Given that the common height of an ancient Israelite was somewhere between 5 feet and 5 feet 3 inches, this could make the common cubit somewhere between 16-17 inches. Some argue against the 4 cubits and a span reading by saying if Saul was head and shoulders taller than anyone else in Israel, and the average Israelite was 5 feet. https://www.biblestudywithrandy.com/2016/05/goliaths-height-tall God bless! Second, it is important to examine the textual evidence for each reading. However, while 1 Samuel 17 does not call Goliath a giant, there are two other passages that infer he was a descendant of the Nephilim. I would date the final form of Samuel to the exile. When reading the verse you are attacking and yes you are calling Gods word into question, it seems pretty clear. The Bible Project How were the Egyptian Pyramid stones and other monolith stones moved? And that is the Golan.The Book of Enoch, an apocryphal second-century BCE source attributed to the great-grandfather of Biblical Noah, describes the Nephilim and claims the name of Mount Hermon is derived from the Hebrew word cherem, meaning to be banished. According to the Book of Enoch, the Nephilim were banished from heaven and sent to earth at Mount Hermon. Nephilim, the original giants that could reach the size or almost the size of skyscrapers (which isnt unbelievable when you look at how high planes can go before air becomes a bother). 1Sam. Yes, of course, the story is about Gods glory and power. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. Whether this is a correct translation of the word and whether our idea of giants is the same as the ancient idea are points open for discussion. If one could go back in time by looking at the footprints that are imprinted in the ground you would be able to determine the actual height and weight of some of these prehistoric giants. How do you expect a guy who cant hardly walk to be a soldier? As one scholar notes, the point of the story may be to show that tall Saul is the right candidate to face Goliath, but he is too fearful. But the nephilim from The Bible should not be alive today, because they were all killed by Archangel Gabriel before the flood. Although I have always been inclined toward the reading of the MT, as noted above, I must admit that Hays presents some strong arguments. There are theories that claim that Og was buried at Gilgal Refaim, Landa said. The most important difference is their impressive height. And to wield a spear with a 15 pound head on it. God bless! It also includes the belief that editors of the text were not clumsy baffoons who inserted contradictions they hoped others would not notice (or that they were not aware of themselves). That is the way we all learn. Thanks for your comments. Best wishes and God bless. I appreciate your thoughtful response. Lahmis parents had actually visited an Olive Garden restaurant just across the border and Lahmis mother really loved the breadsticks. Hi Keith, Different psychics and mediums claim that they can recognize Nephilim and people with Nephilim ancestry. Hi David, This seems highly plausible. People who where very tall, but not true giants. So. Biblical characters did often have more than one name as do monarchs. Leave a comment One such prehistoric serpentine mound is Serpent Mound in Ohio. Of course, they might also choose to adopt a Philistine name such as Goliath.The Anakim are also said by the biblical writer to have remained in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod (Josh. plus idea. Also, , 6 Reasons why you should not worship Astaroth If you are familiar with the occult, , What Are Demons? Well, Not Fallen Angels! Thank you again. No I believe he was 9 foot plus as even today we have 8 foot plus people and they are not descendants of Giants just hyperthyroid cases mostly.t. But I must admit that the other is, because Im used to the readings found in the MT (which admittedly is not a good reason). It is an evergreen conifer that can reach 40 m (130 ft) in height. Wiki. I wish we could go back in time and see these things Arian! One Final Item to Note. So, someone decided to add a few cubits to Goliaths height making him 6 cubits and a span. Being unnatural creatures, their souls had no place to rest in peace. and yes it is biblically based. Studies have shown conclusively that the average American, when challenged to do so, was unable to successfully locate their own backside with the use of both hands, a map, a guide dog, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer to assist, and a GPS locator. In the bible, the Nephilim are mentioned exactly twice, and are never named or defined. Thus the Rapha are a semitic people and it would not be unusual for some to use Semitic names even though living among the Philistines. This article is an attempt to solve an interesting problem. For example, as Im sure youre aware, a potsherd has been discovered in Gath with letters that resemble the name Goliath (also noted in an article on this blog about Philistine cities). The fact is that the Hebrew version (MT) and the Greek version (LXX) have different readings. Look at Robert Wadlow (the one mentioned who was 8 feet, 11.1 inches tall at last measurement). Azazel, Azazyel, 4. This second figure seems impossibly low for a giant like Goliath and we might be tempted to automatically throw it out as a possibility. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. I guess thats how David killed him, he just knocked his cane out from him, and he fell over, since no one over 8 feet tall today can walk without a cane! Other markings indicate star risings. There are still diverse details about his height. Where does one derive that figure? 6 feet tall). Others, however, raised on the traditional story of David defeating the giant Goliath, would almost consider it a sacrilege to suggest that Goliath might be in the 6 foot range, as opposed to the 9 foot range. Especially in 1 Samuel 17. I am surprised by some of the comments on this post which leads me to believe that we have a poor understanding of literary devices, grasshoppers being one of them. Average height of Jewish men in David's time is said to be about 5 feet tall. Because there is so much archaeological evidence that needs to be explored.. Im not saying the giants were 30 ft. tall but Im also not saying only a foot or so taller. 