The story of David and Goliath is a biblical tale of a young David defeating the Philistine warrior Goliath. Some see it as a metaphor for God’s grace, while others believe it to be a true account. Archaeological evidence supports the existence of Goliath, who may have suffered from gigantism. The story is often used as a metaphor for the triumph of the underdog over a larger opponent, as seen in the Erin Brokovich lawsuit against PG&E.
David and Goliath refers to the biblical story of the struggle between the young David, not yet a king, and Goliath, a Philistine warrior known for his gigantic proportions and exploits on the battlefield. The story appears in the Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament used by Christians, and the Koran. While many people read the story as a rigorous account of true events, others see the story of David and Goliath as a metaphor for God’s grace that allows a weak opponent to defeat a stronger one.
In these accounts, Goliath was champion of the Philistines and issued challenges to the Israelites to defeat him in a duel. The Israelites did not respond to the challenge, but defeating Goliath presented an opportunity to end the battle and gain a military advantage. Finally David, quite young at the time, asked King Saul for an opportunity to face Goliath and refused Saul’s offer of weapons or armor.
When David and Goliath met, Goliath taunted him greatly and made fun of his choice of weapon, a staff and several stones. David, with faith in the Lord, used his staff and stones to make a sling. With a well-aimed blow, David knocked Goliath unconscious and then used Goliath’s own sword to decapitate him.
David’s triumph would be part of a collection of stories that would boast of David’s strength and his rightful claim as king. David’s unwavering faith and obedience to God are often explained as the reason for his triumph. The precision required to strike Goliath in such a way that he is knocked unconscious is through divine intervention.
While many may see the story of David and Goliath as a metaphor, it may not necessarily be false. Accounts of this story are found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, in Hebrew. Also, in 2005, archaeologists found a pottery fragment on which “Gath of the Philistines” is written and has two names similar to the name Goliath. Goliath is often thought to be from Gath, a major city opposed to the Israelites and under Philistine control. Furthermore, the find is dated to the approximate estimated time period for the battle, in 1000 BC.
The Dead Sea Scrolls also identify Goliath with a height of about seven feet (2.13 m), a height not impossible for a human, although it would be rare. Scientists have speculated that Goliath may have suffered from gigantism, in which a tumor on the pituitary gland causes human growth hormone to keep being released, promoting excessive growth. Biblical accounts put Goliath at over 9 feet (2.74m) tall, but most suggest this is an exaggeration.
In a modern sense, David and Goliath are often used as a metaphor to suggest the triumph of the “little boy” over a large organization or large enterprise. Erin Brokovich and Ed Masry’s lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) on behalf of the city of Hinkley, California is considered a David and Goliath story, in which a small town attorney was able to win a decisive victory and damage for a group of people sickened by PG&E’s use of hexavalent chromium, a dangerous toxin.
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