GIANTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT: PART VI GOLIATH
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Giants are no strangers to human history and more than one Bigfoot Researcher has mentioned the possibility that the Giants in Genesis known as the Nephilim are a reference to ancient Bigfoot. There are several giants referenced in the book of Genesis that are not as explicit. The website Answers in Genesis does a great job uncovering many of the giants that are less well-known.
Goliath
Of course, the most renowned giant was the mighty Philistine slain by David. Here is how he is described in Scripture.
“And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him” (1 Samuel 17:4–7).
Notice that Goliath was from Gath, which happened to be one of the three places where Anakim remained, according to Joshua 11:21–22. So although he is not called one in 1 Samuel 17, it is possible that Goliath was a descendant of the Anakim who mixed with the Philistine population in that area.
There is some debate about Goliath’s height due to the textual variants in ancient manuscripts. Most English translations follow the Masoretic text in listing his height at “six cubits and a span” (approximately 9’9”). However, the NET Bible puts Goliath at “close to seven feet tall.” The reason for the discrepancy is that the Masoretic Text differs from some ancient texts, including the Septuagint and an ancient manuscript found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, labeled 4QSam, which list Goliath’s height as four cubits and a span (approximately 6’9”).
Many modern scholars believe there is stronger textual support for the shorter Goliath. But while he is not specifically called a giant in this passage, 2 Samuel 21:15–22 seems to identify Goliath as the “giant” (raphah) from Gath. There are other details provided that make the “six cubits and a span” the more likely figure. For example, the sheer weight of his armaments required that he must have been of enormous size and strength. His coat of mail weighed about 125 pounds and just the tip of his spear was 15 pounds. This does not even take into account his helmet, armor on his legs, javelin, or sword. Also, I personally find it hard to believe that every member of Israel’s army would have been terrified of someone who was my height (6’9”).
There are many other details about the account of David and Goliath that are often overlooked. Most people assume David was a short young man when he fought against the giant, but the Bible is very clear that David was considered “a mighty man of valor, [and] a man of war” (1 Samuel 16:18) prior to fighting Goliath.
Were there Giants among men referenced in the Bible? Were these giants ancient Bigfoot and Sasquatches? Besides the Nephilim there could be other Rephaim, Zuzim, Emim, and the Amorites. Ron Morehead believes the Old Testament may contain clues to the Sasquatch and further our knowledge about Bigfoot in ancient times.
SRC: https://answersingenesis.org/bible-characters/giants-in-the-old-testament/