21:19Open in Logos Bible Software (if available) has suffered in transmission. I propose what we should do to put this into perspective, is not consider it a beauty pageant but a spiritual metaphor. In todays world we do have some really tall people, but I wouldnt consider ANY of them as giants. If we all see its Goliath was bigger than a re guar men in that time and even bigger than Saul otherwise it would not emphasize his height, but the whole point is that the spirit of GOD was with David, so the stone was purposely driven by GOD not the man David. Again, Im not sure how he defends that. Could the later manuscripts have inflated the number because the cubit of their day was calculated smaller (thus needing to increase the cubit in the manuscript)? The name Bashan is derived from the proto-Semitic root Ugaritic term btn, meaning serpent.. David trusted God not his personal strength or past record in person successes. Heres why 9 feet would be out of the realm of realism. 3. 2. None of it adds up to a story worth telling if he was only 69. Angels Numbers 13:33. I have attempted to answer the Giant means giant comment made. The first and most transparent explanation is that divine beings came to earth, assumed human flesh, cohabited with human women, and spawned unusual offspring known as Nephilim. even allegorically this would not make sense. In Hawaii Smithsonian collaborated with the Bishop Museum on our Hawaiian Islands relics and artifactswe ARE outraged still that our ancestors are NOT at rest stored in a wooden box in a foreign country or on display. Remember that the early church used the LXX. . It also has nothing to do with whether I believe there couldve been gigantic people in that time. Therefore, they excite the human mind and imagination. . This mixture of cultures, very normal for border towns, could easily lend to using certain words borrowed from their neighbors language (loanwords as we call them today). The fossils indicate they were substantially more muscled, including the children. I appreciate your logic, refrences to reliable resources, plain language, and openness to discussion. Why do I bring this up? a grasshopper is not a foot shorter. Archaeologists generally place the beginning of the construction as early as 3500 BCE. The NIV uses the word Nephilim. Billington estimates that a person who is 5 feet tall would have a span of about 7 1/2 inches. Were they such cowards that they imagined they were seeing giants. The Inspiration Networks are considering the distribution channel for the film and expect to release Angels & Giants: The Watchers & Nephilim this fall. We arent dogmatic and dont hide anything. Among these are the belief that the biblical writers did not intentionally distort their history. Hays internal evidence includes examining the text which involves a discussion of Goliaths armor and the fact that he is never mentioned as a giant. 6 Foot 9? I have written an article (which can be found on this blog) which was published by Bibliotheca Sacra (July-Sept. 2015) entitled How Many Sons Did Absalom Have? This is how folklore works. Also, that only eight people and some animals survived the flood is affirmed circa five times in the Bible so that Nephilim did not survive and there is no indication that they, somehow, returned. The Biblical measurement of an amah, literally the length of a forearm, is 9.2 inches, which would mean that Ogs bed was over 14 feet long and over six feet wide. Intentional Ambiguity as Literary Art. This article demonstrates that when we jump too quickly to a conclusion to explain an apparent contradiction, we may well come up with the wrong answer when a better answer is readily available. Apparently, Sir Isaac Newton argued that the sacred cubit length of the Egyptians was beteeen 24.90 and 25.02 inches. Look at all the ones in recorded history, they all needed canes to walk meaning so too did Goliath. It is clear that 2 Sam. Competent scholars use this kind of language frequently, recognizing the connections between Israel and these other nations. Clyde E. Billington, GOLIATH AND THE EXODUS GIANTS: HOW TALL WERE THEY?,, Descendants of the Nephilim in Genesis 14, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_the_Giant, https://www.biblestudywithrandy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/10-The-Savior_The-Lord-Almighty-Reigns.m4a. At its center is a mound of loose stones over 65 feet in diameter and over 16 feet tall, covering a central chamber carved into solid rock. . Males averaged about 1m 75 cm; females 1m 60 cm, Neanderthals were considerably stronger and tougher. Finally, in spite of all of the fantastic (trick) photography on the internet, no remains of people who were 9-10 feet tall have ever been found in the Middle East. Thanks for writing. We are never given the measurements of any Nephilim (We are told the size of King Ogs bed in Deut. Saul was head and shoulder above anyone else so it would be only logical that the giant was taller than Saul would you agree? In my article I do point out that 2 Sam. Their joints, were larger; their bones thicker. kranttu 2 yr. ago. Produced by The Inspiration Networks, a faith-based family entertainment network, Angels & Giants, The Watchers & Nephilim presents four one-hour segments that are a serious investigation into the theories behind the Biblical giants. The Nephilim are referenced in Genesis and Numbers and are possibly referred to in Ezekiel. WebMany texts have confirmed Goliath as a Nephilim. That doesnt mean the solution reached in this paper is the correct solution for every apparent contradiction. The bones would have later been interred in a huge serpentine structure of loose stones adjacent to stone rings. In fact, the last True giant is killed in Deuteronomy. The Bible describes the Nephilim in several places, Landa said. How many people does it take, how far ranging geographically, and time-wise, however, are all good questions. 