Was Goliath ill? Were the Hebrews Exaggerating?
Jun 17, 2019 8:30:30 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Jun 17, 2019 8:30:30 GMT -5
Was Goliath il? Were the Hebrews Exaggerating?
Christians consider the story of David and Goliath described in the book of Samuel as a trustworthy historical event. Unfortunately it has not escaped the attention of Bible critics who cast doubt on it as being a mere exaggeration. Before considering their objection, let's first read how Goliath described:
1 Sam 17:4-16)4 Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 And he had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. 7 And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him. 8 And he stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, and said to them, “ Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. 9 “If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.” 10 Again the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together.”
Was Goliath suffering from acromegaly?
Some have suggested that Goliath’s great tallness of nine feet was caused by an overactive pituitary gland or acromegaly. So in their view David was facing a sick, tall man suffering from joint, coordination and and vision problems characteristic of acromegaly
Others claim that the Hebrews were exaggerating his height. Now. how likely is those two suggestion as an explanation?
Goliath was Ill?
First, the suggestion that Goliath was ill and at a great physical disadvantage just doesn’t fly. After all, the total weight of that armor has been estimated to be approx 125 pounds. The weight of the head of the spear at fifteen pounds. Had he bee frail there is no way he could have carried all that weight.
Second, why would the Philistines choose him as their champion if indeed he were frail from illness? After all, a man who is ill doesn't rise to that position merely by being tall or muscular. A warrior rises to that position via demonstrating his ability to defeat others in combat. So being frail and ill and uncoordinated just doesn't fit in with his fame or the fear that the Israelites displayed whenever he appeared. If indeed they had detected some weakness, then many would have taken up his challenge. Yet none did except David. But even he chose to keep his distance and dispatch Goliath with a projectile. So the sickness explanation is flawed.
The Hebrews were Exaggerating?
Were the Hebrews merely exaggerating, as some biblical skeptics suggest? Well, if they had been Egyptians, then exaggeration as an explanation would have been plausible since the Egyptian historical records show them lying through their teeth in order to glorify themselves. But this just isn't the case with the Hebrews. You see, the Hebrew writings expose all personal and national flaw and hide absolutely nothing.
1. Humiliating defeats suffered at the hands of other nations such as Assyria and Babylon.
2. Personal unfaithfulness displayed by Kings. David murdered and committed and adultery. Solomon allowed false worship to please his women. Saul resorted to spiritism and was rejected by God. In fact, most of the kings mentioned are described as being severely morally flawed and leading Israel down paths of false worship. Only two Kings are depicted positively. The nation itself is portrayed as composed of habitual complainers who seemed to lack faith at crucial moments by showing fear of the enemy or losing faith in God's chosen representatives as they did at Mount Sinai when Moses was delayed.
So it is extremely unlikely that they would suddenly resort to lying in reference to Goliath by depicting him taller than he was. Neither would the people responsible for the writing sacred text and preserving its accuracy have allowed such a blatant exaggeration. Furthermore, they were in possession of Goliath’s cadaver and could measure him accurately. So had he been using stilts, or a very high helmet to enhance his height, or had been merely tall, as Saul was tall, they would merely have said he was tall.
1 Samuel 9:2
NIV
Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.
NIV
Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.
So there really is no justifiable basis to accuse the Bible writers as dishonest.
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