David and the Giants Biblical Story

The biblical account of David and Giants is one of the most popular stories in the Bible. This is a lesson of courage, belief, and overcoming seemingly impossible. The Philistines battled Saul. Their champion warrior Goliath taunts the Israeli army every day. However, no Hebrew soldier dared to face this huge man.

The biblical story of David and the Giants is about the youngest and lowliest of Jesse’s sons takes on the number one enemy of the Israelite people: the Philistine giant Goliath.

This story in the Bible has been used in countless sports analogies and anything that points to the weak overcoming giants. But where did the original story of David and Giants in the Bible come from?

What is the Story of David and the Giants?

What is the Story of David and the Giants?
What is the Story of David and the Giants? (David and the Giants)

David is the youngest of Jesse’s twelve sons. One day, the State of Israel was asked to fight the Philistine army gathered to participate in the war. When David’s brothers went to fight, the young David stayed.

The two armies gathered on opposite sides of a deep valley. A great Philistine giant Goliath is over 9 feet tall and comes to the front of the Philistine frontline forty days a day, mocking the Israelites and their gods.

Goliath called them to fight, but King Saul and the Israelites were afraid and did nothing. David was sent to the front by his father Jesse and brought back news of his brothers’ battle.

David heard Goliath mock Israel and their God. David was brave and volunteered to fight Goliath. He persuaded King Saul to let go of the fight and decided not to wear King Saul’s armor. Carrying a sling, David collected five smooth stones.

Goliath mocked David, but David responded that although Goliath had a sword and a spear, he came as the God of Almighty Lord Israel. David put a stone on the sling and shook a stone on Goliath’s head.

The rock sank into the giant’s forehead, and he fell. David then took the giant’s sword and used it to kill the giant and cut off his head.

Where is the story of David and Giants mentioned in the Bible?

Where is the story of David and Giants mentioned in the Bible?
Where is the story of David and Giants mentioned in the Bible? (David and the Giants)

The story of David and the Giants is mentioned in 1 Samuel 17. David said to the Philistine:

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. (David and the Giants)

It is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47) .

Quick Read: Fernando Ortega Biography, History and Facts

Who was David and what is his character mentioned in the Bible?

Who was David and what is his character mentioned in the Bible?
Who was David and what is his character mentioned in the Bible? (David and the Giants)

David was appointed king by Samuel (the last judge in Israel) during his youth (Samuel 1:13:13), and he was a loser who was not expected. He is the youngest of seven brothers, and he still has a lot of life (“Chronicle 2:13-15”).

Although he spent some time to shepherd domestic sheep, he did some part-time work, playing the harp for King Saul and becoming the king’s armored soldier (Samuel 16:21).

But, most importantly, David has been known as God’s heart all his life (Acts 13:22). From having the faith to assume Goliath to trusting God throughout the turbulent life, he embodies faith and obedience.

Read: Genesis 34 (Dinah and the Shechemites)

Who was Goliath and what is his character mentioned in the Bible?

Who was Goliath and what is his character mentioned in the Bible?
Who was Goliath and what is his character mentioned in the Bible? (David and the Giants)

Now we must look at this challenger proposed by the Philistines. We often hear his height, but how tall is he?

Different interpretations of the text have different heights: anything from six feet six inches to nine feet six inches. No matter how tall he is, we must remember that the armor he wears weighs 125 pounds (Samuel 17:5).

Some people associate his legacy with Nephilim, who is a group of people with demonic DNA and is said to be huge. This man is very big. (David and the Giants)

Also, we must look at the Philistines themselves to understand why the Israelis flinch. Although the Philistines may have hired Goliath as a mercenary from Gate, the Philistines themselves may have connections with the people of the sea.

As described in this article, the people of the sea caused severe damage in the Mediterranean and brought the first Dark Age.

This is not a typical army (or challenger) against Israel. They are ruthless, enthusiastic, and continue to haunt Israel throughout history.

Read More: Genesis 33 (Jacob Meets Esau)

What is so remarkable about David and the Giant’s story?

What is so remarkable about David and the Giant_s story
What is so remarkable about David and the Giant_s story (David and the Giants)

Although the age at which David defeated Goliath is controversial, as he said on this hermeneutics website, it is logical to make guesses when he was a teenager.

 Not only did he not reach adult age, but he hadn’t heard of the youngest of the families who challenged Israel’s first enemy (it was considered the least at the time).

