The story of David and Goliath found in the Bible is probably one of the most well-known and often-told stories from the Old Testament. It carries with it a wonderful lesson – that no problem is too big in the eyes of God. If we see everything in the same perspective as God, huge problems and situations that seem impossible can be seen more clearly. We can deal with them more effectively, especially with God on our side.
The story explains the war that the Philistines initiated against King Saul and the Israelites. Goliath, a giant who towered 9-feet tall, was part of the army of the Philistines. Each day he came to the front lines of the fighting adorned in a full set of armor to intimidate the Israelites. Not one man was brave enough to take on Goliath. His mocking of Saul and the rest of the Israelite army was unrelenting.
While no “man” would fight Goliath, a young shepherd named David shook off his fear and doubt. With only a sling, a bag full of stones, and his faith in God, David confronted Goliath while shouting, “I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty.” Before Goliath could strike a blow, David pulled out his sling and struck Goliath in the forehead through the smallest of openings in his armor. Goliath dropped to the ground and was dead.
Tales from the bible are often the source of interest to scientists seeking to find the truth or fiction in them. This story is one that has fascinated them for years. Physicians have suggested that Goliath was actually a man afflicted with a disease called acromelagy or “gigantism”. The pituitary gland in people who suffer from this disease releases excess amounts of growth hormones, causing them to become unusually tall. If this theory were true, Goliath would probably have succumbed to this disease at any time.
But why was David so easily able to sneak up on the giant in order to kill him? Scientists explain this by saying that a side effect of gigantism is partial blindness or tunnel vision. The secretion of excess growth hormones by the pituitary gland is normally caused by the formation of a tumor. This tumor could have compressed the giant’s optic chiasm, the part of the brain where the optic nerves cross. With impaired sight and no peripheral vision, David could easily have gotten close enough to Goliath to get off the fatal shot.
Others who are skeptical ask how a single stone could bring down the fearsome giant. The tumor is also the explanation for this. If it was the tumor that was struck by the rock, it may have ruptured and then bled, causing Goliath to die.
Even if Goliath’s size was a direct result of gigantism, this should not take away from the David’s bravery and faith in the face of danger. Neither the Philistines, the Israelites, nor the young shepherd David understood why Goliath was such a giant. The lesson still holds that God can make anything possible if you have faith.
Robert Mann is a published poet and writer living in California. Mr. Mann is also News Editor of the Christian news website http://www.FreeChristianPress.com.
