The Bible says that Goliath came from the city of Gath, one of a handful of Philistine city-states. The Bible also says that he stood "six cubits and a span." Further clues to his tremendous size and strength come from the catalog of his armor that the Bible offers. He wore a coat of mail that weighed 5000 brass shekels and carried a spear whose head weighed 600 iron shekels and whose shaft "was like a weaver's beam." He even had his own shield bearer, normally a perquisite of kings and captains.
The Bible describes in detail the one event in the life of Goliath for which any historical record survives. Goliath joined the combined Philistine army at Succoth, in either 1063 or 1018 BC. The armies of King Saul camped at Elah, on the far side of a valley. Thus each army commanded a mountain on each side of this valley.
Neither side wanted to take the initiative and bring the other to battle. So, presumably on the orders of the high king of the Philistines, Goliath walked into the valley and challenged the Israelites to send out a champion to fight him. Whichever champion won the combat would win the day.
Goliath probably placed as much faith in his own tremendous size as in the Philistine pantheon. In any event, he waited for forty days for a champion to emerge. But at the sight of the slender, red-cheeked youth who appeared before him—one who, furthermore, wore no armor at all!--he evidently did not know whether to howl with laughter or with rage.
The Bible describes in detail the one event in the life of Goliath for which any historical record survives. Goliath joined the combined Philistine army at Succoth, in either 1063 or 1018 BC. The armies of King Saul camped at Elah, on the far side of a valley. Thus each army commanded a mountain on each side of this valley.
Neither side wanted to take the initiative and bring the other to battle. So, presumably on the orders of the high king of the Philistines, Goliath walked into the valley and challenged the Israelites to send out a champion to fight him. Whichever champion won the combat would win the day.
Goliath probably placed as much faith in his own tremendous size as in the Philistine pantheon. In any event, he waited for forty days for a champion to emerge. But at the sight of the slender, red-cheeked youth who appeared before him—one who, furthermore, wore no armor at all!--he evidently did not know whether to howl with laughter or with rage.
"Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?" - I Samuel 17:43
This was in reference to the sight of this young lad carrying a shepherd's staff and a small leather satchel slung over one shoulder, and with no other weapons. The sight was probably deeply insulting. That Goliath meant to return insult for insult is evident because, in Goliath's day, dogs were strays, scavengers, and far less friendly to mankind than they are today. Goliath responded by cursing the lad in the name of his gods and threatening to feed him to the birds and the beasts. Young David's rejoinder was simple: that while Goliath relied on his weapons, David relied on his God, and God would win the day. Furthermore, David promised not only to kill Goliath and cut off his head, but to cause the entire Philistine army to be fed to the birds and the beasts.
The combat between the two men was short. Goliath rushed forward to attack, and David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it. The stone struck Goliath directly between the eyes and killed him instantly. David then cut off Goliath's head—again, after Goliath was already dead.
The Philistines immediately broke and ran. David stripped the dead Goliath of his armor and treasured it for years thereafter.
No one claims to have found the bones of Goliath. But one of the key counterclaims against Goliath's story is that the name Goliath is not of Semitic origin—nor of Hamitic, either—so that it was not a true Hebrew or Philistine name. But the discovery, in November 2005, of a pottery fragment in Tell es-Safi in central Israel now casts doubt on that counterclaim. The fragment dates, conventionally, to 950 BC, and thus could have been from either the United Kingdom of Israel under Solomon or the Kingdom of Judah under King Abijam or Asa (or perhaps some time frame in-between, or even earlier). It bears an inscription that appears to be a "Semitized" version of an Indo-European name that sounds remarkably like "Goliath."
Given its dating, it is regarded as the oldest Philistine artifact yet found. More to the point, while it might not have belonged to this Goliath, or have been made to honor him, it does show that the name Goliath was in use in the Philistine population of Gath at a period close to the traditional date of David's battle with the giant.
Certain African histories describe Goliath as "Goliath the Berber" because many of these Berber tribes claim descent from Jalut, or Goliath. However, they resent being called Berber, preferring the appellation of Amazigh or Chleuhs - 'The Free People'.
The Berbers appear to have varied origins. They are believed to be primarily derived from Phut, the son of Ham but, appear to have some elements from Casluh and Caphtor, the sons of Mizraim. Additionally, the Kabyle Berbers appear to be descendants of Lud, the son of Shem.
The combat between the two men was short. Goliath rushed forward to attack, and David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it. The stone struck Goliath directly between the eyes and killed him instantly. David then cut off Goliath's head—again, after Goliath was already dead.
The Philistines immediately broke and ran. David stripped the dead Goliath of his armor and treasured it for years thereafter.
No one claims to have found the bones of Goliath. But one of the key counterclaims against Goliath's story is that the name Goliath is not of Semitic origin—nor of Hamitic, either—so that it was not a true Hebrew or Philistine name. But the discovery, in November 2005, of a pottery fragment in Tell es-Safi in central Israel now casts doubt on that counterclaim. The fragment dates, conventionally, to 950 BC, and thus could have been from either the United Kingdom of Israel under Solomon or the Kingdom of Judah under King Abijam or Asa (or perhaps some time frame in-between, or even earlier). It bears an inscription that appears to be a "Semitized" version of an Indo-European name that sounds remarkably like "Goliath."
Given its dating, it is regarded as the oldest Philistine artifact yet found. More to the point, while it might not have belonged to this Goliath, or have been made to honor him, it does show that the name Goliath was in use in the Philistine population of Gath at a period close to the traditional date of David's battle with the giant.
Certain African histories describe Goliath as "Goliath the Berber" because many of these Berber tribes claim descent from Jalut, or Goliath. However, they resent being called Berber, preferring the appellation of Amazigh or Chleuhs - 'The Free People'.
The Berbers appear to have varied origins. They are believed to be primarily derived from Phut, the son of Ham but, appear to have some elements from Casluh and Caphtor, the sons of Mizraim. Additionally, the Kabyle Berbers appear to be descendants of Lud, the son of Shem.
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