WHAT DID DAVID DO WITH GOLIATH'S SWORD?
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Bible states that when, as a young man, King David slew Goliath the giant he took his armor and put them in his tent (1Samuel 17:54). What happened, however, to Goliath's sword and spear after this? Did they just disappear? Or were they used later by David? Could such spoils from this most famous battle still exist TODAY?
a) The first questions we need to answer, however, is how BIG were the implements of war that Goliath used and how TALL and STRONG he had to be to use them. The Bible says his height was 'six cubits and a span" (1Samuel 17:4). The exact length of the ancient cubit, using modern measurement standards, is a topic of debate. Various Bible commentaries place the length of a cubit anywhere from 17 inches (43.2 centimeters) to 21 inches (53.3 centimeters). The length of a span is highly likely around 9 inches (22.9 centimeters). Conservatively, Goliath was 9 feet 3 inches tall or 2.82 meters and likely was a bit bigger! Compare this to the average height of a U.S. male (2003-2006 data) of 5 feet 10 inches (1.8 meters).
b) Regarding the size and weight of Goliath's armor the Bible says his battle coat weighed 5,000 shekels of bronze. He carried a long spear or javelin when he went to war that was as thick as a weaver's beam (roughly 2 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter). The head of the spear he carried was made of iron and weighed six hundred shekels (1Samuel 17:5-7).
c) It is safe to say that Goliath wore a protective coat that weighed at least 78 U.S. pounds (35.4 kilograms). Several commentaries place the weight of the coat at an amazing 156 U.S. pounds (70.8 kilograms)! The length of his spear may have been as long as 26 feet (7.9 meters). The head alone on it weighed at least 17 pounds U.S. (7.7 kilograms). He was a formidable opponent indeed! David had these heavy, super-sized weapons to transport!
d) Goliath's armor comes up again later in David's life. While he was fleeing from King Saul, he went to the priests at Nob to get some food. After he ate, he requested a sword. Ahimelech the priest gave him the ONLY one he had - the one used by Goliath (1Samuel 21:8 - 9). But what would a SWORD be doing in the possession of one of God's priests? The Bible says Ahimelech retrieved it, wrapped in cloth, from BEHIND THE EPHOD. It had become a sacred national possession for Israel. We can well guess that the spear also had the same honor.
The End ...
1. The Bible states that when, as a young man, King David slew Goliath the giant he took his armor and put them in his tent (1Samuel 17:54). What happened, however, to Goliath's sword and spear after this? Did they just disappear? Or were they used later by David? Could such spoils from this most famous battle still exist TODAY?a) The first questions we need to answer, however, is how BIG were the implements of war that Goliath used and how TALL and STRONG he had to be to use them. The Bible says his height was 'six cubits and a span" (1Samuel 17:4). The exact length of the ancient cubit, using modern measurement standards, is a topic of debate. Various Bible commentaries place the length of a cubit anywhere from 17 inches (43.2 centimeters) to 21 inches (53.3 centimeters). The length of a span is highly likely around 9 inches (22.9 centimeters). Conservatively, Goliath was 9 feet 3 inches tall or 2.82 meters and likely was a bit bigger! Compare this to the average height of a U.S. male (2003-2006 data) of 5 feet 10 inches (1.8 meters).
b) Regarding the size and weight of Goliath's armor the Bible says his battle coat weighed 5,000 shekels of bronze. He carried a long spear or javelin when he went to war that was as thick as a weaver's beam (roughly 2 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter). The head of the spear he carried was made of iron and weighed six hundred shekels (1Samuel 17:5-7).
c) It is safe to say that Goliath wore a protective coat that weighed at least 78 U.S. pounds (35.4 kilograms). Several commentaries place the weight of the coat at an amazing 156 U.S. pounds (70.8 kilograms)! The length of his spear may have been as long as 26 feet (7.9 meters). The head alone on it weighed at least 17 pounds U.S. (7.7 kilograms). He was a formidable opponent indeed! David had these heavy, super-sized weapons to transport!
d) Goliath's armor comes up again later in David's life. While he was fleeing from King Saul, he went to the priests at Nob to get some food. After he ate, he requested a sword. Ahimelech the priest gave him the ONLY one he had - the one used by Goliath (1Samuel 21:8 - 9). But what would a SWORD be doing in the possession of one of God's priests? The Bible says Ahimelech retrieved it, wrapped in cloth, from BEHIND THE EPHOD. It had become a sacred national possession for Israel. We can well guess that the spear also had the same honor.
2. The Tribe of Dan and weapons from a giant
a) Some students of the Bible are familiar with the fact that a large portion of the Israelite tribe of Dan had migrated through Europe after captivity and into what is now Ireland.
b) In the 11th edition of Encyclopedia Britannica (1911) in an article on Ireland, under the subheading of "Legendary Origins, Early History" we find a people called the "Tuatha de Danan" (tribe of Dan) had migrated into Ireland having with them the Stone of Destiny (called the Lia Fail or Jacob's pillar stone). Also taken were some of the king's daughters (Jeremiah 41:10; 43:6), princesses, and descendants of the house of David, through which God kept his promise to always have one of his descendants on a throne over Israel. The article also mentions Scythian warriors migrating to Ireland. In Colossians 3:11, we find the Scythians were a major group of people.
c) In a dichotomy, they were the circumcised Israelites as opposed to the Romans and were a major part of the Parthian empire. Parthians were present at the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:9). Studies of history show that many of the Parthian - Scythian peoples were part of the lost ten tribes of Israel -- the northern kingdom after the split when Solomon's son, Rehoboam, became king and the northern ten tribes seceded, setting up capital at Samaria. Some of the ten northern tribes left Palestine earlier and others became captives of Assyria and carried away.
d) In the 1911 Encyclopedia article on Ireland, we find these Tuatha de Danan and Scythian people with genealogical records dating to Noah. These brought with them to Ireland 'the sacred sword and spear.' These are highly likely the sword and spear of Goliath the giant.
a) Some students of the Bible are familiar with the fact that a large portion of the Israelite tribe of Dan had migrated through Europe after captivity and into what is now Ireland.
b) In the 11th edition of Encyclopedia Britannica (1911) in an article on Ireland, under the subheading of "Legendary Origins, Early History" we find a people called the "Tuatha de Danan" (tribe of Dan) had migrated into Ireland having with them the Stone of Destiny (called the Lia Fail or Jacob's pillar stone). Also taken were some of the king's daughters (Jeremiah 41:10; 43:6), princesses, and descendants of the house of David, through which God kept his promise to always have one of his descendants on a throne over Israel. The article also mentions Scythian warriors migrating to Ireland. In Colossians 3:11, we find the Scythians were a major group of people.
c) In a dichotomy, they were the circumcised Israelites as opposed to the Romans and were a major part of the Parthian empire. Parthians were present at the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:9). Studies of history show that many of the Parthian - Scythian peoples were part of the lost ten tribes of Israel -- the northern kingdom after the split when Solomon's son, Rehoboam, became king and the northern ten tribes seceded, setting up capital at Samaria. Some of the ten northern tribes left Palestine earlier and others became captives of Assyria and carried away.
d) In the 1911 Encyclopedia article on Ireland, we find these Tuatha de Danan and Scythian people with genealogical records dating to Noah. These brought with them to Ireland 'the sacred sword and spear.' These are highly likely the sword and spear of Goliath the giant.
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