Goliath was 6.5 CUBITS...which means he was NINE feet and 7 inches. It says that his shield bearer went before him..the shield bearer was not leading him by the hand..he was carrying his shield. He made his defiance for 40 days...not at all a feeble man walking slow. And when he saw David it says, “He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him.” If he couldn’t see well then how would he know that David was glowing with health and was handsome? Also interesting to note that Goliath had a brother and three sons, also of gigantic proportions..they also had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. David did not pick up five stones for arbitrary reasons. He was prepared to kill Goliath as well as his brother and three sons, who may have been struck with desire for vengeance at seeing Goliath fall. Nice talk though...I especially like the acknowledgement of slingers as deadly accurate with the weapon. It is very true.
yep, this dude straight up made up stuff out of thin air and speculated wildly. Goliath was clothed in armor impregnable to slingshots. David had no practical plans or strategies to kill Goliath except for his trust in God. He deliberately minimized this.
No look it up actually 6’9 is the most accurate cause it’s from the oldest text. The text that is in the Bible actually comes from the same story but 100’s of years after. You can look it up
Good points. Still, I don't think the nuanced view this guy has is completely bad. If Goliath really was as strong as he was believed to be, then David should have had a hard time fighting him. Instead, it took only one shot. He could have been both the underdog AND Goliath wasn't as strong as he seemed.
they dont want people looking into genesis 6, they dont want you to know about the fallen who mated with humans, thats why people like him are hired to tell stories
@@twodogs716 Gladwell and his ilk are akin to modern-day Nimrods...except of the intellectual variety. Anything to shift the focus from the Most High to the abominable mother-goddess principle - whether they do it through sleight-of-hand, or direct heresy.
When I talk about David, I always talk about how he never ran into kingship the moment he was chosen. He lived his life and in doing so he was slowly prepared for what was to come. Unlike the average soldier, David faced lions and bears and killed them. He was courageous and fearless but mostly he was faithful in the covering he had. What you belief is very important because what you believe is what you give power to. He had no doubt and no fear! Lesson: Every difficult situation we face and overcome, seasons us, prepares us and strengthens us, if you learn the lessons it brings! Life is full of lessons! Hammered metal is the toughest! Be confident, brave and fearless! But mostly have FAITH IN GOD!
David was totally devoted to his God. When he came into the camp and heard the Phi'- lis-tine saying all kind of bad things about his Lord it made him really pissed. David was a sharpshooter with a sling, and he wanted to blow Goliath's head off. To him danger - wise he was just another large bear like so many he had dealt with. PLUS he had faith in his God. No fear of Goliath whatsoever. He put a slug in his forehead and when he went down he cut his head off with his own huge sword.
I don't see a single reference in the King James Bible to Goliath having to be led like a blind cripple. I don't know what exotic version he gets it from.
Goliath had four brothers, all of whom were also Giants. It was also a standard practice for heavy infantry to be accompanied by an armor bearer, as recorded in the story of Jonathan and his armor bearer, single-handedly attacking a Philistine Garrison. When the Israelites first approached Canaan several hundred years earlier they were initially afraid to enter because it was a land full of giants. So while the story has an interesting spin to it, probably the giantism so, in the land was due to genetics, rather than pituitary malfunction.
@@danielbond9755 A source for what? The account of David and Goliath is found in I Samuel 17 and David pulled five smooth stones from the brook on his way to the battle. Numbers 13 is the account of Israel spying out the land and being dis-swayed by a population of giants. Did you ask Malcolm Gladwell for his source that explained to him that Goliath was a 6' 9" cripple with bad eyesight? You probably should, because he doesn't have one, he made that stuff up. When someone says, this is what the Bible says, try picking one up and reading it. The source is... the Bible, so just read it. It's not that big or scarry, I knocked the whole thing out in a little over two weeks, so you should be able to verify an Old Testament claim in a couple days even by just starting in Genesis 1: 1 and going from there.
When I was a teen I was taken to the country to play with some boys who lived on a farm. A ten year old had a sling and asked if I wanted to see him hit a building in the distance. Off on the horizon I could see a galvanized grain storage building - a long rifle shot. The boy selected a chunk of concrete about the size of a fist, spun it, let go and then we waited and waited. Then - CLANG! At that moment the David and Goliath story changed in my mind.
I never saw David as an underdog. When I grew up hearing the story and they told how he defended his flock and I knew he was no one to mess with. Maybe it’s because I was raised around animals and know their capabilities when hungry or stressed. They are very fast, agile and sneaky. In order for David to be able to kill an hungry animal he would have to have a skill compatible to a trained warrior. Yes he was young but back in those days children didn’t just sit around all day they too had responsibilities. It dismays me that from the start people don’t give David the credit he is due. Youth doesn’t mean incapable.
tony growley university of Virginia has studied near death experiences for 4 decades and has concluded that there is strong proof of spiritual existence. There is a long utube on this subject matter. Moreover, A Roman historian specifically notes the existence of Jesus.
