Footsteps of Goliath

One of the most popular stories in the Bible is the epic battle between David and Goliath, in which young David—armed only with a rock and a slingshot—dropped the giant Goliath in his tracks with a well-placed shot to the forehead. But how historically accurate is the tale? Biblical anthropologists present their findings in Footsteps of Goliath, a fascinating account of “Goliath,” believed to be a man of exceptional height coming from a tribe known as the Rephaim, a people who took refuge among the Philistines and were involved in a number of construction projects in and around Jerusalem. The Rephaim are pictured in many hieroglyphics as being tall (at least six to seven feet) and often having six fingers on each hand. Goliath's scriptural height of "six cubits and a span" (approximately 10 1/2 feet) is a bit of an exaggeration in the opinion of scholars interviewed here, but the account of the battle may otherwise be considered largely accurate. Sure to be a popular addition to general religious collections, this is recommended. Aud: P. (J. Carlson)