Third, David responded that he "used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it" (1 Samuel 17:3435). Some texts such as the Dead Sea scrolls say Goliath was only 69 or 207 cm while other texts say he was 99 or 298 cm. So she was likely at least 10-15 years older than David to have three sons of her own that were either already men of war, or at least nearing that age at the time David was also nearing it. Needless to say, Goliaths defensive armor and weaponry were larger, heavier, and more expensive than most and would have required a man of substantial size and strength to wield. In both rare instances, an individual can grow to an incredible height due to an excessive production of growth hormone (GH) which causes abnormal skeletal and tissue growth. WebWhen Goliath saw David, he must have laughed out loud. How tall was David in the Bible when he fought Goliath? A version of this article appears in the December 19, 2020 issue of Science News. In the KJV, the text that is relied upon is the MT (Masoretic Text) which a Jewish sect called the Masoretes applied themselves to, and completed between 700 1100 CE. After being taunted by Goliath, David fearlessly issued his own challenge in which he gave God all the glory: The God who gave David the victory over Goliath is the same God who has given us His Word. Invest in quality science journalism by donating today. Web Goliath was only 6 feet 9 inches tall As will be seen, this paper rejects these ve assumptions. Average, short-haired guy According to Taylors research, rather than towering over others in Judea, Jesus was about 5 foot 5 inches (1.7 meters) tall, or the average height seen in skeletal remains from males there at the time. Those include a 54-centimeter cubit (versus the 52.5-centimeter Egyptian cubit), a 38-centimeter short cubit and a 22-centimeter span that corresponds to the distance across an adults outstretched hand. The king was advised to call for a skilled harpist to play for him, because the music might bring him relief. @ScottS My chance numbers were based on assumption of each sister independently falling into any of the 9 positions before/between/after the 8 brothers with equal probability. "So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the Remember, when Saul became king it was said about him that "From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people" (1 Samuel 9:2; 10:23).4. If David weighed in at 150 pounds, even the shorter recording of Goliath may have been 500 pounds. This film includes the King of the Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. 1 Sam. Why would the staff be mentioned if it wasnt used in some way? April 2022. How could David be 7th of 8? Some have tried to reduce or downplay these staggering figures,3 but there are problems with these claims. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. Perhaps Saul had forgotten who David's father was. Try downloading another browser like Chrome or Firefox. Short story about swapping bodies as a job; the person who hires the main character misuses his body. That size, however, probably included the full length in sandals, armor, and helmet. 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Goliath was an incredibly large and strong man: It is difficult to imagine a person so large. So Ishbosheth was 10 years older than David, which means Jonathan was more than 10 years older than David. A couple of points. When we think of shepherds, we imagine teenagers like at the Nativity. In Davids day shepherds were the biggest, toughest guys A few late manuscripts of the Septuagint (Greek) translation of the Old Testament read that Saul was 30 years old when he began to reign, though the earliest MSS fails to list an age. Each of four inner pillars of an Iron Age gateway at et-Tell (possibly the biblical city of Bethsaida), including this one, measures 2.38 meters, or four cubits and a span, wide. Is this how the Bible describes David? Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to Samuel 15 recounts how Saul disobeyed God and was rejected as King. However, we are told how old he was when he became king, so we can figure it out that way. Its important to note, however, that not all accounts list Goliath at six cubits and a span. I confidently assert that Zeruiah is a non-factor in these calculations. Saul took him [David] that day, and would not let him go home to his father's house anymore. In todays terms, that could be anywhere from 90 to 140 pounds. David explains to King Saul that by the grace of God he had killed a lion and bear that were attempting to have lamb chops for dinner. Gath reached its peak during the Iron Age around 3,000 years ago, the time of biblical references to Goliath. In the MT, the story is full of holes and questions. Saul, a tall athletic man considered that his personal armour would fit David. If he was one of the tallest men in the land, why