Goliath
“Exile (possibly)”
Summary
The giant champion of Gath who defied the armies of Israel for forty days until slain by the shepherd boy David with a sling and stone.
☩The Giant's Challenge
Goliath was a champion of the Philistines from Gath, standing six cubits and a span—over nine feet tall by most reckonings. He was possibly descended from the Rephaim, the remnant of ancient giants who had taken refuge among the Philistines after their dispersion. For forty days, morning and evening, he strode into the Valley of Elah and challenged Israel to send a champion to decide the battle by single combat.
☩Armor and Weapons
Goliath's armor was immense: a bronze helmet, a coat of scale armor weighing five thousand shekels (about 125 pounds), bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, with an iron head weighing six hundred shekels (about 15 pounds). A shield-bearer walked before him. This formidable equipment made him seem invincible to Israel's terrified soldiers.
☩David's Victory
David, sent by his father to bring provisions to his brothers, heard Goliath's blasphemous challenge and was indignant that anyone should defy the armies of the living God. Refusing Saul's armor, he went forth with his shepherd's staff, five smooth stones, and a sling. When Goliath cursed him by his gods, David declared he came in the name of the Lord of hosts. The stone sank into the giant's forehead, and David cut off his head with Goliath's own sword.
☩The Giant's Sword
David took Goliath's head to Jerusalem and kept his armor in his tent. Later, when David fled from Saul, he came to the priest Ahimelech at Nob and received Goliath's sword, which had been preserved there as a trophy wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. David declared there was none like it.
Related Verses7 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Goliath," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Goliath," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 3.George Morrish, "Goliath," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Goliath," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 5.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Goliath," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).