Dear Malcolm, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your insight and perspective on this event. Your talk is a fine example of a commentary on Scripture grounded in sound research. As many of your commentators stated, your take may not be the full story about David, but it certainly is worthy of contemplation. As to the question that you started with: why do we call David the underdog, a Catholic answer might be that Scripture must always be interpreted in light of Scripture and the Living Tradition of the Magisterium. One can therefore fruitfully read Scripture with one of four meanings. For instance, Christ said, "destroy this Temple and I will rebuild it in three days." The literal meaning of the word "temple" is the third temple built by Herod. The typological meaning is Christ's own body. That is the meaning that seeks Christ in the Scripture. The allegorical meaning of the word "temple" is the Church, which was born out of Christ's side on the Cross and the moral meaning is each one of us since as Saint Paul stated, each of us and all of us collectively are to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit. These four senses: literal, typological, allegorical and moral are a very good way to apprehend Scripture. Typologically, therefore, the reason why David was called the underdog is that he is a forerunner of Christ: He alone goes down into the valley to meet Goliath. Likewise, Christ alone went down into the valley of the dead to defeat Satan. The perfect shot of David represents the perfection of Grace that put an end to the reign of Satan. Like David, Christ had no weapons and no allies when he carried the Cross. Like David, his own people did not believe in his victory. Like David, he faced death with the glory of God and like David, he was triumphant. In the final analysis: every hero is a reflection of the Son of Man, the one and only Savior of mankind.
To be fair, this only one of a few Methods in how to interpret the Old Testament. Seeing everything as a foresight on Jesus has much todo with speculations.
Goliath is described as a champion not an acromegalic cripple...he was not being led down, it was his armour bearer.. Goliath could tell that David was good looking with clear skin glowing with health, meaning he had great vision...why would an army have a champion with poor vision???..As for sticks., that is simply euphemism.. and if you doubt my analysis, fact check, the biblical story is from the 1st book of Samuel chapter 17, and the battle sequence is in verse 41-48.
This guy knows how to make up stuff that's sounds true to people who don't know. Goliath had an armour bearer not an attendant. Which means that like King Saul he used arrows swords whatever and the armor bearer would hands him his requested weaponry. If he was a front the entire philistine army wouldn't have fled but they were depending on goliath to win the war and king Saul already had heard of goliath. Like Jordan getting schooled or Berry Sanders getting sacked by the smallest guy on the team the rest gave up knowing they relied on him. Stones don't go through bronze as thick as his helmet was as David figured he needed multiple stones but GOD ALMIGHTY (who this undercover satanist is trying to delete from this story obviously) pulled the 1 st stone through hardened metal and into goliaths brain killing him. David beheaded him because he kept his promise to goliath to behead him with his own sword which he kept in future battles as a sign to armys' goliath defeated that he's the one who beat the one who beat them.
He is interpreting a translation of a translation of a translation. It may go back even further according to some evidence and is especially evident with the Flood Myth. Your analysis is ALSO an interpretation of that same text translated multiple times. The Aramaic written in the Old Testament clearly names God to be "Elohim", which is a PLURAL word, but Judo-Christian religions are ultra mono-theistic now. The words we read are so far removed from the original intentions of the author. Sorry, but there are no "facts" in a document translated so many times in the last 2000 years that clearly plagiarizes what's written from other older cultures like the Sumerians.
@@commandante6709 actually we have copies of the actual originals sir guessalot. They're not myths but have plenty of archaeological and historical findings to support the history.
Very good presentation with some thoughtful points. But just for the record: 1. Goliath's height was noted as six cubits (18 inches x 6) and a span (9 inches) which calculates to 9'9", not 6'9". 2. David fought off lions and bears, not lions and wolves. 3. And sometimes David did strike said animals with his hands and kill them. So he did have hand-to-hand combat training in fields and saw Goliath as just another animal who mocks God.
@@KRtheKUTTA Just wanted to reiterate that although it is said online that the sacred scrolls identify Goliath's height as 4 cubits and a span (6'9"), nearly all modern Bibles of the past 2000 years mention he was 6 cubits and a span (9'9"). But I'm glad people appreciated my comment. David saw weakness in Goliath where all other Jews felt only fear. And he knew what he has been prepared for when nobody else saw that as well.
Well said Mr D! Aey he did throw me wit tha 6'9 thang n I'm 🤔ing What David is 5'5 or 5'0 n under lil boy 😲🤣?? Anybody that looked n 2 tha Giants timeline and tha tha ancient home their 🛌's was @least 9'0 - 13ft long! Plus if this guy was looking @ tha ancient temples 🛕 or their front doors being super huge especially the bloodlines of Hi-Tites or Titans) etc (can't remem all tha Tites' name) but that wud hint that this poss Titan was a cannibal as well! As he said Goliath my hav had a pituitary issue that made him slow etc or being slow that day what happened 2 tha warriors who faced him (tha ones who lived) prior 2?? Did they mention that Goliath was slow cucumbersome n his movements and his mental sumwhat off? Dude's telling of tha story is good but think it's a lil skewed on sum his points. Do have accurate account of average heighth of tha ppl @ that time? Oh also throw in tha name David 😳 I not fixed on tha name as it wud pronounced different or even a total different from telling of tha David v Goliath story! These common names n Bible isn't their actual names. Nobody in those ancient times spoke or wrote plain names as tha alphabet (or even tha letter J') has been around ruffly abt 700yrs. As stories were taken from older text or scrolls 📜 and interpreted or translated by man...U kno WHO... hence: Tha KJ Version n so on! Anyway I get what u were saying thou. 🙏🏾👊🏾✌🏾
Try again!! Do you really believe 5 brothers all had the exact same tumor? Why do you think David picked up FIVE smooth stones?? Goliath had four brothers!! David knew with Gods strength he couldn't miss any if them!! 9'9" Easy Peasy !!! Go David Go!! Where do you think the phrase the bigger they are the easier they fall was coined!! Get your facts right jack!!
