PERSON · WARRIOR
Goliath
Goliath was the Philistine champion from Gath whose single-combat challenge to Israel was answered by the young David, resulting in a decisive Israelite victory and the rout of the Philistine army (1 Samuel 17:51–53).
1 Samuel 17:1–58
The Story
There is a moment in the history of Israel when the two armies faced each other across a valley and neither moved. The Philistines held the hill on one side; Israel held the hill on the other. Between them lay the valley of Elah, and into that valley, every morning and every evening for forty days, strode the same figure — massive, armored, and contemptuous — issuing the same dare.
His name was Goliath, and he came from Gath. Scripture describes him with the precision of a military record: a champion of the Philistines, standing six cubits and a span, wearing a bronze helmet, dressed in a coat of scale armor whose weight alone came to five thousand shekels of bronze. His legs were covered with bronze greaves. He carried a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders, and his spear's iron head weighed six hundred shekels. A shield bearer walked before him.
4And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
1 Samuel 17:4–5·KJV
This was not merely a large man; this was a walking fortification, armored from head to foot in materials that announced the Philistines' mastery of metalwork and their confidence in the superiority of their warrior.
The challenge Goliath issued was straightforward and, from a purely military perspective, reasonable. Why should two armies destroy each other? Let each side send one man, and let the outcome of that single combat decide the battle. If Israel's man won, the Philistines would serve Israel. If Goliath won, Israel would serve the Philistines. It was an ancient custom, a way of resolving war by proxy. But the challenge carried something more than a tactical proposal — it carried a theological provocation. Goliath defied the armies of Israel, which was, as the story makes plain, to defy the God of Israel. And for forty days, no one in Saul's army was willing to answer him.
Life & Legacy
Death
ScriptureGoliath was struck on the forehead by a stone from David's sling and fell face down on the ground; David then took Goliath's own sword and cut off his head (1 Samuel 17:49–51).
1 Samuel 17:49–51
Legacy
ScriptureGoliath's sword was kept at the tabernacle at Nob, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod, and was later retrieved by David (1 Samuel 21:9). His defeat by David became a reference point in later Israelite memory (1 Samuel 21:9).
1 Samuel 21:9
Character
ScriptureGoliath is described as a giant warrior standing approximately six cubits and a span tall, wearing a bronze helmet, a coat of scale armor weighing five thousand shekels of bronze, and carrying a bronze javelin, a spear with an iron point weighing six hundred shekels, and a shield bearer before him (1 Samuel 17:4–7). He challenged the Israelites to send a champion to fight him in single combat, taunting them for forty days (1 Samuel 17:8–16).
1 Samuel 17:4–16
Significance
ScriptureGoliath was the Philistine champion from Gath whose single-combat challenge to Israel was answered by the young David, resulting in a decisive Israelite victory and the rout of the Philistine army (1 Samuel 17:51–53).
1 Samuel 17:51–53
DeathScripture
Goliath was struck on the forehead by a stone from David's sling and fell face down on the ground; David then took Goliath's own sword and cut off his head (1 Samuel 17:49–51).
1 Samuel 17:49–51
LegacyScripture
Goliath's sword was kept at the tabernacle at Nob, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod, and was later retrieved by David (1 Samuel 21:9). His defeat by David became a reference point in later Israelite memory (1 Samuel 21:9).
1 Samuel 21:9
CharacterScripture
Goliath is described as a giant warrior standing approximately six cubits and a span tall, wearing a bronze helmet, a coat of scale armor weighing five thousand shekels of bronze, and carrying a bronze javelin, a spear with an iron point weighing six hundred shekels, and a shield bearer before him (1 Samuel 17:4–7). He challenged the Israelites to send a champion to fight him in single combat, taunting them for forty days (1 Samuel 17:8–16).
1 Samuel 17:4–16
SignificanceScripture
Goliath was the Philistine champion from Gath whose single-combat challenge to Israel was answered by the young David, resulting in a decisive Israelite victory and the rout of the Philistine army (1 Samuel 17:51–53).
1 Samuel 17:51–53
Artist's impression