I appreciate his work. So, someone decided to add a few cubits to Goliaths height making him 6 cubits and a span. Im glad you enjoyed the article Ben. . God bless! The explanation you offer also comes with an agenda and that agenda is clearly seen in your sarcasm toward the biblical accounts. No, with the four categories of giant the Bible gives, Goliath was merely regarded as a giant, but not a true one. ), then that makes it a perfectly legitimate source. But alas, this writing only includes and refers to a certain location and peoples, not USA or Hawaiian Islands, H. I. I have no problem with that. Bible Places I looked into this matter further. You raise some good questions. I think the term Giant means Giant. The fact that his coat of chain mail was 125 pounds alone Now Im sure there are some of us that could put that on our shoulders, but do you think you can fight like that? Other markings indicate star risings. I dont buy into this. These pictures of so-called Nephilim are dubious (see photo above on left). Our tool can measure up to 10,000 meters, thats about 32,808.4 feet! They are also evil, blood thirsty monsters. 2) Such a claim is based on him having been subjectively unusually tall and the claim that Nephilim were unusually tall. WebThe Nephilim in Hebrew is translated to fall and is interpreted by many as the Fallen Angels due to mentions in ancient texts. Until they encounter a trigger that brings clearance. Thanks for your extensive research and knowledge. 489-508). And to wield a spear with a 15 pound head on it. Naturally, this view requires seeing the giant clans encountered in the conquest as physical descendants of the Nephilim ( Num. and 2 Sam. Regarding 1 Samuel 17, as a number of scholars have pointed out, Goliath is never called a giant in this text. This could mean he was extremely tall but there is also another explanation for it which I have mentioned already in the comment section here. Descendants of Category 2. That is the way we all learn. We may never know. If a guy whos 8 feet cant hardly walk, theres no chance hes going to be holding a sword and fighting! To The Most High be the Glory, If Goliath had been 30 feet tall the out come would have been the same. And, if anything, for those who call the Bible a fairytale of scribal whims, it makes them think again. Saul was a head taller than the other Israelites. Different psychics and mediums claim that they can recognize Nephilim and people with Nephilim ancestry. If you are not sure, these few characteristics might convince you if that person was, in fact, a Nephilim or an offspring. It is disengenuous to call them all middle Eastern. I would agree that it seems we are trying to rationalize what we do not want to believe here with the 6ft. Calvary Chapel York If you follow the story of Saul in 1 Samuel, it emphasizes his fear and lack of faith. The public should be outraged, but The Nephilim of The Bible are very easy to recognize. First, the word Nephilites or Nephilim, which some Bible scholars translate as "giants." Also, although you might not be intimidated by someone 69 is not the point. My article is looking at the evidence for which reading seems to be the most original. Hi Morris, My understanding of what hes saying is that even though the Lahmi brother of Goliath occurs in the Chroniclers account (which was obviously compiled later), this particular passage reflects an earlier form of the text. 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. In my opinion, this may be the case here. The entranceway to the center looks out on the sunrise on the summer solstice. A six-foot tall man cant possibly appear to be tall enough to be an intimidating danger to the Israeli army. 3:11. 2. 6 Foot 9? Perhaps Fields Of The Nephilims best-known song thanks to it reaching no.28 in the official UK single charts after its release in the summer of 1988. Males averaged about 1m 75 cm; females 1m 60 cm, Neanderthals were considerably stronger and tougher. Hey, I learned! Your email address will not be published. I would encourage you to read some of my responses in the comment section and also encourage you to read other articles of mine. I appreciate your reading of the article and your reply. Og was named in Deuteronomy (3:11) as the only remaining man from the Rephaim. Thank you for making what sounded like a complex issue clear and understandable. Thank you Mark. 3. It would seem cubit would get longer (due to increasing physiological conditions and such), but even if bodies were a little larger in the early CE, a cubit size could have been calculated smaller than in earlier times (for whatever reason). The Smithsonian Museum would appear to have been the most notorious thief and misappropriated loser of relics and national archives in the history of the world. . They needed the high ground from giants. The point of the article is to examine Scripture and see where the evidence leads. God bless. My desire is to examine the text and to the best of my ability to understand which reading is the most likely. 21:19. Check out LA Marzuli and youll see 61-9 is not Goliaths height. Let me begin by saying that I have not personally dug up any people from ancient Israel or anywhere else in the Middle East. It would be akin today to saying that the only people who live in New York City are Americans, or the only people living in London are English. However, two considerations should be borne in mind. Greetings, brother! The writers of the New Testament quoted from it frequently. Also, some of them look like unearthly beautiful human beings!!!! 11:22). However, Billington agrees with Hays that the average Israelite was somewhere in the range of 5 feet to 53. