Goliath Of Gath Series

Tom lowe

3/17/2022

bDavid and Goliath

Goliath is a character in the biblical Book of Samuel, described as a Philistine giant defeated by the young David in single combat. The story signified Saul's unfitness to rule since Saul himself should have fought for Israel. Scholars today believe that the initially listed killer of Goliath was Elhanan, son of Jair and that the authors of the aDeuteronomic history changed the original text to credit the victory to the more famous character David.

a Deuteronomic history - of or relating to the book of Deuteronomy, its style, or its contents.

b The phrase "David and Goliath" has taken on a more popular meaning denoting an underdog situation, a contest wherein a smaller, weaker opponent faces a much bigger, stronger adversary.

Contents

• 1. Biblical account

o 1.1 The Goliath narrative in 1 Samuel 17

o 1.2 Composition of the Book of Samuel

o 1.3 Structure of the Goliath narrative

• 2. Textual considerations

o 2.1 Goliath's height

o 2.2 Goliath and Saul

o 2.3 Elhanan and Goliath

o 2.4 Goliath and the Greeks

o 2.5 Goliath's name

• 3. Later traditions

o 3.1 Jewish

o 3.2 Islam

• 4. How is Goliath characterized in this episode?

• 5. What happens to the head of Goliath

• 6. Men in the Old Testament

1. Biblical account

1.1 The Goliath narrative in 1 Samuel 17

Goliath challenges the Israelites to choose a fighter to face him one on one, with the losing nation to become slaves of the other. Even for an experienced fighter, this represents a daunting task, and David has first to convince Saul that he is equal to the task. Testifying about his prowess against lions and bears, David's speech is impressive, and Saul agrees to allow him to enter the ring. Even more impressive are David's words to Goliath, asserting that the battle belongs to God and intends to use the giant's sword to decapitate him (1Sam 17:45-47). It should be noted that David rejects the offer of Saul's armor, but he does have a slingshot in his hand, a weapon customarily identified with Benjamin, Saul's tribe (see Judg 20:15-16). In the other hand, David also takes a shepherd's staff, an implement that in 1Sam 17:43 provides Goliath with a canine insult: "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" However, David is merely using the staff as a distraction, and evidently, Goliath takes the bait and does not see the well-aimed rock that hits his forehead, causing him to fall face-first to the ground.

Like an athlete who guarantees victory before the game, true to his word, David cuts off the head of the Philistine with the giant's sword. However, Goliath's head is subject to an exciting postmortem journey, for according to 1Sam 17:54, David carries the head to Jerusalem. At this point in the larger story, Jerusalem is a non-Israelite city, and even though it is in the heart of the promised land, no Israelite has conquered it. In 2Sam 5, David will successfully invade it, rename it "the city of David," and transform it into the national capital. Thus the head of Goliath in 1Sam 17 acts as a kind of security deposit, anticipating David's more significant achievement and installation as the king of all Israel.

Some of the most popular and enduring stories involve an underdog who overcomes tremendous obstacles and secures victory against the odds. Arguably the most famous of such stories is the unlikely triumph of David—the young Israelite shepherd—against the battle-hardened Philistine war machine, the nine-foot-nine Goliath of Gath. Even though many people have heard about "David versus Goliath" in the media, the actual details of the story in 1Sam 17 are less widely known. According to the biblical story, the Philistines and Israelites were locked in a heated struggle over a limited amount of land. The Philistines enjoyed a technological advantage (see 1Sam 13:16-22) and usually held the upper hand, but in this case, the tables were turned.

Saul and the Israelites are facing the Philistines in the Valley of Elah. Twice a day for 40 days, morning and evening, Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, comes out between the lines and challenges the Israelites to send out a champion of their own to decide the outcome in single combat but Saul is afraid. David accepts the challenge. Saul reluctantly agrees and offers his armor which David declines, taking only his staff, sling, and five stones from a brook.

David and Goliath confront each other, Goliath with his armor and javelin, David with his staff and sling. "The Philistine cursed David by his gods." However, David replies: "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and that all this assembly may know that God saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is God's, and he will give you into our hand."