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Monsters:A Biblical Bestiary

Textual Monsters:Opponents of Unusual Size

First Baptist Church of ChristNovember 13, 2013

1 Samuel 17:1-7

The Philistines assembled their troops for war at Socoh of Judah. They camped between Socoh and Azekah at Ephes-dammim. Saul and the Israelite army assembled and camped in the Elah Valley, where they got organized to fight the Philistines. The Philistines took positions on one hill while Israel took positions on the opposite hill. There was a valley between them.

1 Samuel 17:1-7

A champion named Goliath from Gath came out from the Philistine camp. He was more than nine feet tall. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore bronze scale-armor weighing one hundred twenty-five pounds. He had bronze plates on his shins, and a bronze scimitar hung on his back. His spear shaft was as strong as the bar on a weaver’s loom, and its iron head weighed fifteen pounds. His shield-bearer walked in front of him.

How Big Was Goliath?

“over nine feet tall” (CEB) = “six cubits and a span”



• A cubit in ancient Israel was roughly 17.5 inches• A span was half a cubit



• 6.5 cubits = about 9’ 6”


• The average height of an ancient Israelite (based on archeological remains) was about 5’ 3”.


• The average height of an ancient Israelite (based on archeological remains) was about 5’ 3”.• According to military historian Richard Gabriel, warriors might have been a bit taller: say 5’ 5”—5’ 8”


Nine and a half feet tall seems impossible!


Robert Wadlow (1919–1940) was the tallest human in history for which there is irrefutable evidence. He stood 8’ 11”.



His great size was due to an abnormality of the pituitary gland.



His great size was due to an abnormality of the pituitary gland.

He suffered his entire life with various physical ailments caused by his condition.

How Big Was Goliath?Some have proposed that Goliath’s height was also due to some sort of glandular condition.


But remember that Goliath was a strong, formidable warrior.


But remember that Goliath was a strong, formidable warrior.

It seems highly unlikely that he would have been a threat on the battlefield if his height were the result of a glandular abnormality.

How Big Was Goliath?The tallest person ever to play basketball in the NBA was Gheorghe Mureșan (7’ 7”), one-quarter of an inch taller than Manute Bol.


Someone of that size could definitely have the strength and athleticism necessary to be a Philistine warrior.


Someone of that size could definitely have the strength and athleticism necessary to be a Philistine warrior.

He would be about two feet shorter than Goliath, however!


BUT…

Other ancient manuscripts give Goliath’s height as only “four cubits and a span.”


BUT…


• 4.5 cubits = about 6’ 7”


BUT…


These texts are just as old—and even older—than those that say “six cubits.”

Textual “Monsters”

Things like this happen all the time in the Bible.



Most variants are so trivial they are not even footnoted.




But what happens when our biblical manuscripts don’t agree with each other and it isn’t trivial?




But what happens when our biblical manuscripts don’t agree with each other and it isn’t trivial?

We have to apply the principles of textual criticism.

Scribes Are Only Human

Before the printing press, biblical manuscripts were copied by hand.



If the eye slips, you can end up losing words, repeating them, or getting them in the wrong place.



If the eye slips, you can end up losing words, repeating them, or getting them in the wrong place.

If you’re taking dictation, you can mishear a word (especially common with homophones)

Scribes Are Only HumanInaccurate copying—sometimes intentional, sometimes unintentional—was a recognized problem in the Middle Ages.


“Fool and knave, leave the old reading and do not change it!” (Codex Vaticanus at Heb 1:3)

Inaccurate copying—sometimes intentional, sometimes unintentional—was a recognized problem in the Middle Ages.


“Fool and knave, leave the old reading and do not change it!” (Codex Vaticanus at Heb 1:3)

Jewish scribes worked out a unique system of preserving the reading that was found even when they knew it was a mistake!

Inaccurate copying—sometimes intentional, sometimes unintentional—was a recognized problem in the Middle Ages.

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Are we sometimes struggling to make sense of the WRONG TEXT?

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They will pick up snakes with their hands. If they drink anything poisonous, it will not hurt them. (Mark 16:18)

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They will pick up snakes with their hands. If they drink anything poisonous, it will not hurt them. (Mark 16:18)

As in all the churches of the saints, the women should be quiet during the meeting. They are not allowed to talk. Instead, they need to get under control, just as the Law says. If they want to learn something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is disgraceful for a woman to talk during the meeting. (1 Cor 14:33b-35)

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The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. (Isa 11:6, NRSV)

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The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. (Isa 11:6, NRSV)

OR

The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion will feed together, and a little child will lead them. (Isa 11:6, CEB)

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Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” (Mark 1:41, NRSV)

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Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” (Mark 1:41, NRSV)

OR

Incensed, Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said “I do want to. Be clean.” (Mark 1:41, CEB)

A Leaner, Meaner Goliath

Which reading makes the most sense: “six cubits” or “four cubits”?



An argument could be made for either option.



An argument could be made for either option.

I’m personally more comfortable with the “four cubits” reading…


The “four cubits” reading is attested in a number of ancient manuscripts, including the Greek Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls.



There are a number of other “sixes” in 1 Samuel 17. If a scribe’s eye slipped, he would be more likely to find a “six” than a “four.”



There are a number of other “sixes” in 1 Samuel 17. If a scribe’s eye slipped, he would be more likely to find a “six” than a “four.”

The “four cubits” reading makes better literary sense.

A Leaner, Meaner GoliathGoliath wasn’t the only unusually tall man in the valley of Elah.


King Saul stood “head and shoulders above everyone else” (1 Sam 9:2)


King Saul stood “head and shoulders above everyone else” (1 Sam 9:2)

Saul may not have been 6’ 7”, but he might have been close!

A Leaner, Meaner GoliathGoliath wasn’t the only person with impressive armor, either.


King Saul had a helmet, a mail coat, and a sword (1 Sam 17:38-39).


King Saul had a helmet, a mail coat, and a sword (1 Sam 17:38-39).

These were so cumbersome, David couldn’t wear them.

A Leaner, Meaner GoliathGoliath was precisely the kind of threat God had anointed Saul to face.


“Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles” (1 Sam 8:20).


“Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles” (1 Sam 8:20).

“You will rule the LORD’s people and save them from the power of the enemies who surround them” (1 Sam 10:1)

A Leaner, Meaner GoliathThe biblical writer wanted us not only to contrast Goliath with David

A Leaner, Meaner GoliathThe biblical writer wanted us not only to contrast Goliath with David, he wanted us to compare Goliath with Saul.


This should have been the story of “Saul and Goliath”!



The fact that it wasn’t tells us a lot about both David and Saul.



The fact that it wasn’t tells us a lot about both David and Saul.

I think that was the biblical writer’s goal.

Next Week…

Here Be Dragons!

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