4 good links

  1. David and Goliath

    The text, from the biblical book 1 Samuel

  2. Philistines

    Article on Goliath's people, from the quarterly Bible, History and Archaeology

  3. Archaeological Evidence

    The BBC examines what little historical record there is

  4. Giants

    Scroll past "druid" stuff for details on giants in myth and religion

Goliath Biography

Goliath was a giant soldier from Gath in ancient Palestine, according to a famous story in the biblical book 1 Samuel. The 17th chapter describes an armed clash between the Philistines, led by Goliath, and the army of Israel. Despite Goliath's intimidating size, the unlikely Judean boy-hero David meets him on the field of battle. David slings a fatal stone that hits the giant between the eyes and fells him. David beheads the fallen Goliath, Israel wins in a rout and David goes on to become king. In sports, politics, business and other arenas, a competition between seemingly mismatched opponents is sometimes described as "David and Goliath" or "David versus Goliath."

Extra credit:

In 2005, archaelogists at the likely site of Gath found the word "Goliath" inscribed in an ancient language on a pottery shard... According to the King James version of the Bible, Goliath's height was "six cubits and a span" -- roughly three meters, or more than nine feet, in modern terms.

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