The Bible says that David won the battle versus Goliath because God is with Him and the power of God is with David. Lesson Learned How Big is the battle we are facing we can be victorious because God is with us.
Interesting interpretation, well told. However, it contains unsupported suppositions regarding Goliath's condition and alleged handicaps. Goliath wasn't a handicapped show freak. The Philistines recognized Goliath as a "champion" (1 Samuel 17:4, 23, 51) because he'd whooped some butt. He was accompanied by a shield bearer, not some kind of caregiver. There are many races of giants in the Bible and the spies sent to scout out Canaan reported such in this very region; no need to speculate Goliath was a one-off mutant with some pituitary condition. The Bible explains the basis of David's victory in 1 Samuel 17:46-47: "Then David said to the Philistine, “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. ... For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.”
Except your bible quotes (1 Samuel 17:4, 23, 51) say nothing about Goliath's ability. Champion is only defined as someone who fights for someone else when in the context of the military definition (Oxford English Dictionary) and says nothing about ability. The Philistines selected Goliath as their champion and it makes sense. He's the largest one. No where in those 3 verses does it say Goliath has ever whooped butt. Samuel 17:4 only described Goliath's height. Samuel 17:23 merely repeated again Goliath was the champion and that he came forward. And Samuel 17:51 merely said the Philistines saw their selected champion was killed and fled. Further, Samuel 17:46-47 only supports the obvious that which is overlooked. That David was not the underdog. You interpreted these two passages as some proof that God delivered the victory as if some unseen being guided David's hand which is absurd and illogical. If the bible wanted to deliver this story, then perhaps it should have presented David as some random guy who had never before used a sling and was a blind invalid that somehow turned into a sniper for this battle, but it did not. He was a veteran slinger.
They recognised him as a champion because he was probably extremely skilled in hand to hand combat. You seem to be assuming that being handicapped at some specific aspect would automatically make you completely incompetent in every other regard as well, which is not only not true but very often even the other way round. All Mr. Gladwell is saying is that, even if Goliath was an extraordinarily strong fighter, David was the one favoured in their particular matchup, and if you were to repeat it a 100 times, David would prove victorious in the majority of the cases. Think of it less with a "everyone has a strength value and the one with the higher value wins", but more with a rock-paper-scissors like approach. Scissors is not generally stronger than paper in an absolute sense, but when fighting each other, the scissors will always win. I'm not saying he's necessarily right, some of it seems like a streched overinterpretation to me, like the part about "sticks" being plural, but it's a viable and very interesting interpretation that gets you thinking (which is ultimately the primary purpose of these stories).
Louigi36 In the context of the bible verses, there is nothing that says they chose Goliath as a champion for any reason other than he was big. In a historical context this makes sense because it isn't until really until the Spartans of Greece or Philip of Macedon that history tells us of truly great disciplined infantry. So contextually and based on what is evidenced in text it makes sense that all that makes Goliath a champion is that he is large, the biggest guy and that is what makes him a champion. In that time frame with poor training, if you give your biggest guy your best armor in hand to hand combat, it would make sense that he would be your best warrior in a frenzied, chaotic melee. If you choose to interpret "sticks" as an overinterpretation by Gladwell, then in the same vein, you also have to accept that you are overinterpreting "champion" because there is no textual evidence that Goliath has ever been proven in combat. The bible verses only present to us that Goliath was the biggest warrior they had and they chose him. That's it. There is no mention of his skill or experience or his conquests. The word champion also does not reflect skill in combat. It only reflects skill in the modern definition in the context of sport. If the bible wished to portray Goliath as a skilled warrior, why did it not instead choose to use a more fitting word like say the Philistines chose their "hero" since the word hero in no uncertain terms is defined as a person recognized and admired for his courage and achievements and conquests? But no, the bible used "champion" which in the context of battle only means "one who is chosen to fight". I could choose you to be my champion. Does this make you the most skilled warrior I know simply because I called you my champion? Not at all, it simply means I chose you to fight in my place or die in my place. Champion indeed.
+Dave Graham www.academia.edu/3068947/Did_David_Bring_a_Gun_to_a_Knife_Fight_Literary_and_Historical_Considerations_in_Interpreting_Davids_Victory_over_Goliath
+TorianTammas Your conclusion is completely off base due to your ignorance of ancient warfare. Ancient armies used both archers and slingers (soldiers who used sling-shots) as a first-wave attack on their enemies. These archers and slingers needed to wear light armor in order to have the range of motion necessary to use their precision weapons. Once they strafed the enemy, the heavy infantry would rush in and conduct hand-to-hand combat to overcome the enemy and then hold the position. When King Saul offered his armor to David, he was offering heavy infantry armor to a slinger. It would have made no sense whatsoever for a slinger to wear that type of armor, and so David opted for no armor at all. He was a shepherd who was used to using his sling without armor and knew the heavy weight of the ill-fitting armor would make it more difficult for him to shoot accurately. Trained slingers could hit targets with deadly force up to about 100 meters. So it's perfectly reasonable that a shepherd who had killed lions and other predators with a sling could also deliver a very serious shot to a man who was just a short distance away. In other words, every thing about this story is consistent with what we know about ancient weaponry. Goliath was armed and ready for hand-to-hand combat, but David had the longer reach of a deadly accurate sling. He didn't need armor because he never got close enough to sustain damage until he had already rendered Goliath incapacitated.
