Dawid was only a boy when he was put in charge of his father's sheep. He had not yet begun to grow facial hair, nor had his voice begun to deepen, but the task must be done.
"Avi says I am old enough to do a man's work," Gidown stated. "He wants me to teach you to mind the sheep. It's easy enough. That's why the youngest children must do it. Bring your harp."
Confused, Dawid grabbed his harp and followed after his brother, who would instruct him for only one day.
"You have to talk to the sheep so they'll know your voice and follow you," Gidown remarked.
"Very well, Gidi," Dawid answered.
Gidown sighed. "I'm too old for nicknames, Dawid. I'm a man now."
Sadly, Gidown would not live long enough to take a wife, for he would be struck down in battle, but of course, neither of the young men had any way of knowing the future.
They walked to the field with their family's sheep trailing behind them. As soon as the sheep were grazing peacefully, the boys sat in the shade of the nearest tree.
"One of our sisters will bring food for our noon meal," Gidown stated.
Dawid nodded.
"Keep a sharp eye out for poisonous plants. We can't afford to lose any sheep."
"Yes, Gidi." Dawid sighed. "Gidown."
"You'll have to shear the sheep every spring, and you'll have to make sure they're healthy. Wrap their sore muscles and put oil on their wounds. Set their limbs. Give them medicinal herbs if you notice the presence of worms."
"It's a lot to remember."
Gidown sighed. "Even women and young children barely past infancy can tend sheep, Dawid. It's not difficult."
Dawid nodded again, and Gidown continued his lessons. Goats could easily tear their ears on briars, and during lambing season, the shepherd must make sure pregnant ewes were kept apart from those who had not yet accepted the rams' advances. When the lambs were born, the shepherd must assist any ewe who struggled.
The rod must be used to beat the bushes when walking to make sure no hidden creatures would suddenly spring from the foliage and startle the sheep. It could also be used to protect the shepherd from any predators that attacked the flock.
The staff would be a signal to the sheep that the person who fed them had arrived. It could also catch hold of a sheep around the middle or leg when necessary, such as when it had turned over on its back and could not right itself.
Sheep were affected by the weather. A lamb could perish beneath the sun's scorching rays. The chill of the cold wind or the pelting of hailstones could also cause a sheep to become ill. For this reason, shepherds would not take their flocks to the fields during the time of rains.
The shepherd must find green pastures for his sheep. As the flock became larger, more food would be required, and sheep would often graze until the ground was bare, perhaps covered with the slightest bit of stubble.
In addition to finding food, the shepherd must find water to quench the thirst of his sheep, for unlike many animals, the sheep were not clever enough to find a source of water on their own. Furthermore, sheep much preferred to drink from still water, for the swiftness of a river's current could easily carry away a sheep.
"Remember, Dawid," Gidown continued, "if a sheep starts to drown, the shepherd goes in after it."
Dawid shuddered at the thought of plunging into a swollen river, braving a torrential current as he fought to catch up with the struggling sheep, hoping to grasp it with his staff before it perished. He much preferred the idyllic pastures, for even boredom was better than sheer terror.
"Do you know what your sling is for?"
"Yes," Dawid responded. "I send a rock just in front or to the side of a sheep that I wish to go in another direction."
"You can also use it against predators."
Bandits would sometimes attempt to steal an entire flock. Jackals, wolves, bears, lions, leopards, and striped hyenas would prey on sheep.
Dawid thought for several moments. "I think I could fight a hyena or a jackal, but I'm not sure about a leopard. They're huge! They'd be able to kill me before I struck them with my rod, and I couldn't possibly sling a rock large enough to do anything other than make them angry."
Gidown nodded. He had heard of a shepherd who once saw three wolves pulling down a sheep. When the shepherd tried to protect his flock, the wolves ambushed him as well. Each time he turned to face one, the others would attack him from the back and sides. Although his courageous dog had managed to save him from the wolves, the shepherd still died of his injuries a few hours later.
Hearing his own dog bark, Gidown looked toward the flock. One of the sheep was beginning to stray, but Mahir knew his job well. He immediately rushed toward the wandering sheep, carefully herding it back to the others.
"That's one of your duties, Dawid. Mahir is a great help, but you have to help him keep watch." Gidown stroked the dog's ears. "Good boy, Mahir."
Dawid frowned. "You're unclean now because you touched a dog."
"I'm not planning on making a sacrifice today, so what does it matter? Besides, would you rather let the sheep wander off to their demise?"
Dawid passed the long hours of the monotonous day playing his flute or gingerly stroking his harp. He was determined that the sheep should know his voice, for when the flock panicked at the sound of jackals howling, it would be the voice of their shepherd that called them. After all, even sheep who were not bitten by predators had still been known to die of panic. Stressed sheep could even miscarry their lambs.
As the days passed, Dawid came to learn the sheep by name. His favorite was a lamb called Tuwbal. The small creature was so lively, and he often tugged on the hem of Dawid's robe until Dawid picked him up and held him on his lap.
However, Dawid knew he must not become too attached to this animal, for it was to be the sacrifice the next time his family went to the altar of Elohim. For this reason, it had to be kept free of injury or disease. To protect it further, the family allowed it to sleep in their home at night rather than in the fold with the other sheep.
To Dawid's horror, the lamb got caught in a thicket of briars the day before it was to be taken to the altar. Yishai sighed and scolded Dawid for his negligence while tending sheep, for even the slightest blemish made the sacrifice unacceptable. Although he promised to perform his duties better, Dawid secretly rejoiced that he would have more time with his favorite lamb.
One day as Dawid was practicing his harp, the dog started barking. His barks soon became ferocious snarls, and his hackles rose.
"What is it, Mahir?" Dawid asked, grabbing his sling and his rod.
Mahir rushed to protect the flock just as an adolescent male lion sprang from the bushes and seized a lamb in its jaws: Tuwbal.