would he offer a small young man his armor, knowing it would never fit and would only reduce his odds of winning the battle? Notice that he did not claim that David was too small, although even the tallest people today would be dwarfed by Goliath. There will always be what ifs and buts. Second, Gill's Exposition of 1 Chr 2:13 also notes others have David 7 of 8. mashuk/DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images. Archaeological findings at biblical-era sites including Goliaths home city, a prominent Philistine settlement called Gath, indicate that those ancient measurements work out to 2.38 meters, or 7 feet, 10 inches. If he really had been a little boy, that offer would never have been made. WebThe giant from the city of Gath, champion of the Philistine army, who was killed by David. So David volunteered to fight Goliath. If David had used a piece of granite the size of a billiard ball, it would have weighed about 11 ounces. They fought lions and wolves with nothing more than sticks and stones. The Philistines were attacking from the south west, and the Ammonites were attacking from the north east. He kept coming closer, 42 and when he got a good look at David, 7 His spear shaft was like a weavers rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. So, did his size help or hinder? How tall was David in the Dead Sea Scrolls? Who was King David and why was he so important? Man Kills Lion with Bare Hands Did David really kill a lion and a bear? By my calculations, if David was 8th, there's a 56% chance that one of the sisters falls in the critical range and a 31% chance that they both do. Goliaths height is up for debate. Thats what he claims. Goliath First, his oldest brother was physically impressive, so David could well have grown to a similar size. Really, like any human, he was barely more than an insect in this case, one that Jehovah was ready to exterminate! David ran toward his foe, reaching into his bag for a stone. Today, our mission remains the same: to empower people to evaluate the news and the world around them. thirty years oldWith Ish-Bosheth dead, David is offered the crown by the elders of Israel, and 2 Samuel 5:4 records, David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. He then conquers Jerusalem Zion to which he soon also brings the ark of the covenant. This leads us back to another promise that God had made long ago. Required fields are marked *. According to the MT, Goliath was 6 cubits and a span (about 9 feet 9 Such might have helped pinpoint David's age, but there is still some other evidences. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Although the research raises the possibility that Goliaths recorded size referred to the width of a city wall, Chadwick will need to do more research to move this beyond an intriguing idea, says archaeologist and Old Testament scholar Gary Arbino of Gateway Seminary in Mill Valley, Calif. For one thing, Arbino suggests, it needs to be established that the measure applied to Goliath, four cubits and a span, was commonly used at the time as a phrase that figuratively meant big and strong., Questions or comments on this article? ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking, Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. At a settlement called et-Tell in northern Israel, for instance, two pillars at the front of the city gate are each 2.7 meters wide, or five 54-centimeter cubits. The fact that David was capable of using the giant's weapon provides another clue that he may have indeed been a mighty man. Are there any clearer claims on the exact age of David when he fought Goliath? That is, until David arrived on an errand from his father and sized up Goliath for himself. 1Sam 17:38: "And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of armour formed by chains.". King David of Israel was a real person who reigned during 1010-970 B.C.E. Actually, David said, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them" (1 Samuel 17:39). The other end had a loop that hooked over the staff end so that it can release at the correct moment. Where was the Ark before it came to Jerusalem? Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. @nathan742: I've added discussion of the items you requested. his name [David's unmentioned brother of 1 Chr 2] was Elihu, and was younger than David, who is mentioned in 1 My hope is that it leads to reasoned debate, resulting in a greater understanding of the how we interpret the events. First, since David came from the same parents (or at least the same father) that produced his physically impressive brother Eliab, David may very well have grown to a similar size. Welcome to Stack Exchange, we are glad you are here. Since Samuel was told not to look at the outside, maybe David was small, but the text does not reveal this. All rights reserved. Obviously, that isnt exact unit of measurement given variance in