M McAllister You claim: A shepherd who killed lions? I would like to see the evidence that the character in the story ever did kill a lion. What evidence do you have that in that time the story plays any lion lived in the area we call today Israel?
With all that technological and medical advancement we can today measure Goliath’s weaknesses but I’m sure nobody 3,000 years ago had such knowledge. It was all David’s courage, self believe and probably observation that led him to win against Goliath.
shahid, you dear moron, people understood that someone with acromegaly would not make a good warrior. also, it is a story in a book, who knows what happened.
Amazing! I've heard the first part, about how powerful slingshots/slingers could be, talked about before (probably after this talk was originally given 9 years ago), but I'd never heard the second part, and that's what makes it powerful! Just hearing that David wasn't as helpless as people thought just gets rid of the underdog theme without replacing it with a new theme - you need the second piece, that a giant's greatest strength may actually be (or be caused by) his greatest weakness. Valuable lesson for all of us.
The Philistines fled because David put the fear of God in them. If the Philistines believed Goliath was not a capable warrior, they wouldn't have run away. If the Philistines believed David got a cheap shot off on their main man, they wouldn't have run away. As it stands, they turned tail and ran. It was a moment of clarity for the Philistines - "God is on their side."
Go back and read the original story. Read it and think, "Kayfabe." The Philistines turned and ran because the anointed king of Israel had just killed their champion, and there were ten thousand screaming Israelis pumped up to a frenzy and frothing at the mouth, running down the hill at them. They had lost parity. Read about those ancient battles and see how many of them turned on morale or surprise.
Nathan Zavitz yes, and in addition, if the sling was a superior weapon, then why would the commander panic sending David in? The speaker misses the mythological value of the story. His main premise: Goliath is a victim because he has a disability.
What we can learn from this story is that David was assured and secured in who he was (Identity), and what he can and cannot do (Ability). Most of us would be easily overawed by the occasion of needing to properly represent the King and thus putting on Saul's royal armor. How many of us could say no, and be fully assured of our own personal skills and experiences that we do not need to look like someone else to be more instagram worthy? David knew who he belong to, and what he can and cannot bring with him. He knew he was not representing Saul the king, but the God who made Saul king. He knew his abilities with his shepherd sling and his lack of ability with sword and shield. If only we can apply the same philosophy to every part of life, most of our insecurity and imposter syndromes would not cripple us. What would our world look like if we are assured in who we are, and confident in offering our honed skills and abilities instead of conforming to what is politically correct trying to fit square pegs in round holes?
Better yet if everyone had the revelation of David's God. If everyone drew close to the Creator. Satan would be really upset. But He put before us life and death and said, "choose".
No, what we learn most is that the speaker has no idea how great God is. His best attempt to write off the plan of God to luck and a feeble giant fall very short in honoring God.
The story is about faith in God and where that can take you in battle. It's a story of purely spiritual significance and that's why it was captured in the Bible. The reason why popular non-faith scholars speak on this story is because of the non-faith based inspirational aspects to the story if taken as completely historically accurate. It's absolutely an underdog story but, in spiritual terms the mismatch is caused by the faithful man against an enemy of God's people.
Goliath didn't have an attendant; he has a "shield bearer". David got the rocks from a brook not the ground. David had already killed a bear and a lion defending the flock.which means he defeated the layers of protective thick matted hair which protects those animals with his sling. David knew exactly what he was facing and how to defeat the problem because he saw Goliath for what he was. The soldiers were in panic mode at the sight of him. The soldiers had lost their cognitive reasoning because the brain had moved to survival mode and shut down the creative thinking part of the brain. David was not being threatened because he wasn't a soldier. He was just bringing his brother's lunch! so in David's relaxed, unthreatened brain, David could see the solution. When we panic we lose perspective and the agency to chose the best. Sin makes us panic. And that, for me, is the moral to the story.
@@Owen2108 I'm confused by your brief post. Are you saying soldiers are sinners for fighting for their freedom and their lives? Perhaps you could take a moment to explain how David cheated. I'm not aware of the reference you are using to state this fight was a fight of honour. Would you care to share that reference too?
This is a very good take on that event 👏. I heard a preacher say years ago that David had the courage to face him because of all the wild animals he had to fight off to protect his sheep. Defending his sheep established his faith and made him believe that he could take on Goliath.
Our “trials and tribulations” are meant to make us stronger. Little did we know the trial that brought us to our knees made us stand tall one day against our biggest challenge. ❤️
Three errors: 1. Goliath was 9'6 not 6'9 2. Saul was mentioned as being head and shoulders above all in the land, not Goliath 3. This story is about faith not human power.
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 meters). Large numbers of scholars believe that the "taller" reading is based on an exaggeration and that the "shorter" reading is original, although some disagree.
@@silpink Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately the Seputagint is not reliable compared to the Antiochan text, and although men were certainly shorter in those times, the Biblical giants are clearly described as being massive e.g. Og king of Bashan. I lead a Bible tour of the British Museum, and Goliath does get a mention :-)
@@quierodesign3958 why would this conclusion be adopted when the Seputagint is the earliest Greek translation of the Hebrew text? You are saying that a later version is more accurate? What text was it taken from?
