The story of David and Goliath is one of the most well known stories of the Bible. In fact, even if just accepting the account as cliché’, most people around the world today are familiar with the story. Secular society may label it as another myth or fable, but even in the church today there are many who are unsure as to whether it is true. Does the Bible provide any additional evidence to support the story?
During that time described in 1st Samuel 17, the Jews found themselves under the brutal domination of the Philistines and their great champion, Goliath. King Saul and his army faced off against the Philistines but he could find no man of Israel willing to engage the giant in hand-to-hand combat. Was he really a giant? Is this a reliable account?
It is interesting how the Bible “fills in” the details. Consider that we are told that this giant comes from the village of Gath. “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.” (1st Samuel 17:4) So first, how tall was that? A cubit was considered the length of a man’s arm from his elbow to the tip of his fingers. What is the standard? According to different cultures a cubit was between 17.5” and 21” but, in general, there is a “short cubit” of 18” and a “long cubit” of 20”. And a “span?” A span is the distance between the tip of the little finger and the thumb of an outstretched hand. The commonly accepted distance is 9 inches. Thus, Goliath stood somewhere between 9’9” and 10’9” tall. His size was massive. Is this why David drew out five smooth stones for his sling?
Apart from the measured height of Goliath, again it is important to note that he was from Gath and that this village is where the giant race of Anakim lived. As you recall, the report of the twelve spies who upon entering the land of Canaan came back fearful of the giant races that lived there. “And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, ‘the land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature.” (Numbers 13:32)
Why is this important? In another passage in the book of Joshua, it tells us that Gath was one of the few places where the giant race of Anakim still survived. “And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroy them utterly with their cities. There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.” (Joshua 11:21-22) Thus, there were only three cities where the remnants of the giants lived and, it is more than coincidental that four hundred years after the conquest of Canaan, we find that Goliath was living in Gath and this stands as further confirmation of the story. Three books of the Bible, Numbers, Joshua, and Samuel confirm basic elements of the story.
So back to the question: why did David pick up “five smooth stones” to battle Goliath with his sling? Was there an inkling of doubt in his mind of whether God would sustain him in battle against the giant? Was he allowing for the need of extra stones in case he missed?
If you will read 2nd Samuel, chapter 21, you will discover that Goliath was not the only giant of his family. What we find is that the father of Goliath had five sons, all of whom fought for the Philistines. Further, that all four brothers of Goliath were giants as well and they all died in combat with the brave soldiers of David. As the prophet Samuel records, “These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.” (2nd Samuel 21:22)
“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” (1st Samuel 17:45)
When David picked up those five smooth stones out of the brook for his sling he was simply preparing for the contingency or real possibility that he might have to face the four brothers of Goliath after he slew him. Not only was he certain that the Lord would deliver Goliath into his hand, but he was prepared to battle four giants of the same size and countenance in the aftermath. Thus, he would need four additional stones for each of Goliath’s four brothers. These four stones were not selected out of doubt, they were selected out of faith.
“And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.” (verse 47)
We all face “goliaths” of some sort in our lives at one time or another. Maybe you are facing something today that appears overwhelming. Do you battle these “giants” alone, or do you seek the Lord?
David was a man, just as human as you or me. He made mistakes just like we do, but God loved him just as He loves us. No doubt, David had great faith in God. How great is our faith? If the Lord has spoken a word to you, does your faith in Him allow for making plans based on the circumstances of its fulfillment?
“Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)