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. If some come to light that would be fascinating. Thanks for the article it was good reading. How does this theory answer OG of Bashan and his 9 cubit x 4 cubit beadstead? However, if we adjust the size of the cubit and span to what would be more likely for an ancient Israelite, then, according to Billing, 16.5 inches would be a reasonable cubit and 7.5 inches would equal a span. The English translations of Genesis 6:4 often read giants. The Hebrew word is Nephilim. The Nephilim were believed to be very large people, hence the translation giants. However this is not what the Hebrew word means, it is a translation of what it might mean. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The narrative of Num 13 implies that ten spies concocted a Dont go in the woods! type of scare-tactic, fear-mongering tall tale. 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)? This is well documented in a work of his that friends published in 1737 after his death. I would take exception with a few things in your statement. Angels Look at guys like Shaq whos a little over 7. I know that some things in the bible are hard to grasp and I know the desire is to defend these issues in the modern world that believes the bible to be myth and fairytale. Your response is excellent. Ask yourself, is it possible that Goliaths parents, being good Philistines and giving Goliath a Philistine name, would give his brother the name Lahmi? Randy. I am always humbled and grateful for those who help us navigate the stark differences in our world and the world of the Old Covenant. Giants are not folklore. 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). Likewise Elhanan the one who killed Goliath, is simply the birth name of King David. Your email address will not be published. In my article I do point out that 2 Sam. and yes it is biblically based. Why do I bring this up? I forgot to mention that us average sized a people, Im five feet eleven inches, dont consider basket ballers giants. The Bible DOES NOT say he is from Gob only that is where the battle took place and where Elhanan slew him. Just to throw I spanner in the works. 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. even allegorically this would not make sense. So, my point: Using 25 inches as the baseand calculating 4 cubits and a span, we have around 109 inches (just around 9 feet). Let me make a few points: This second figure seems impossibly low for a giant like Goliath and we might be tempted to automatically throw it out as a possibility. As I have emphasized in other responses to this post, this has nothing to do with my belief in the inspiration of the Bible. I have really enjoyed reading this article. 1. No different than if I said, Its raining cats and dogs. No one would take me literally. It should be pointed out, however, that this explanation is not necessarily an objective point of view whereas other explanations are based on preconceived ideas. Brothers and sisters, when we read a headline that reads, Warriors annihilate Rockets in Game 6, we dont actually think that one basketball team committed violence against another. Numbers 13:33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.. The Chronicles account only helps to clear up the confusion. This chart is more of percentile sizes between characters than actual set heights. Remember that the early church used the LXX. Im sure Goliath was massive. Before continuing, when seeking the truth about Goliaths height, we should caution ourselves concerning our own prejudices. Not one time. It is a misinterpretation of Scripture to take statements that are hyperbolic and make them literal. i dont care when in history a human was born 6ft. Thanks for your question. 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. 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. Image from Arik. Therefore, they excite the human mind and imagination. Therefore, it is not disingenuous to speak about people of the Ancient Near East and include Israel in that category. Some Giants are as tall as the trees of Lebanon and those trees are described here as 130 tall Cedrus libani, commonly known as the cedar of Lebanon or Lebanon cedar, is a species of cedar native to the mountains of the Eastern Mediterranean basin. The things you site in your comments (Wall of China, South America, etc) are not evidence for people of that height. Its more likely David would have been around 5 foot or so (very realistic for the period), and Goliath around 7-ish (another realistic amount for the period). Billington estimates that a person who is 5 feet tall would have a span of about 7 1/2 inches. If you have done any archaeological work yourself, or if you have some credible archaeological sources that refute this stat, I would certainly be interested in knowing about those sources. There is quite reasonably going to be a mixture of Philistine and Judean and Canaanite cultures. No Randy, the Chroniclers text is a deliberate harmonization of the text to resolve the conflict. 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. If Goliath was but 4 cubit that would mean david didnt slay the tallest man in the world. First, we should not judge Goliaths height based on modern standards, but rather on ancient Near Eastern standards. . Hi Dave, Humans are NOT like whales who live in the ocean 21 refers to Goliath as the rapha which is sometimes translated as giant in English translations. Average height of Jewish men in David's time is said to be about 5 feet tall. This was interesting and I agree with Hays to a point on this. It is no doubt a very reliable tradition of the text so thats one reason. Look at Robert Wadlow (the one mentioned who was 8 feet, 11.1 inches tall at last measurement). 1. The other link in my post refers to an article by Clyde Billington. BTW, the word giants there is a different Hebrew word Rephaim. Michael Heiser in his book The Unseen Realm points out that Ogs bed size does not necessarily refer to his height but may have another meaning which I cant use the space for here. It seems possible that cross genetics of either race combine together would make some interesting football and basketball players at time of life. How an a soldier fight if they cant hardly walk? