WT Article - David Versus Goliath—Did It Really Happen?

by ttdtt 20 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • ttdtt
    ttdtt

    https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/watchtower-no5-2016-september/david-versus-goliath-real/

    The article ends with this:

    There is no real basis for doubting the truthfulness of this historical account. It involves real people and real places.

    Except that their is NO reason to believe it what so ever. No evidence at all really.

    Some insist that Goliath could not have been that tall, but consider: In modern times, the tallest man documented was over 8 feet 11 inches (2.7 m) tall.

    Now if anyone knows anything about the tallest man they are referring to - you would know that he would not have made a great warrior. Robert Wadllow suffered from a pituitary gland disorder, and that would not make him a mighty warrior, but a man who could hardly walk.

    Also there is real disagreement to what the scripture says.

    "Goliath's stature as described in various ancient manuscripts varies: the oldest manuscripts—the Dead Sea Scrolls text of Samuel, the 1st century historian Josephus, and the 4th century Septuagint manuscripts—all give his height as "four cubits and a span" (6 feet 9 inches or 2.06 metres) whereas the Masoretic Text gives this as "six cubits and a span" (9 feet 9 inches or 2.97 metres; Hebrew: שֵׁ֥שׁ אַמֹּ֖ות וָזָֽרֶת‎‎ šêš ’ammōṯ wā-zāreṯ)"


    Again another article asking you to believe something extraordinary without any evidence at all.


    Funny the depiction below vs. what a real person would look like Goliath is really a GIANT whereas Robert is just a very tall man. Goliath seems as big as a T-Rex:)


  • Anders Andersen
    Anders Andersen

    Is Iron Man real?

    1) Exoskeleton and experimental jet packs exist, so the technology is hardly impossible.

    2) Captain America spoke about Iron Man. He considered him real.

    3) The USA, where Iron Man lives and works, is a real country! Many tourists have seen it's astonishing beauty while they visited the places where Iron Man fought his battles.

    There is no good reason to doubt that Iron Man is more than just a story.

    Yup. Seems legit!

  • ttdtt
    ttdtt

    YES I SAW IRON MAN ON TV! HE IS REAL DUDE!

    Drives cool cars too!

  • stuckinarut2
    stuckinarut2

    Everything in the bible is real, because it says everything that it says is real, hence it must be real because otherwise it would have said it wasn't real: so it is real...

    Really!

  • problemaddict 2
    problemaddict 2

    Malcom Gladwel had a book entitled David and Goliath. He doesnt question the actual account, but suggests there are good reasons to believe Goliath wasnt all that. That he too has the same pituitary gland disorder which can also cause diplopia (double vision), which would explain why Goliath says "so you come to me with sticks" (plural), when david only has his staff. Also, he had a shield bearer, which would possibly indicate some other restrictions related to that disorder. I cant think of the name.

    His point is more about how seeming advantages can be disadvantages, and vice versa, using this story as a set off point with things not being as lopsided as they may have seemed. It was pretty interesting.

  • Mephis
    Mephis
    There is no real basis for doubting the truthfulness of this historical account. It involves real people and real places.
    Other than the story as it's given in the bible is internally inconsistent and so at best only contains a kernel of truth?
    David is made an armour bearer to Saul because he can play music to chase off the evil spirit God send to torment Saul (I know right?). Saul knows him, and his father. An armour bearer would be in close proximity to the person who he is attending. Trusted to be in close proximity. David then turns up to fight Goliath where Saul doesn't recognise him whatsoever and hasn't a clue who his father is. After killing Goliath, Saul keeps him at his court and David works his way up the ranks etc etc.
    If you think this part of the bible is a collected edition of tales about a semi-mythological founding father of a royal dynasty, this makes sense. David gets all the good stories attributed to him and they all get written down even if they don't mesh neatly into one biography. So, right from the start, you've a good indication there's darn fine reasons to doubt this account is either historical or truthful.
  • ttdtt
    ttdtt
    problemaddict 2

    The Gladwell book is EXCELLENT - just reading the chapter about Goliath is fantastic - and also makes so much sense. If you think about it - it's so plain. The bible has drummed BS into all of us. There is a scripture about Up being Down and Good being Bad - well that's the bible making Stories and Lies into "truth".

  • Crazyguy
    Crazyguy

    Goliath was clearly discribed as wearing Greek hop lite armor which came at a later time.

  • problemaddict 2
    problemaddict 2

    Ttdtt,

    Did you catc the chapter about childrens leukemia and blood transfusions? I mean.......the areogance of JWs claiming blood is simply bad medicine. It fills me with rage.

  • konceptual99
    konceptual99

    Brilliant Anders.

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