such practices as single combat and representative combat. In Israel’s world, however, warfare followed various codes of convention; and it would have been utterly humiliating for Israel to ignore or decline Goliath’s challenge. Yet they could find nobody with the courage to confront the Philistine champion, and so a sort of stalemate ensued for about six weeks (verse 16). It was a humiliating stalemate for Israel. One is inclined to wonder why Jonathan, whose bravery had been conspicuous at Michmash