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Archaeologists generally place the beginning of the construction as early as 3500 BCE. Thanks for your comment and question. I agree with what you said mark Sorry for bad spelling. One such prehistoric serpentine mound is Serpent Mound in Ohio. Any non-standard unit of measurement is sure to have fluxes and variations. Lets start with Genesis 6:4 in one of the Modern versions, the NIV: Genesis 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those daysand also afterwardwhen the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. This has already been suggested to the dev numerous times to be added into the base game. 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. . . 3. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. For some, a person 99 is out of the realm of reality, and they would therefore be inclined to the more reasonable reading of 6 9 61. A final point I would make is that there are some scholars who believe that the text of 1 Chron. My figures are based upon what other scholars have said. It all makes sense that goliath truly was a giant and not just a taller man, Either way thats not the point of the story but fascinating either way. Some say Goliath stood at four cubits and a span which is about 7.80 feet (2.38 It is certainly possible that the size of his bed suggests he was of unusual height. It could even conceivably involve the use of names from a bordering culture. 20:5 is not a late product manufactured to ease the contradiction in 2 Sam. Now, to really see something great go back into time and you will see and know the truth. Your encouragement and comments are deeply appreciated. I am also taking into consideration the average height of the time and the fact that no large skeletons have yet (and I emphasize yet) been uncovered through archaeology. Maybe the later manuscripts had to update a change in cubit length? Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Randy, I have heard a similar approach before by others, but it creates a whole new issue with the baseline that is more difficult to determine. 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. Though the Rephaim are never mentioned directly in the same breath as the Nephilim, they are directly connected to the Anakim, whom are connected with the Nephilim. Steve Quayle has conducted much research on the topic, and claims the two were cousins, or, shared some sort of blood relation. God bless! Then, approximately 700 years later the Chronicler came along and tried to harmonize the conflicting stories of Goliaths demise found in 1 Sam. 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. Moshe Garsiel in his recent commentary on 1&2 Samuel presents an interesting argument that Elhanan is another name for David. Two spans are usually considered to make a cubit, although they are in fact a little short of a cubit. (Genesis 6:14) More often than not its just easier to shrug our shoulders and move on to the story of Noah and his family. 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. First, as I know you are aware, there are as many explanations for these two passages as there are commentators and commentaries. Im not convinced, however, about his identification of Saul and Labaya. Thank you for your kind words Dr. Marcus. Shorter still, being between 8 & 99. Not a perfect example, but still appropriate. 3:1-11). Since the Israelites didnt refer to their appx. Michael Heiser in his book, The UnSeen Realm, points out that Ogs bed size may actually be a reference to the Babylonian god Marduk whose bed was described by these same dimensions. Also, I dont read anywhere in the Bible where king Saul (6+ feet tall) was referred to as a giant so I dont see why the Israelites would call Goliath a giant if he was only 6 in a half feet tall or thereabouts. If we had time travel, somebody could go back in time and say excuse me Goliath I just want to take your measurements for future biblical prints so all will know the truth! Its readings are worth considering on a case by case basis. Also, nowhere does it state in 2 Samuel that the person they are talking about is Goliath. The Nephilim of The Bible are very easy to recognize. You and others in the blog have sparked my interest. The name Jaare-Oregim is incorrect and the Oregim has been accidentally copied from the statement of the weavers beam later in the verse. In fact, I have done a study on giants and found out there are 4 categories. So.. I therefore believe its possible that later scribes revised based on the 18 inch cubit length that was prevalent at the time of the Masoretes when they updated the numbers to an 18 inch system (widely in use at the time). 2. Second, it is important to examine the textual evidence for each reading. The lack of giant bone evidence could be the result of their being cannibals and the Israelites always being ordered to consume their remains in bonfires. Your explanation is one possibility and is put forth by a number of OT scholars. The notion that Goliaths brother must be from Gath originally, means he couldnt possibly have fought a battle and died in another Philistine town called Gob is ludicrous. Goliath had 3 relatives later killed not sure their height was recorded. These are the heights we frequently hear referenced by pastors and teachers when commenting on 1 Samuel 17:4. Considering the average height of an Israelite at this time, someone who is roughly 6 1/2 feet would certainly be an intimidating presence. and assumed it was correct. This theory is an attempt to do away with what the Bible says. Some argue that the weight of Goliaths weaponry and armor better fits someone who. Hi Andre, 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).