Goliath (Philistine: Uncertain meaning)
(1 Samuel 17:4). 11th century b.c.e.
Goliath, a leader of the Philistine forces arrayed against Saul's army, was nine feet tall. Everyday for forty days, he came out from the Philistine camp, wearing heavy bronze armor, and shouted a challenge to the Israelites, saying that he was ready to fight any of them. One day, David, still a young boy, arrived at the Israelite camp at the moment Goliath came forward to challenge the Israelites. David spoke to the terrified Israelite soldiers, who told him that King Saul had promised great rewards to the man who killed the giant. David was brought to Saul's presence, and he assured the king that he could fight the experienced Philistine warrior.
The young man picked up five smooth stones and, with his sling in hand, went to meet Goliath. The giant saw that David was just a boy and called down curses on him. David told him, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the ranks of Israel, whom you have defied" (1 Samuel 17:45). Goliath started walking toward David, who ran quickly toward the Philistine, taking a stone from his bag and slinging it at Goliath. The stone hit the giant on the forehead and made him fall to the ground. David ran to him, took Goliath's sword, and cut off his head. The Philistines, seeing this, ran away, with the Israelites pursuing them all the way up to the gates of their cities.
Read more biographies from Who's Who in the Jewish Bible.
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