At last they agreed with the appointment and yielded to Saul's commandership and set out a large force in order to fight their enemies. Saul wanted to make sure if the Israelites whole-heartedly believe in their commander. He therefore took an examination of his troops, so that he could get rid of all the doubtful ones. The wise commander put to test the resistance and the endurance of his soldiers against thirst, and said to them:

      ``Allah will try you with a stream of water: Whoever drinks from it, is not mine; and who drinks it not is mine.''

      Unfortunately most of the Israelites failed in the exam, and drank of it; but a few. A small band consisting of 313 men (as some commentators say) crossed the stream without drinking the water, and confronted with the enemy, even among this small group of warriors, who had remained faithful, there were some who appalled and discouraged with fear, by the number of enemy when they met. They said: ``To-day we cannot cope with Goliath and his forces.'' But the faithful band among them, were determined to face any odd and danger, for having perfect confidence in God, and the cause for which they were fighting. They made a firm stand and said: ``How often by Allah's permission a small force vanquished a large one, and Allah is with the patient.''

      Among these faithful ones was David a shepherd boy in the spring of his youth, who slayed the enemy's commander!