@@wdbland0820 See Gail Riplinger's 'In Awe of Thy Word' book. We have tens of thousands of manuscripts supporting the Antiochan line, but comparatively few supporting the corrupted Alexandrian text represented by the three codexes that make up the Septuagint (I have seen two of them in person).
"And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him". 2 Samuel 17:41. I do not get a sense of Goliath being led by a boy or that he was not able to get to the valley without help. Mr. Gladwell is an interesting storyteller but he changes the Bible's account of this for his purposes.
I was listening to this and thinking the same thing and by the way Goliath was taunting david thats why he said come to me so I can feed you to the birds. Not because he can't see him.
So,..according to you folks Goliath just stood there unprotected and for some unknown reason allowed David to just take him out with a sling and stone.....yeah that makes so much more sense. Jesus Christ no wonder theists are so gullible.
He's right about one thing. David was not the underdog. It didn't matter who David fought, he was going to win because he was YHVH's sling. No one can stand against YHVH and win.
Who, really, is YHVH? The God of LOVE? But, also of Anger and Retribution? And, let's not forget VENGEANCE! Which, is, His! Right? "VENGEANCE, is, MINE, Sayeth, The LORD." The One True God? But, He admits that, He, is a jealous God...if He is, the ONE, TRUE GOD, who then, does He have, to make Him feel jealousy??? One of the many lesser false gods? That one confuses me. But, they ALL contradict themselves. If God is a God of LOVE, if God IS Love. If God is pure love, then the only things we could ever expect from Him, would be Love, and, more love,(forgiveness, grace, acceptance, unconditionally), or indifference. Vengeance, punishment, retribution, and, restitution do not figure into, nor equate to Love. The entire institution of organized religion, is, about control of the sheople, that, the Sheopherds lead to their fleecing and slaughter, in association with their Gov issued tax exempt status...
@@syndrome1965 God is slow to anger and quick to forgive. However, some of 'God's children' really tested His patience and understanding enough is enough. Imagine the jeers and scoffs if God had remained inappropriately unresponsive in the face of outright injustices and sacrilege. People would/will have then created their own revenging god.
@@lindakachur4862 "People would have then created their own revenging god" - agreed, just like they created YHVH or whatever they call the xian god. Imagine creating a world with millions of humans on it then destroying the world except for a few favored humans, all while knowing that would happen, yet you created them anyway? This god is a moron.
Oh wow! So Goliath of Gath was a champion. A killer! The person who “led” Goliath down to the valley floor was not a seeing eye dog, he was an armor bearer for a champion which was common practice for great warriors and kings. He said Goliath was only armed with weapons for close quarters combat, yet last I checked a spear and a javelin can be devastating at a pretty extreme distance. Also the Philistines would have been out of their minds to send a blind man with such a handicap to represent them against the nation of Israel.
Youstill didnt get the talk, Quwstion is why didn't Goliath react when he saw David with no sword or armor or spear? i mean if he hauled his javelin at David then your point will be valid. Hand to Hand combat was not only fought by the use of swords, spears are use for hand to hand combat too. Thus said, he was expecting his challenger to 'COME TO HIM' if david or anyone else had gone closer he would have ended him, which is how i assume he became the champion of the philistines. David took the Hand to Hand combat out of the equation, and he became a big target,
I stand with you on this. It was a very beautiful presentation by Malcom. but I can't just get to agree that an army general will want to send a visually impaired soldier to represent them. it is not logically correct. a good soldier is trained in all art of combat whether one on one or whatever. I will just say Goliath underrated the boy David and his ability to use the sling.
While history can be analyzed for accuracy, we will never capture that moment in time. According to scripture, and secular notes, we can draw on the probabilities of what might have transpired. Nevertheless, it is a great story, with both the power of the flesh vs the power of the Spirit. “ Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit, “ sayeth the Lord. David had the anointing of God on him, and that stone was going to make its mark, no matter what. Five stones were picked, because David heard, Goliath had other brothers like himself. Yes, the job was not complete until the head of the snake was cut off. Most of all, this story is a lesson in absolutes. David absolutely trusted in his God to deliver him out of the hands of this uncircumcised heathen. After all, his faith was tempered through his victory over the bear, and the lion. This story is for all, who can identify with the sovereignty & Power of God to change the course of time. For David, this was pivotal. From boy to a man, from a man to a King, his life changed,..forever….
Well said - that is what I always got out of it too. On a side note, it has always bemused me why. given this. AND the Israeli victory in 1967, they felt the need for nuclear weapons. Not a political comment it just always has. Faith is hard, I guess.
@@tonygrowley5275 tell all the little kids you see there is no Santa. You're probably a hoot at Christmas. Maybe knowone wants you around. God wants you though. Keep looking.
David had been practicing with his slingshot get-up, for many years. That was his strength, as Gladwell says. His victory was not because, as you stated, " that stone was going to make its mark, no matter what."
The moral of the story is that David was walking with God and that we should have faith. David was the only brave person standing up against Goliath. David knew that he wouldn't die that day because he believed in the prophecy that he would be the king in the future. At the time David wasn't a king, but the prophecy said he would be king, so he already knew that God would protect him so he could be the king in the future. David walked with God and God protected him. That is the moral of the story.