Also, although King Saul tried to fight David before some battles, they were not suitable. Instead, David chose his weapon, slingshot, and five smooth stones. (David and the Giants)

Even when Goliath saw who Israel chose as their champion and what they chose to give him as a weapon, he laughed at this (1 Samuel 17:43).

What is the Historical Context of David and the Giant’s Story?

What is the Historical Context of David and the Giant_s Story
What is the Historical Context of David and the Giant_s Story (David and the Giants)

The Philistines were probably the original seamen. They left the coastal areas of Greece, Asia Minor, and the Aegean Islands and penetrated the eastern coastal areas of the Mediterranean.

Some of them came from Crete and then settled in Canaan on the Mediterranean coast. The Philistines ruled the area, including the five fortified cities of Gaza, Ghat, Ekron, Ashkelon, and Ashdod.

From 1200 BC to 1000 BC, the Philistines were the main enemy of Israel. As a nation, they are proficient in using iron tools and forging weapons, which allows them to create impressive tanks.

 Because of these chariots, they ruled the coastal plains, but they were ineffective in the mountains of central Israel. The neighbors of the Philistines and the Israelis are at a disadvantage. (David and the Giants)

Why should the Israelis wait 40 days before they start fighting? Everyone is afraid of giants. He seems invincible. Even King Saul, the highest person in Israel, did not come forward to fight. But the equally important reason is related to the characteristics of the land.

The sides of the valley are very steep. Whoever takes action first will suffer major adverse effects and may suffer huge losses. Both sides are waiting for the other to attack first.

What are the lessons that the story of David and the Giants teaches us?

What are the lessons that the story of David and the Giants teaches us?
What are the lessons that the story of David and the Giants teaches us? (David and the Giants)

David’s faith in God made him look at giants from another angle. Goliath is just a mortal, fighting against the omnipotent God. David looked at this battle from the perspective of God.

If we look at huge problems and impossible situations from the perspective of God, we will realize that God will fight for us. When we look at things with the right eyes, we will see things more clearly, and we can fight more effectively.

David chose not to wear the king’s armor because it was bulky and strange. David is satisfied with his simple sling (a skillfully used weapon).

 God will use the unique skills he has mastered, so there is no need to worry about “wearing the king’s armor”. Just be yourself and use the familiar gifts and talents God has given you. He will work wonders on you. (David and the Giants)

When the giant criticized, insulted, and threatened, David did not stop or even shake. Everyone else flinched, but David took part in the battle. He knew that action was needed.

Despite discouraging insults and terrifying threats, David did the right thing. Only the opinion of God is important to David.

Conclusion

We can see how this story of David and the Giants points to Jesus. Jesus is not what the Israelis expect of the championship. They thought they would get a warrior who pushed the Romans down.

This story still makes sense, because we face giants every day. Whether it’s economic pressure that broke our family or we don’t know how our marriage will stay together, we all face obstacles, that is, we don’t see our ability to overcome them.

Jesus can do the same. No matter which giant is facing us, we can believe in God because he knows that he has defeated the biggest giant of all.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What is the moral of the story of David and Goliath?

David and Goliath are often referenced as a moral lesson of how underdogs can overcome the odds and be successful. The story goes that Goliath, a giant and the champion of the Philistines, challenged the Israelites to send out their champion and decide the outcome of their ongoing war in single combat.

What is the story of David in the Bible?

David is described in the Hebrew Bible as the third king of the United Monarchy of Israel and Judah, becoming king after Ish-bosheth. In the Books of Samuel, David is a young shepherd who gains fame first as a musician and later by killing the enemy champion Goliath.

How big were the giants in the Bible?

The King James translation of the Bible reports the giant Goliath as “six cubits and a span” in height—about nine feet nine inches tall, (over 2.75 m) (1Samuel 17:4 KJV), but the Septuagint, a Greek Bible, gives Goliath’s height as “four cubits and a span” (~2.00 m).

How is King David related to Jesus?

Matthew begins by calling Jesus the son of David, indicating his royal origin, and also the son of Abraham, indicating that he was an Israelite; both are stock phrases, in which son means descendant, calling to mind the promises God made to David and Abraham.

What is the meaning behind the story of David and Goliath?

The underlying purpose of the story of Goliath is to show that Saul is not fit to be king (and that David is). Saul was chosen to lead the Israelites against their enemies, but when faced with Goliath he refuses to do so; Saul is a very tall man, but Goliath is a giant.