Big News: Goliath Might Not Have Been a Giant

There are certain stories and passages in the Bible that are real fan favorites: the Garden of Eden story, the Ten Commandments, and the Nativity are all narratives that steal the limelight. Among these is the story of David and Goliath, in which a young shepherd boy bests a Philistine giant and forces the Philistines to retreat. This family-friendly underdog story has inspired generations of readers, movie makers, and cultural critics. New archaeological research, however, suggests that Goliath may not have been much of a giant after all. In the Bible, the setting for the iconic duel is the Valley of Elah, a shallow valley about 16 miles to the southwest of Jerusalem. According to 1 Samuel, the Israelites were encamped there, facing the Philistines in a standoff. Twice a day for 40 days Goliath, the Philistine champion, would leave the encampment to challenge the Israelites to send a representative to engage in one-on-one combat. The winner would determine the outcome of the war. The natural candidate was Saul, who was not just the tallest member of the group but also their king. Saul was something of a coward and refused to accept the challenge, and David volunteered to fight… Read full this story

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