Those five smooth stones

Details matter, like David choosing five stones for his sling from the nearby stream before facing the feared nine-feet-tall Philistine giant, Goliath. Only one was needed, when slung “in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (1 Sam. 17:45). We even teach this familiar story in a children’s song: “And one little stone went into the sling and the sling went round and round…” Here the kids pantomime  the sling. “And the giant came tumbling down!”

What about the other stones? Would David have tried again? Would he have had enough time to sling another rock before the giant charged at him with that immense shaft with its 15-pound iron point (17:7)? Or was David counting on one stone for Goliath, and the rest for four other giants in the pack?

Although that passage doesn’t mention other giants in the enemy army, other scriptures tell of other huge warriors descended from Rapha, known as a tribe of huge men. Move over to 2 Samuel 21. By this time, Saul had died and David is king with his own warrior assistants in continuing wars against the pesky Philistines.

1. King David had gone down to help fight one particular battle, but became exhausted. One of those in the enemy camp determined to kill David was Ishbi-Benob. This man was “one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword” (v. 16). In weights we’re familiar with, that was about 7 ½ pounds, or half the size of Goliath’s. Abishai didn’t want his commander, King David, at risk, so killed Ishi-Benob himself.

2. In another battle, at Gob, a warrior named Sibbecai killed Saph, described as another descendant of Rapha (v. 18).

3. Then, while battling Philistines at Gob, “Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod” (v. 19). In a parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 20:5, we’re given clarification of this: “Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.” The name “Goliath,” by the way, could be related to the Hebrew “golleh,” which means “an exile,” or from an Arabic root for “stout.”

Some folks quarrel over this verse, claiming the Bible can’t be true because one place it says David killed Goliath and another it says Elhanan did. Sorry, but they’re mistaken. David, when a young shepherd, killed Goliath near the valley of Elah, southwest of Jerusalem. Elhanan’s slaying of Goliath’s brother, on behalf of now-King David, was at Gob, believed to be northwest of Jerusalem.

4. Finally, 2 Samuel 21:20 tells of a huge man, unnamed but having six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. Jonathan son of Shimea (the Jonathan who was son of King Saul was dead by now) killed this one at Gath.

Maybe you’re thinking, “So much for history, but what does all this mean for me?” It’s this: spiritual giants still threaten. In his book Killing Giants, Pulling Thorns, Charles Swindoll names some of them: fear, bitterness, jealousy, lust, depression, loneliness, grief, pain, procrastination and rumor. Be assured: more lurk out there.  Swindoll's pastoral reminder: “Turn your Goliath over to Jehovah, the giant-killer.”

Named your giants? Ready to slay them in the power of God? He's mightier, you know.