands forever on guard. This gallery, where armor from many different lands and historical periods is displayed, is one of my favorite exhibits. I love to look at the beautifully crafted swords, shields, and suits of armor. You can take a peek at the collection on the museum's Web site or check out a book on the subject at your local library.^{The Metropolitan Museum of Art Web site is www.metmuseum.org. Click on "Collections," then "First Floor," then Section M, "Arms & Armor." You can also find images of armor at www.higgins.org and www.globaleffects.com (armor page).} You can also read about armor in the Bible.

Remember the story of David and Goliath? (See I Sam., chap. 17.) Goliath must have been a terrifying sight. First of all, he was huge—bigger than Michael Jordan or any other basketball player who has ever been in the big leagues. And, as a member of the Philistine army, he was a trained soldier, dressed in the very latest high-tech gear of his time. His armor had a helmet to protect his neck and the sides of his face, a very heavy coat of mail (made from iron or steel) that covered his chest, and greaves of brass (like soccer shinguards made from metal) that covered his legs. He looked unbeatable! That's probably why the army of Israel was afraid of him.

One person wasn't impressed by Goliath, though. The shepherd boy David had come to the battlefield to see his older brothers, who were soldiers. He saw the giant, heard his threats, and went straight to King Saul. "Let no man's heart fail because of him," David said. "Thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine." Eventually, King Saul agreed to let David fight, and even gave him his own royal armor to wear. David tried it on, but it was very heavy. He wasn't used to this kind of armor, so he decided not to wear it. Instead, he went to face Goliath with his trusty sling and a handful of stones.

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