human forearms, and there is some disagreement on whether a cubit was measured from elbow to wrist or all the way to the end of the fingertips. When David was a teenager, he was anointed as the next king of Israel. You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, wh 6:3) (1 Chron. Baseball players wear helmets to protect from errant near-100 m.p.h. David was most likely around 410 to 50 (148153 cm). What Saul was saying was, You are in your early days and are not experienced like Goliath who is battle-hardened since he was young. This is prudent advice to a young man. The Philistines were an ancient nation living in Canaan and were mentioned first in Genesis 21:32. This is in the time of Abraham. The Philistines Furthermore, the opinion of an Israelite warrior seems to indicate that at least by some he was accepted as mighty valiant man and a man of war at that time A description which suggests some level of maturity not typical for a young teenager. It says that Saul began to reign at the age of XX 1 and that he reigned for XX 2 years. 2 What was the height of David when he killed Goliath? Joel Ryanis an author, writing professor, and contributing writer for Salem Web Network and Lifeway. David was 20 years old when he killed Goliath: this is because 20 years of age was (is) GOD's precedent age for a young Israelite man to be recruited or participate in the military of the children of Israel, as Scripture states in Numbers;chapter 1. DAVID FOUGHT GOLIATH If it were much later than that, David would be in his twenties. Our mission is to provide accurate, engaging news of science to the public. How tall was David in the Bible when he fought Goliath? As David did in his battle with Goliath, we need to have complete confidence in God and His Word, giving Him the glory in everything we do. Here's one other clue that would support the idea that he's older than 15 years old. Chadwicks 2019 excavations found one of presumably several gateways that allowed access to Gath through the citys defensive walls. According to the MT, Goliath was 6 cubits and a span (about 9 feet 9 inches), while in the Septuagint, the Dead Sea Scrolls and Josephus, he was 4 cubits and a span (about 6 feet 9 inches). However, since David was already Saul's armor bearer, then he probably lived with (or near) Saul in Gibeah (1 Samuel 15:34). What do we actually know Goliath, the champion from Gath? David And Goliath In The Valley. Checks and balances in a 3 branch market economy. On the surface, this seems to show that Saul was not acquainted with David yet, but if that is true, it seems to contradict 1 Samuel 16:21 and 17:15, which tells us David and Saul knew each other well. [42] Italian actor Luigi Montefiori portrayed this 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)-tall giant in Paramount 's 1985 live-action film King David as part of a flashback. Goliath was a Philistine champion, 9:2) We see that Saul is described as a young man (probably in his 20s to early 30s) who was a head taller than his peers. Why did US v. Assange skip the court of appeal? David was 30 years old when he became king, having just moved from Ziklag (2 Sam 1:1), and settled in Hebron (2 Sam 2:4). 1:45). We're a little different from other sites. He was also incredibly strong as his armour of mail weighed 125 pounds and the iron head of his spear weighed 15 pounds. He states (emphasis added): Kimchi mentions a Midrash according to which As expected, these campaigns were often met with resistance from Israels armies, led by the judges and later kings. Was David just a little guy when he fought Goliath? Tim Chaffey, AiGUS, examines what the Bible actually teaches about the stature of David. Don't forget that 1 Chr. All the above is stated for the following reasonright after David's victory over Goliath, we have three things indicating something about his maturity that would point toward the higher end range of 15-18. This is because: We do not know his brother's ages, so assuming 4 older brothers not yet 20 (not men of war), then looking for a maximum age for David, assuming #1 is not true, and assuming a roughly normal gestation period (no premature births, about 40 weeks, or 9.23 months, we'll say 10 months minimum between pregnancies), we have this rough possibility: Yet if #1 is true, then for every multiple birth among these four brothers, David's maximum age would bump up one slot. And he [Kish] had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. (1 Sam. Around the 13th century B.C., they began to move inland, expanding their civilization into the Judean countryside by taking over Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath (Joshua 13:3). The narrative of the friendship of David and Jonathan would indicate that they were of similar age. So now we know that the Ark first went to house of Abinadab on the hill twenty years earlier, making David 17.5/18 years old at that