Rethinking David and Goliath: The falsehood History told

in #writing7 years ago
Giants are not what we think they are.The same qualities that appear to give them strength are often the sources of great weakness.
_ Malcom Gladwell

P.S This work is about the biblical account of the historical battle between David and Goliath. My decision to do this review is not birthed from the fact that I might not be a believer of the word, but rather, it is hinged on the fact that I understood that this very story is a narration of history that was reported and not to be liken to the epistles of the Apostles. The full account of what really happened might have not been given and it is no wrong subjecting it to criticism.


3f2858bd407f70380442265976884212.jpg


The narration.

I happened to come across a video by Malcom Gladwell about the biblical story of the Giant and the Shepard boy. He named it: The Unheard story of David and Goliath.
According to Malcom Gladwell, the very story that has been told for centuries about the practical imbalance between the Giant and the Shepard boy have been taught wrongly.
The typical story tells about the Goliath coming to defile the armies of Israel and rendering an open challenge to them. Which out of fear and total lack of gut nobody in the ranks was able to accept. Then came David who was a Shepard and had the experience of defeating wild bears and lions. He decided to take the challenge and come against the giant.
He took Five smooth stones, refused the armor and went to the center of meeting with his enemy. The enemy was heavy armoured and felt insulted. He invites the young Shepard and David came forth with his sling, prepared it for battle and released the stone. He hit his target, the giant was down, and his fate was being headless by his own sword.

Malcom Gladwell Analysis

In his analysis the following should be taken note of;
Ancient armies had three kinds of warriors. The first was cavalry—armed men on horseback or in chariots.
The second was infantry—foot soldiers wearing armor and carrying swords and shields.
The third were projectile warriors, or what today would be called artillery: archers and, most important, slingers.
2. David was an expert slinger and have exerted such expertise in his battles against the bears and lions.
3. David went against Goliath with a staff, his sling and five stones.
4. The Giant was being accompanied into the battle field by an attendant.
5. Goliath said;come to me that I may give your flesh to the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the fields.
6. The Giant also said: Am I a dog that you should come to me with sticks?
7. And finally the invitation to a combat as envisage by the giant was a single combat.
Now the key words are;
a. A staff(that is one Stick)
b. Come to me
c. Sticks( in plural)

1 Samuel 17


38ea8655f1740b7922bd14f42ed52075.jpg
Malcom Gladwell

In the learned author's opinion the battle was a gross imbalance between the expert slinger with flexibility and the giant with heavy armor who was highly immobile.
He explained that it was an imbalance because according to medical reports most giant suffer from a disease called Acromegaly_ a disease caused by a benign tumor of the pituitary gland.
The effect of this tumor is the overproduction of the human growth hormones which result in incredible height and size that makes one less flexible as well as giving poor vision, which was evident in Goliath due to the above statements he made.
It could be or rather it was that Goliath was just an intimidating man who had the defects of seeing poorly hence he made reference to David staff as Sticks being that he saw more than one of them.
It was further proved that in a single combat it involves the parties who are to fight coming into the arena alone, but he had an attendant whose obvious job was to guide him through the way.
The Giant invited the Shepherd to come to him and the begging question was why didn't Goliath go to David, maybe he didn't see him?
A single combat was also in visioned by the giant but what he got was a war between him and an expert slinger was could be liking to a baseball expert trying to hit his target from close range and the effect will be accuracy and nothing more.
These are great possibilities that would to some extent explain the reason for the abnormal behavioral tendencies of Goliath in the valley of Elah and the age long story about the battle of unequals was actually to the disadvantage to the giant.

religion-3067050__480.jpg

My Analysis

Irrespective of the fact that the arguments and reports of the learned author is Scientifically right and very persuasive, I guess he dwelled more on the disadvantages of the Giant without highlighting the strengths the exercise over David.
There was the great possibility of David missing his target at the face of a man eating monster. Anybody could get terrified and grow Lily livered at the sight of Goliath. But he held his ground.
Also, Goliath was an expert warrior and radiated intimidation in his field of warfare. While David was never in an physical battle against anyone before the encounter. So it was a battle of two experts in their fields and the smarter one prevailed.
I am of the strong opinion that by the biblical account and Malcolm's analysis the two parties were on equitable grounds.
What one lacked in height and size the other had in speed and accuracy.
What the other lacked in accuracy he made up in battle experience.
So the story in my opinion was a battle of equals between two experts with advantages and disadvantages.

What is your opinion on the biblical account and Malcolm's Account?

THANKS FOR THE READ

IMG-20171007-WA0004.jpg

Toons made by @camzy
IMAGE SOURCE: PIXABAY AND PINTEREST
Sort:  

From my perspective, goliath did the very first mistake by underestimating his supposed enemy(david), his quick judgement and assumption led to his fall. He didnt really critically think about what gave david such temerity and courage despite his juvenile state. David from my view applied one of the laws of power " make your enemies feel comfortable at the top, and when the time is right you strike" the giant was too full of himself. David's courage and wisdom paid out. Nice write up bro....really had to read this post over and over to really digest it. Great masterpiece from a braniac.

Hey @gunneresq I support @cyprainj, underating people definitely is not good as you don't get to know what they are capable of, because you see just what you want to see and not the real person.
If Goliath had seen the fact that David was not just a little boy probably the story would have gone the other way.
Secondly if David had felt intimidated by the size of Goliath, the story would also have gone the other way.

Great post man, I love the detail.

Very true your observation. You got it spot on.
I appreciate the input. Thanks.

I guess this your comment will come as a moral lesson to the story of David and Goliath.

Many a time we discover that we fail at something not because we are not capable of overcoming it, but because we were to confident to pay it the needed attention.

That was the very bane of Goliath. You have really done a great input to this analysis. I appreciate every bit of it.

Thanks alot.

Hello @gunneresq

This is a very excellent and comprehensive work. @cyprianj and @official-hord have also given important contributions.

On the other hand, I will also comment on the God factor on David's side, because beyond David's skills and Goliath's flaws, or whatever, the most important factor is and remains, God was with David and there was no other option than for him to conquer.

Thanks for sharing this by the way, it's always nice expanding our knowledge.

@kayceesuave

Yes definitely. The whole essence of the story was to give credence to what one can achieve having solely depend on God for anything.

It definitely played a huge role to the story we all hear today..
Thanks for the input.

Indeed the guy with a masterclass ink is back.
@gunneresq

Please pardon me if I call you a philosopher King, God will sure be proud he gave you a brain.

Permission not granted. But thanks for the kind words and read.

This is very comprehensive, no lies.
It entails some over looked details and I must commend your effort my boss, for taking time to draft this mater piece.

Mr third name self na DAVID 😂😂😂

Smiles. Indeed. The account narration is quite exhaustive.

It is a good thing to know that you defeated Goliath. That makes us two.
Thanks for dropping by.

You are talented, you made this topic your own and that is great. Keep steeming.

Thanks for the kind words @gloglo. You are awesome.

I really liked Gladwells analysis and I don't think it takes anything away from the story... if anything it makes it better!

You got it spot on. It made it better.

You analysis is spot on. Gladwells's analysis bears a lot of truth but it only adds up to the detailed nature of the issure. Being a giant sure comes with its disadvantages and advantages just as being a David. So just as you rightly put, it was a battle of equals. No one was awfully disadvantaged. Great post.

Your input is highly appreciated. Thanks for the read.

What a thesis you got here

Thanks for the read and contribution.