David didn't die that day because he knew he was a damn good sling shotter and he could see that Goliath was actually slowed down by his armour and the fact he had a the best position looking downhill to Goliath who was right at the bottom looking up at him.
Well written, Eric! The greatest of Israel's warriors were _shaking in their boots_ at the mere thought of going up against that blaspheming giant. But God uses a little shepherd boy with a slingshot to drop him to the ground, dead in one shot. God likes to use the weakest in doing His mightiest work, so that there'll be no doubt Who's hand really delivered that stone to it's final destination.
@@RichardBragg How about the story is just fairy tale, just like the rest of them? It is meant to teach a lesson, like the other stories in the bible. I wouldn't put too much faith in what the bible says, way too many contradictions.
I know this, regardless of anything between David and Goliath, God always referred to David as "a man after his own heart". So take what you want from this biblical fact, but remember to strive to be a man or woman after God's own heart! ♥️
Funny. He gives all of Goliaths quotes but none of Davids replys. Also Saul said that Goliath had been a " warrior from his Youth" He was also Referred to as a "Champion" so he obviously had a fearsome reputation and the only way you Lived Long in the WARRIOR profession or as a CHAMPION in that time period was to be Good. Being lucky was not an option, Because Luck doesn't last that long in "hack and slash" combat. Because someone else will be luckier than you sooner than later. I would further submit that David was highly skilled with the sling and not lucky.. As a shepherd he had plenty of time to practice while watching the sheep.
This same King Saul was sore afraid and he himself was a mighty warrior that stood a head taller than any other Israelite. Also the Hebrew or Masoretic text describes Goliath a 6 cubits and a span or right at 10' tall. Goliath had armor and an extra warrior with a shield. No this guys telling makes no sense honestly.
he didn't claim that goliath sucked or was not a good fighter. he assumed enough intelligence in the audience that they'd realise a huge guy would make an excellent fighter.
Jeffrey N Frazier. You said "Goliath was a champion from youth" . So what !!!! When Goliath was younger he probably wasn't as big and therefore not as disabled by his size. With untreated Pituitary gland gigantism the individual keeps on growing until they are too big and heavy to walk and then they die usually from heart failure. Malcolm Gladwell gives a very reasonable medical explanation for the demise of Goliath which only religious blind faith could deny.
1. Some people may call an attendant a squire in certain cases. Not unlike knights of old. 2. Some armor is heavy. Slows a person down. 3. "Come to me!" Commanding behavior isn't uncommon in those that are full of themselves.
I think the most important thing about this story is how God used David. "David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47 Also, I don't think Goliath was blind or visually impaired because in 1 Samuel 17:41-42 it says, "Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him."
He does make some good points, but when he says that everything "he thought he knew about David and Goliath was wrong," I don't think he can discredit every other sermon or teaching on what usually hear about the story
Ryan, That's the point of the story, isn't it? That God can use - and typically does use - a weaker force to defeat a superior one - in God's name. There are dozens of examples of that in the Bible. The birth of the United States and birth of modern Israel demonstrate that it's still happening today.
I really enjoyed this talk. I do have something to add. The Masoretic Text has "six cubits and a span" (9 feet 9 inches or 2.97 metres) as Goliath's height. Another thing you didn't mention was that David went and picked 5 smooth stones before his battle with Goliath. Why was that? Because Goliath had 4 brothers. I suppose he felt he might have to fight them out. I loved the end of your talk, what appears to be their greatest strength can also be a giants greatest weakness. With God all things are possible.
King Soloman used a 20.5 cubit to build the Temple...therefore, six cubits of 20.5 inches = 10.3 oh, and a span, the width of the hand is 5 inches...so, Goliath was really 10.8 inches... Now, if the cubit were the same as the one that Noah used to build the ark, that was 25 inches...which would place Goliath in the 13 ft. range of say, King Og, of Basham. Goliath was not the weakling you bastardized the Bible to fit into nonsense version you were brainwashed by idiot prof's to disregard that King David fought a Nephilim GIANT... Gen.6:4 speaks of giants ...powerful hybrids, the result of fallen angels and human women... The Gd of A-I-J told the israelites SPECIFICALLY NOT TO FEAR KING OG! WHY? BECAUSE HE WAS A FEARSOME GIANT, AS WAS GOLIATH. When Joshua and Caleb came back with a report of the promised land filled with GIANTS, you think they were talking about stumbling bumbling A/C/M stiffs like Wadlow. You sir, have been brainwashed by biased prof's who ran with lies, to explain away the supernatural Gd of the Law and the Prophets...King Saul was 6'6, so you are really silly, now... Are you trying to say, that King Saul was the only tall man in Israel's army? The combatants were actually 100 yds away from each other...plus, the sun was in Goliath's eyes, not Davids... the sling, having the appearance of 2 sticks, as the sling was aprox. 18 inches, and the manner in which David carried same, the sling might very well appeared as 2 sticks....half your speech was B.S. IF GOLIATH SAW 2 STICKS HOW COULD SEE FACIAL FEATURES, IF HE WAS SEEING DOUBLE? THIS WHOLE SPEECH NEEDS A REWRITE...YOU PROBABLY DON'T BELIEVE THE RED SEA MIRACLE OF GOD, AS THE RED SEA CROSSING, HAD 900 FT. OF WATER HELD BACK ON BOTH SIDES BY GOD.
