Whoa – That Dude is BIG
We are backing up today to take a closer look at Goliath – and just why it was that he was so intimidating.
4Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.5He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze.
6He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders.
7The 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.
Six cubits and a span. That is what we are told is Goliath’s height (before or after his head was removed though? sorry, bad joke)
So just how long is a cubit?
The research I did this morning points to the average cubit being about 18 inches long – although accounts vary from 12 inches to 24 inches. A span is from the tip of your thumb to the top of your pinkie, fully extended – averaging about 9 inches.
So, if you multiply 18×6, you get 9 feet. Plus 9 inches, that puts Goliath at 9’9″ tall. Not exactly a small fry.
Then you add in all of that bronze armor. Historians estimate that the scale-armor alone weighed about 155 lbs. – and that is before you add the weight of the helmet, sword and greaves and Goliath starts hefting that javelin around to toss it. This guy had to be more than just a tall skinny whisp of a man. He had to be strong too.
Oh, and keep in mind that the Israelites weren’t exactly known as a tall group of people to begin with. If David was in his late teens or early twenties, he could have been around 5’9″ in height – not exactly short, but not a towering presence either. Or he could have been even shorter – around 5’3″. The bible doesn’t share that information. But when you are up against someone who is almost 10 feet tall, what difference will a few inches make?
That’s certainly enough height difference to create a bit of an impression. Then you add in the fact that Goliath was covered from head to toe in bronze armor – not the lightest to be sure – and was hefting around some heavy weaponry and you begin to understand the Israelite’s fear.
This was one big, strong dude.
This massive guy was calling someone out to stand toe-to-toe with him on the field of battle, and the fate of an entire country would be resting on their shoulders – the fate of their family would be in their hands.
No one was willing to take that risk – they were just too afraid.
They were looking at the physical presence and it looked impossible. They were listening to his taunts and believed the lies that they would never measure up. None of the men in the Israelite army could get past their fear long enough to take the step to faith that God would fight this battle for them.
Except David.
0 comments
Kick things off by filling out the form below.
Leave a Comment