time. If the giant kings bedstead was built in proportion to his size as most beds are, he may have been between 9 and 13 feet (2.7 and 4.0 m) in height. David was 30 when he became a king in Hebron, and the battle with Philistines was during Saul's reign; within 2 years period before David was 30. If we based our answer to this question on popular culture, Sunday school curricula, and children's songs, we would conclude that David was a little boy or small young man when he fought against a giant. April 30, 2023 Church Service | April 30, 2023 Church Service An alternative timeline: The secret anointing of Saul and later events allow the probability that the confidence was kept for many years prior to him being chosen by the people. J. Chadwick. his youth.. David and Goliath - Chabad.org 1719 N Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, Here are 5 cool findings from a massive project on 240 mammal genomes, Heres what we know about upcoming vaccines and antibodies against RSV, Pets and people bonded during the pandemic. [ c] His shield But the Masoretic Text (the most complete version of the Hebrew Bible and the one most English translations are based on) has it listed at 9 feet 9 inches or 2.97 metres. Evidence of Gaths destruction about 2,850 years ago by an invading army has also been recovered. Now we can understand why David was called a "mighty man of valor" in the previous chapter. Thanks for you first question on BH.SE. 13:7). Although Saul acted foolishly on several occasions, he was not unintelligent. David selected 5 stones from a brook, but he only needed 1: In the hands of an expert, a heavy sling bullet or stone could reach speeds of up to 10 The fact that David was brought before Saul by Abner, the military commander, and that David came carrying the head of Goliath supports this interpretation (1 Samuel 17:57). It is an assumption to conclude that Saul did not recognize David. David was most likely around 410 to 50 (148153 cm). Webpastor | 37 views, 3 likes, 5 loves, 41 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Branch of Truth: Pastor Tom's Teaching on "For the Glory of God" We do not know if any of his older brothers were twins or triplets. Notice: if David was under 20 years of age; he would not have been allowed to fight Goliath or in any battle for that matter; as being under 20 years of age goes against the precedent command of God(through the Law of Moses) for a Israelite person to join the military and represent the firstborn nation of the God of Israel. Joshua and Caleb, who had put their faith in God, not unlike David, would later lead Israel against the Anakim and drive them from the Promised Land. Sure at age 20 year old is still a boy as it is a very young age and still kind of juvenile, but it would maybe mean that he had not yet reaches the age of 20 as long as a male person could join the military army from age 20 only and knowing that he was not in the army yet at this moment. All rights reserved. That, coupled with the information from Joshua Wilson's answer certainly weighs to him being under 20 at the time of the encounter. @PaulVargas, I have made another update. Goliaths height is up for debate. What does "up to" mean in "is first up to launch"? 5 How tall was David in the Dead Sea Scrolls? Be sure to take our. Do you think I'm a dog? Others consider Elihu of 1 Chr 27:18 to be another name for Eliab. 7:1-2). A champion named Goliath of Gath came out from the Philistine camp; he was six and a half feet tall. Valley of Elah: David and Goliath - holylandsite 6 Why did King David go to the Israelite camp? And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men. WebHow tall was David and Goliath in the Bible? That last city might sound familiar as it was said to be home of Goliath, the giant we read about in 1 Samuel 17. speaks well and is a fine-looking man. Based off the time frame of David marrying Abigail, there has to be some years time for his fleeing Saul prior to that, as well as his brief marriage to Michal that occurred relatively soon after the Goliath incident. WebWhen Goliath saw David, he must have laughed out loud. Therefore, Goliath was a very tall man, and David was probably about as tall. Has the cause of a rocket failure ever been mis-identified, such that another launch failed due to the same problem? Looks good. Subscribers, enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions. He was Israel's second king, succeeding King Saul and uniting the kingdom of Israel. As a young lad of 15-17 years. Where the Septuagint deals with Sauls reign from his anointing, the damaged Masoretic text suggests the details of his public reign. Everyone was terrified of him, but only one was not, David, one of Jesses sons. Saul was secretly anointed by the prophet Samuel to be king (1 Sam.10) and we know that his total reign was 40 years (Acts 13:21). In fact, in ancient warfare, slingers could deliver lethal strikes with remarkable accuracy from long range. 