XPost: talk.religion.misc, soc.culture.jewish, alt.religion.christian
From: riain@zion.org.il
The Battle of David & Goliath
Usually you hear this term at a sporting event when it's a
mismatch a huge fighter against a small one or a strong team against a
weak team. But David and Goliath is a true story and David was
Victorious over Goliath. On this page I'm going to explain some of the
things about this huge battle supposedly a mismatch.
How tall was Goliath?
*1 Samuel 17:4
4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the
Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a
span.
A cubit was an Old Testament measurement:
From the elbow to the tip of the Middle finger. Approximately 18
in. in length. So six cubits would equal 9 feet.
A span was also an Old Testament measurement:
When the hand was stretched out it was a the length between the
tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger. It was approximately 9
inches.
So Goliath was 9'9!!!
How big were the stones David Collected? It doesn't say in the
bible the size of the stone but from Jewish tradition and archaeological
digs they have found stones in battle fields were many of the early
warriors used slingshots for weapons.
The Stones they found varied in size
but some were as big as tennis balls.
What kind of slingshot did David use?
The slingshot that David used was not at all like the ones that
we use. It was just a small piece of cloth in between to pieces of rope.
The rope was most of the time made of animal hair.
Why did David pick up five stones?
Well first of all let me assure you he was not afraid he might
miss. The actual reason is found in the Bible:
*2 Samuel 21:16-22
16 "And Ish'-bi-be'-nob, which was of the sons of the Giant, the
weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight,
he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.
17 But A-bi'-shai the son of Ze-ru'-iah succoured him, and smote
the Phi-lis-tine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore unto him,
saying Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not
the light of Israel.
18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle
with the Phi-lis'-tines at Gob: Then Sib'-be-chai the Hu'shath-ite slew
Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.
19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Phi-lis'-tines,
where El-ha'nan the son of Ja'-a-re-or'-e-gim, a Beth'-le-hem-ite, slew
the brother of Go-li'-ath the Git-tite, the staff of whose spear was
like a weaver's beam.
20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great
stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and every foot six toes,
four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.
21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shim'-e-ah the
brother of David slew him.
22 These four were born to the giant of Gath, and fell by the hand
of David, and by the hand of his servants.
So actually David got five stones in case Goliath's brothers or
sons showed up for a fight! Then he would be ready for them. How
accurate was David?
A good slinger (the name of one's who used slingshots) hurled a
stone as far and as accurate as an archer. Slingers are known to hurl
their stones as far as 440 yards (quarter of a mile). And David was the
most famous of slingers so he must have been pretty accurate.
How strong was Goliath?
Goliath must have been quite a strong man simply because of the
weight of the armour he wore and the weight of the weapons he carried.
*1 Samuel 17:5-7
5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed
with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand
shekels of brass.
6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass
between his shoulders.
7 And the staff of his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of
iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
The coat of mail was five thousand shekels: Which would be
somewhere around 150-160 lbs.
The helmet, coat, greaves, target all were forms of protection so
no one could kill him behind when he was fighting.
The spear's head weighted six hundred shekels: Which would equal
60 lbs.
"Keith Herron" wrote in message
news:vLidnS0aa_ud0PbfRVn-1A@rogers.com...
: Hi David,
:
: I've checked the New English, Revised Standard, New Century, New
: International, New American Standard (Updated), New Living and King
James
: translations of 1 Sam 17.40 and they all read 5 stones.
:
: Which reference and translation do you suggest is quoted as only one
: stone?
:
: Keith
:
: On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 02:03:37 GMT, "Riain Barton"
: wrote:
:
: >Because there are different translations of the "Old Testament". And
: there
: >is not just one Christian "Old Testament".
:
: So which versions of the Christian Old Testament do you know of
: that have five stones mentioned in the story of David and Goliath,
: as in the Jewish version, rather than just one stone? And do
: you think it just accidental mistranslation or a deliberate editing
: to remove the reference to the number five (which is associated
: with Solomon and also the Pentateuch, right, and also shows
: up in the New Testament in the tale involving five loaves of
: bread).
:
: Thanks,
: David
:
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