Being a robust lad, Dawid had a brisk gait. He was soon away from the pasture, nearing his father's home. The town lay just beyond the small farm. However, Dawid first had to consecrate himself.

Drawing some water from the well, he washed his body and put on a clean tunic. It would be unfitting for him to appear for a sacrifice without first preparing himself properly. His clean body and clean clothes were an outward demonstration that he had set himself apart from his daily tasks.

As he neared the town, Dawid felt he could already detect the faintest scent of fresh bread on the gentle breeze. He wondered if perhaps this was how Bethlehem had gotten its name.

Two scholars were standing in front of a building, waving their arms in a heated debate. Dawid supposed the conversation to be philosophical, but it could just as easily have been about the government. King Shaul had begun his reign as everything his subjects had idealized, but lately, he had become headstrong, obstinate and quick to anger.

As thoughts of Shaul came to his mind, Dawid silently prayed for his king. Shaul had plenty of faults, but he had still been chosen by Elohim to be anointed by Shemuel as king. For this reason alone, Dawid was loyal to a fault. Besides, Shaul had proven a strong military leader.

The stench of fish came from a narrow alley. Dawid would not have fed an animal such rotten fish, and he wondered if the man selling them were really foolish enough to believe any customers would purchase the stinking carcasses that were attracting swarms of flies.

Hearing the distant barking of dogs, Dawid continued on his way. He must not touch an unclean animal on his way to sacrifice. He must not even trod upon a lizard by accident.

"Where have you been?" Yishai demanded as Dawid drew near.

"You are the one!" Shemuel announced before Dawid could reply. "Come, my son! Elohim has chosen you!"

Dawid was confused, but he knelt before Shemuel, raising his hands with his palms facing outward. Shemuel gently turned Dawid's right wrist so the palm faced inward, and Dawid turned his left hand as well.

"What have I done that a prophet of Elohim would pray a special blessing over me?" Dawid queried.

"He has rejected Shaul," Shemuel explained. "You shall be the next king of Yisrael!"

Before Dawid could question him further, Shemuel put his hand on the young man's head and began praying over him. When he finished his prayer, Shemuel poured oil over Dawid's head.

Dawid had often used oil on the ears of his sheep, for it was quite useful for tending wounds. However, Dawid never imagined any oil used on his own head would be for the purpose of anointing him as king.

What did he know of statecraft? The only life he knew was that of a shepherd, composing poems with his harp, his monotonous life interrupted by the occasional straggling sheep or injured goat. What did he know of leading an army or hearing his subordinates cry for lower taxation? He knew no foreign languages to trade with merchants from other lands.

As Dawid knew he could do nothing at the present time concerning the matter, he simply turned over his troubled thoughts to Elohim and continued shepherding. He was confident that when the time came for him to conquer this gigantic task ahead of him, Elohim would give him strength and wisdom.

A few weeks later, Dawid was faced with a more immediate danger. One of the sheep had fallen into a natural pit formed by a crevice of rock. Dawid grabbed his staff and hurried to retrieve the sheep before it frightened itself to death.

Dawid was quite skillful. One quick motion of his staff would have the sheep free of its entrapment. However, as he neared the pit, he noticed the dog behaving strangely. Mahir whined, pacing nervously. As Dawid neared the pit, Mahir began circling him, as if trying to herd him back to the rest of the flock.

The behavior of his dog made Dawid uneasy. He knew that Mahir was an intelligent animal. Mahir would bark at a snake, but not a lizard or a worm. He would bark at a wolf, but not a fox. He was even selective about which strangers received warning barks and which visitors were welcomed in peace.

As Dawid lowered his staff to catch the trapped sheep, Mahir faced the nearby woodland, snarling with raised hackles. His growls were punctuated by ferocious barks. Meanwhile, the sheep's frightened bleats grew more frantic, yet somehow in the midst of all the noise, Dawid heard a sound that made his blood run cold.

At first, it sounded like heavy panting, as if someone had run a great distance. Then there was a low groan, as a man might sound when punched in the stomach. However, the panting groan turned into a deep rumble, followed by a nearly deafening roar.

The cries of the lost sheep had attracted a ravenous bear. Quickly but carefully, Dawid set down the sheep he had lifted from the pit. It hurried back to the safety of the flock, but Dawid noticed with alarm that the bear did not give chase.

Mahir raced toward the bear, barking and circling, but always staying just out of reach of the claws of the enraged beast. The bear smote the ground repeatedly with its huge paws to show its annoyance.

Ignoring the dog, the bear charged toward Dawid. Mahir had once more provided just enough of a delay for Dawid to ready his sling and loosen a rock. His aim was true, and the predator fell only two cubits in front of the young shepherd.

Dawid shuddered at the massive size of the bear. If he hadn't been able to slay the giant beast with the first stone, he could easily have been killed. He was humbled at having escaped such great peril, but had Dawid known what other dangers he would face throughout his lifetime, he would never have given the bear a second thought.