常春藤生活英语【15】David and Goliath戴维与歌利亚

Two thousand years ago in the Kingdom of Israel, the Philistine¹ army marched into the valley of Elah and set up camp. At that time, the King of Israel was Saul. He was a great king before, but by this point had become a weak man. King Saul gathered his army, but the Philistines² did not attack. Instead, each morning, a giant warrior³ would march from the Philistine camp and cry out to the soldiers of Israel, "Who dares challenge Goliath?"

Goliath said that if any man of Israel could beat him, then the Philistines would surrender. But if Goliath killed his enemy, then the Kingdom of Israel had to do the same. Goliath was a fearless warrior over three meters tall. For 40 days, no man went out to take up his challenge. On the 41st day, a young man walked up to the giant with nothing but a stick and some rocks. His name was David, and he would go on to become the greatest king ever to rule Israel.

两千年前于以色列王国中，腓力斯军队开拔至以拉峡谷中扎营。当时的以色列国王为索尔。他曾是位伟大的国王，但到了此时，他已经变成一个软弱无能的人。索尔国王集结了军队，但腓力斯人却没有进攻。每天早上反而会有一名魁梧的战士从腓力斯营区中走出，大声地向以色列士兵叫阵：『有谁敢挑战歌利亚？』

歌利亚说如果任何以色列人能击败他，那么腓力斯人就会投降。但要是歌利亚杀了他的敌手，以色列王国也得比照办理。身高超过三公尺的歌利亚，是一位天不怕地不怕的勇士。接连四十天，没有人出来接受他的挑战。到了第四十一天，一位仅拿着棍子和一些石子的年轻人走到了巨人面前。他名叫戴维，而他继而会成为有史以来统治以色列最伟大的国王。

Building Your Vocabulary

1.march　vi. 快速齐步行进
The troops marched through the jungle.
军队行军穿越了丛林。

2.challenge　vt. & n. 挑战
I challenged my father to a game of tennis.
我向我爸挑战打网球。

3.surrender　vi. 投降
The terroists finally surrendered to the police.
恐怖份子终于向警方投降。

4.fearless　a. 无畏的，不怕的
To be a soldier, you must be fearless.
想当一名军人，你一定不能有所畏惧。

Phrases for Learning

1.cry out　　大声喊叫
Kevin cried out in pain when he accidentally cut himself.
凯文不小心割到自己时，痛得大叫。

2.take up...　　接受……（挑战、建议等）
You should take up my suggestion and start saving money.
你应该接受我的建议，开始存钱。

参考字词

1.Philistine　a. 腓力斯人（的）

2.warrior　n. 战士，武士

Tips In Use

...the Philistine army marched into the valley of Elah and set up camp.
（……腓力斯军队开拔至以拉峡谷中扎营。）

"set up camp"为一固定用法，表『扎营；搭帐篷』。以下介绍"set up..."的其它常见用法。

1.表『安排……』
My boss asked me to set up a meeting.
（我老板请我安排了一场会议。）

2.表『安装∕设置……』
He needed help to set up the equipment.
（他需要有人来帮忙他安装设备。）

3.表『陷害某人』
The thief claimed he had been set up by the police.
（小偷声称他是被警察诬陷的。）

1 philistine   

n.庸俗的人；adj.市侩的，庸俗的

参考例句：

• I believe he seriously thinks me an awful Philistine.我相信，他真的认为我是个不可救药的庸人。
• Do you know what a philistine is,jim?吉姆，知道什么是庸俗吗?

2 philistines   

n.市侩，庸人( philistine的名词复数 )；庸夫俗子

参考例句：

• He accused those who criticized his work of being philistines. 他指责那些批评他的作品的人是对艺术一窍不通。 来自辞典例句
• As an intellectual Goebbels looked down on the crude philistines of the leading group in Munich. 戈培尔是个知识分子，看不起慕尼黑领导层不学无术的市侩庸人。 来自辞典例句

3 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。