@@dannoah1002 Are you speaking to me or to the person who gave the lecture. Believe me, I do agree with you. That doesn't mean he didn't have some interesting things to say.
This is not accurate on many levels: 1) David wasn't practicing slinging back then on the lions and bears as Mr. Gladwell claims, he was fighting them close range, more like wrestling, striking with something, grabbing their jaw etc. 2) Goliath was not "lead" because he was blind (or poor sighted), he had a shield bearer walking in front of him. That was a common practice (look up Jonathan, son of Saul, in the same book). 3) If Goliath was blind or poor sighted, how would he see that David is young, that he had some "sticks" (meaning carrying something that is not sword) etc. This video has no basis in the Bible story (that Mr. Gladwell claims that is based on), but I do agree with his last statement "Giants are not as strong and powerful as they seem", I would add if we conquer our fear and put our trust in God.
Malcom doesn't look like he gets out into the wild much, but as you said, Lions are not something you casually hurl rocks at. They are dangerous apex predators that will murder you in short order. No shepherd would take them lightly. I agree also that the idea that Goliath was some lame giant like Sloth is ridiculous. He was more like Tigris the Gaul from Gladiator. He was a champion with a retinue of servants. He yelled for 40 days for someone to come out and fight him. He immediately recognized David as a boy and was insulted.
I think you're confusing David with Samson if you really believe a man can fight a lion with his bare hands. No offense intended but we're talking about an animal that could rip your arm off with little effort.
No offense taken :) The point is that the author here is misinterpretating the original, and in the original David claims to king Saul that he fought the lions and bears with his own hands (OK maybe he was lying or exaggerating, but still...) Please read 1 Samuel 17, especially verses 34-37
I have profoundly poor eyesight (without my glasses) I can still see someone moving towards me and if they are carrying something, the basic shape of what their carrying and prime colours such as red, black etc. I may be able to guess the thing they are carrying using probability eg someone is walking towards me with a straight, dark object taller than themselves that their using to help them walk I may assume walking stick or stick. Pale and cream usually mean crutches or a cane (movement is different as well). Assuming Goliath is my age and no one taught me to do this he (like myself) could have learned to compensate for issues he was experiencing.
A few points 1- I don't think goliath was sight impared since he was able to tell the difference between a staff and a spear since he said sticks or stick depending on the version you've read. 2- He moves slowly due to the armour he is wearing and gravity 3- The reason he react so slowly towards David is that he didn't believe David was coming out to fight him and was probably thinking "Seriously?" 4- that attendant was his shield bearer 5- When Goliath says come to me. this is depicted in movies all the time where a character makes the 'come here' gesture with their hands to an enemy of enemies.
I have to disagree with the exegesis here; Gladwell has some agreeable points here and there, but I don’t think the overall conclusion is sound. Gladwell here argues for the lethality and efficiency of the slinger. This is true to a certain degree. Slingers certainly could kill from a distance; we have tested that sling bullets can penetrate shields and armor to varying degrees. However, I think Gladwell overestimates the effectiveness of slingers on the battlefield, stating that they’re the primary inflictor of casualties, and the bane of heavy infantryman and whatnot, so much so to the impression that the slinger was in most respects superior to the heavy infantryman on most occasions. From a military history perspective, this simply is not true. For the sake of brevity, I won’t cite an exhaustive list of historical examples, but will only argue from the logical perspective: If slingers were so much more effective and feared on the battlefield, why was heavy infantry the numerically predominant soldier in almost all of pre-gunpowder era, instead of being phased out at the introduction of the sling (which was VERY early in human history)? Why were slingers’ role eventually completely replaced by the bow in the early middle ages? This point alone should sufficiently shake Gladwell’s entire argument about David’s superiority in combat. However, if we see how slingers consistently took a supportive role in field battles and sieges in history, we could then appropriately conclude that slingers had situational uses, but probably did not supersede the heavy infantryman in combat effectiveness, thus invalidating Gladwell’s argument of David not actually being disadvantaged against Goliath. Gladwell’s other conclusion that Goliath was not actually combat effective is on shaky ground; specifically, the interpretation that Goliath was not very mobile or was visually impaired are vaguely drawn from the passages. The fact that Goliath was accompanied by a squire is a very common concept in history, and does not necessarily indicate that the fighter was physically impaired in any way. And the fact that Goliath used the plural form of the word “sticks” does not necessarily imply that he saw multiple; it’s very possible that he just used it as a rhetorical figure (e.g. “Was I born to argue with a mob of idiots on RUclips?” when there may be only one person engaging in argument with me). I submit that it is overreaching to take that passage as good evidence that Goliath was indeed visually impaired. In fact, the author explicitly states that Goliath was an experienced warrior and was feared by many. If he were physically lame, as Gladwell suggests, I don’t think he would have such a respectable reputation, nor would the Philistine army have had that much confidence in him to rely on him in single combat. Thus, I do not find Gladwell’s argument very convincing. I can understand the moral he’s trying to make, but I don’t think the passage fits his narrative.
JinandJuice slingshots were replaced by bows because bows in the right place would kill and a sling could only maim, or knockout, and sometimes maybe kill
he said that slingers were the "most decisive factor" "time and time again" "time and time again" does not necessarily mean 'every time', or even 'majority of the time', he could just as well meant "often enough". "most decisive factor" does not mean most essential. they could be the most dispensable unit in your army and still be the greatest deciding factor should you utilize them.
