Single Combat has always been, among semicivilized nations, a favorite resort to decide a dispute without the effusion of much blood. Classical history abounds with instances. The Bible also gives a few noteworthy cases, of which the contest between David (q.v.) and Goliath is the most remarkable. Similar customs still prevail among the Arabs (Burckhardt, Notes on the Bedouin, p. 174). The practice has in modern times degenerated into that of duelling. See the monographs on the subject cited by Volbeding, Index Programmatum, p. 160.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More