12:12). The world looked at David and saw underdog. One may object to this timing by pointing out that after David killed Goliath, he was brought before the king, and Saul asked David, "Whose son are you, young man?" the pearl (David), reckons not the eighth son Elihu. 3) And if Shammah, the youngest of the 3 that went, was 20 then that leaves 4 brothers between them and David. The protective coat worn by Goliath in his battle with David weighed at least 78 U.S. The biblical warrior Goliath is best known for losing a fight with the underdog David. Rather than standing taller than any NBA player ever, Goliath was probably described metaphorically by an Old Testament writer as a warrior who matched the size and strength of Gaths defensive barrier, Chadwick said November 19 at the virtual annual meeting of the American Schools of Oriental Research. WebHis height was six cubits and a span. [1Sam. @JoshuaWilson I can follow your logic here. The public portion of his reign was probably only twelve years. All this to say that not knowing details of the other brothers, David's age is rather flexible. Society for Science & the Public 20002023. 1st Samuel 17:1 and following. Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encam Walter A. Elwell and Philip W. Comfort, editors, See J. Daniel Hays, "Reconsidering the Height of Goliath,". As the Israelites and Philistines squared off for battle, the armies of Israel camped on the northern edge of the valley while the Philistines camped on the southern side (1 Samuel 17:1). How tall was David in the Bible when he fought Goliath? The Bible also reveals that the rest of Goliath's weaponry and armor were quite massive, so there is good reason to believe the sword was large as well. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google The remains of Gath are found at a site called Tell es-Safi in Israel. Instead, Saul said, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth" (1 Samuel 17:33, emphasis added). Terms of Service apply. How to check for #1 being either `d` or `h` with latex3? However, the Lord told Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. In fact, only a few years ago, archeologists digging nearTell es-Safi in modern-day Israel unearthed what they believe to bethe ruins of Gath, offering further insight into the cultural history and practices of the Philistines. David Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "aee0ccda010935b78183788bcb39784b" );document.getElementById("e218d56cc5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. People known as Canaanites first occupied Gath in the early Bronze Age, roughly 4,700 to 4,500 years ago. However, there are two assumptions by Hays which are considered correct: King Saul was between 6 and 6!/2 feet tall David was 5 feet to 5 feet 3 inches tall ii. He was the youngest, and his oldest and quite impressive brother was rejected. David There are few stories more enduring than that of David and Goliath. And Dr. Ian Chapman writes in the Merck Manual that some patients with acromegaly experience a cartilaginous proliferation of the larynx (which) leads to a deep, husky voice. This may explain why Goliath was able to physically and verbally intimidate the armies of Israel, as his voice carried across the valley (1 Samuel 17:8). Brilliant David and Goliath Lesson David was a man of war, a member of Sauls army when he began to play the harp for the King. Some, including Malcolm Gladwell, believe that this could explain several of Goliaths shortcomings hinted at in the biblical text and why he laughed when David came at him with sticks (1 Samuel 17:43) when the text says that David walked into the valley with a single shepherds staff (1 Samuel 17:40). How Tall Was David In The Bible - CHURCHGISTS.COM Internet Explorer is no longer supported. Goliath - Wikipedia Did Saul Know David Prior to Goliath His son Solomon expanded the empire that David built. WebDavid saw that everyone was scared of Goliath, but he knew that God was on their side. But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. The biblical warrior Goliath may not have been so giant after all 17:4 (NET)] Archaeology demonstrates that the average height of a man around 1000 BCE was less than 5 feet 6 inches, allowing to probability that Saul was over 6 feet tall. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Would you ever say "eat pig" instead of "eat pork"? Perhaps this passage is where some people get the notion that David was small. Thats twice the weight of a billiard ball or a baseball which are about equal in mass. 2) Assuming that all who were old enough to go to war went. A pastor once suggested to me that chapter 17 may have been chronologically prior to the days in which David played the harp for Saul, but there are problems with this. 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