489-508). Check out the work of David Rohl. Saul disobeyed what God told him to do so he feared his life before this giant Champion of war but David was anointed with oil by the Prophet Samuel and Devil being only a youth of approximately 17 years of age was tested by God to prove his faith in God with a Shepherds sling as most left handed Benjamites therefore convinciby David how God would stand with him giving David a righteous indignation against Goliaths defying God in the face of Israel. Whether this is the correct explanation or not, I cant say for sure, but my point is that there are other explanations for the size of Ogs bed and the reference may not be to his stature. Just to throw I spanner in the works. Bible, Archaeology, Travel with Luke Chandler David didnt really kill Goliath, Elhanan did. What Are Demons? Well, Not Fallen Angels! 14 Jan 2022 Since we are only given the height of Goliath (and as this article points out, there are two different recordings of his height), it is not possible to know if he was the tallest or if someone else was taller. Thanks for your comment. Olive Gardens one of my favorite restaurants. People with Giantism average 8.5 feet tall or greater. 28-33) stated by unfaithful, disloyal, contradictory, embellishing spies who also contradict Moses, Caleb, Joshua, God, and the entire rest of the Bible, who make five assertions about which the rest of the Bible knows nothing, and whom God rebukes. its really nice to read articles written by a true follower of Jesus. The Samuel text is well-known for having suffered in transmission. How does this theory answer OG of Bashan and his 9 cubit x 4 cubit beadstead? Shortly thereafter she became pregnant with a child and named him Lahmi., Funny stuff Greg. there is no reason why he would have feared him. Please prove your assessment that the average height of the ancient Hebrews were only 5 or so. Maybe the four cubits could be the measurements taken from Goliaths dead body. Considering the average height of an Israelite at this time, someone who is roughly 6 1/2 feet would certainly be an intimidating presence. They have some physical differences, but those are not that easy to spot. The fact that 4QSam(a) is earlier than the MT and that it, and Chronicles, and the LXX, always agree with each other whenever there is a variant is compelling. However, this sounds more like some of the conspiracy theories you read on the web. Moonchild 17:5 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. Until they encounter a trigger that brings clearance. The Nephilim of The Bible are very easy to recognize. It makes sense to start in Israel where the story of the Nephilim began, Landa emphasized. Therefore, although the story in 1 Samuel 17 may not refer to Goliath as a giant, it seems certain that other passages indicate he was a descendant of the Nephilim. David was a boy when he killed goliath he was taller than the average israelite but was a boy between 12 and 14 (i am guessing). Its hard to see people constantly trying to view the Bible through the lens of disbelief; trying to explain legend with the limited grasp of a small-minded society. As I mentioned, I am happy for people to express opposing views. Today someone who is 6 feet or taller is a common occurrence, but remember, most people in the ancient world were nearly 9 inches to 1 foot smaller. . Thanks so much for your comments. I agree with you. 3. The skull, which is 23cm long and more than 15cm wide, is substantially larger than a modern humans and has ample room, at 1,420ml, for a modern human They might give more insights into the discussed height of Goliath. Hi Andre, It seems possible that cross genetics of either race combine together would make some interesting football and basketball players at time of life. Thanks for your extensive research and knowledge. WebNEPHILIM. Then, approximately 700 years later the Chronicler came along and tried to harmonize the conflicting stories of Goliaths demise found in 1 Sam. Im always willing to post opposing views. Ask yourself, is it possible that Goliaths parents, being good Philistines and giving Goliath a Philistine name, would give his brother the name Lahmi? Likewise King Saul (Hebrew asked for because the people asked for a king) is the historical Labaya. It is also amazing to me that the basic reading at any level of understanding leads us to Gods central message to His people, difficult differences in culture notwithstanding. Just because I may think the LXX has the correct reading in this case doesnt make me less of a believer. 1. The MT (from which the reading 99 comes from) has a history that goes back to the BC time period. Interestingly, the bible, the Tamid and the Not one time. All those 8 foot tall people today need canes to walk, so if he was a foot taller than them, just as Wadlow was (who also needed a cane to walk), how could he be a soldier if he couldnt even walk? My figures are based upon what other scholars have said. I appreciate your reading of the article and your reply. Humans are NOT like whales who live in the ocean Such a clean cut scenario does not coincide with reality. We seek out actual proof, the traces and clues that are out there in the world, and not just the faith-based claims. They are also evil, blood thirsty monsters. Thanks for your comments Mark. The public should be outraged, but The discussion in this thread is so silly. Which is interesting because its the length of the Ark. Randy, I would LOVE if a follow-up to this would ever be possible. This chart is more of percentile sizes between characters than actual set heights. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Thank you Jamie. In fact, there are many theories that believe that many Nephilim survived and their offspring live among us today. The first point that I would make is that my article is about examining the textual evidence for the best reading of the story.