Brilliance is not about how much you know, but rather, how deeply you look into how much you know, to find out what you don’t know! This was brilliant! Thank you sir; I hope you dissect more of the Biblical cannon, especially the book of Ezekiel, and the noncanonical book of Enoch! I am a great admirer of your work! Blessings!
There are plenty of scholarly folks commenting, but more nincompoops, go with the credentialed and peer reviewed expert, then due your due diligence and cross-reference even that if there's no skin in the game doesn't matter do what you need to do with the information but if it's something of importance with life-altering consequences then apply some scrutiny
Possible......but It was the practice of Warriors to have a Shield Bearer accompany them into battle. Also, if he was not a threat, why was the entire army except David, itimidated by him?
KIT KAT 88 Pen The author is a quack - alleged that Goliath was half blind but that the Israelis did not know that. Actually, the Israelis of the time had a spy and messenger runners system (nowadays called "intelligence"). This author is clueless, but writes a book with an interesting title, and then proceeds to state that only he knows the true story. Pretentious! But people eat it up, so it's not entirely his fault. The materialistic motto is: " if there's a profit, it must be good. " Want to make money? Criticize the Old Testament (Thorah). Look how many comments here correcting him, unpaid, but he's the one that makes a profit... That's the real story here.
I liked the artillery/slinger vs infantry comment, but Gladwell took a lot of liberties in his translation of the text to make this story work. - David reportedly "clubbed" wild beasts to protect his flock - Goliath was not led by the hand by a servant. He was a "champion" with a shield-bearer to go before him, which was common for kings - Goliath had a javelin, sword, and spear. He was heavy infantry and artillery. - Goliath did not say "sticks" but "stick" - After stating that Goliath had the advantage of armor weaponry, David does not cite his club, nor this sling, but that his weapon was "the Name of the Living God" This story is recorded as an historical account, not epic fantasy. That sort of literature did not exist until 2,000 years later. Facts matter.
I agree. I was disappointed with Malcolm's "misinformation". Sounded like an atheist trying to bend the facts to find an alternative story. He left out all mention of God by David and the fact that Goliath was a champion not a invalid with a medical case. What about Goliath's brothers???
@@julianawad6980 Ya, but based on how he reacted, Goliath still could have been severely near sighted. If "slingers" were that deadly, then Goliath being an experienced warrior would have reacted the moment David pulled out his sling and loaded it. He would at the very least tried to take cover behind his shield, or closed the distance and forced David to hit a moving target. But instead he just stood there...not moving like a sutting duck?
@@julianawad6980 The way I see it is that since it cannot be discredited as a historical occurrence then the story must be watered down and David vilified to ruin its message...
It also was ritual combat. It was supposed to follow a certain script. The champions come out in the company of their seconds. They preen around in some prescribed manner and talk trash. The combat commences with the performance of certain specific rituals. Then the actual mortal fighting begins. The people of that day believed, God or the gods determined the outcome anyway, so why have some massive battle in which many die or are maimed? It's a form of limited warfare, with likewise limited consequences. It determined who ruled the land and to what purposes the surpluses and developable resources were turned. For everyone, life went on as before. Is total war better? Is asymmetrical warfare that goes on for generations better?
I think this was very interesting RPMs, stone density ete.. To think that David was still relying on the Lord for this Battle. "today the Lord will give you into my hands" pretty sure David did not know all this info about Goliath before the fight! His courage was amazing.
David volunteered because God was going to protect him and his confidence in God is what gave him strength. He brought 3 stones because Goliath had 2 brothers. Amazing story and David went on to kill many giants! Not just 1 what a testament to God. Praise Yahweh!!!
Butt Junkie Yes I believe what the book says what do you believe? Where does your information come from? Do you have anything that substantiates it? I have a completely accurate historical account of everything else that has happened and has not been proven in accurate anyway would you like to take it on. Are you smarter than 1000 to tried to debunk the Bible lol I think not! My point is that this guy was using the Bible to tell a story and it was saying it in a way that was in accurate to what the Bible says..... what exactly is your point
Butt Junkie I don’t think by taking it literally you miss any point at all. I don’t understand your logic basically you’re saying that because God gave you a brain you can have an opinion and because you choose not to trust pretty much anything you cannot see you choose to make up your own opinion about everything. Good luck with that I do not believe that everyone’s reality is their own reality that does not make any sense. There is one God there was one way and no one comes to the father except through him. I don’t think by taking it literally you miss any point at all. I don’t understand your logic basically you’re saying that because God gave you a brain you can have an opinion and because you choose not to trust pretty much anything you cannot see you choose to make up your own opinion about everything. Good luck with that I do not believe that everyone’s reality is their own reality that does not make any sense. There is one god there is one way and no one comes to the father except through him. You are seriously belittling the astonishing achievement of the Bible. We do know that at least from the Dead Sea Scrolls that the Bible we read today is 99.8% the exact same Bible that was read At the time of Jesus. That and it’s self defies the logic that you were using. As the Bible says I test everything I was not taught nor brought up to believe any kind of way I have sought treat myself since I was 16. Your assumption of what you know about me is based on what you have experience with other people who claim to be Christians. However what I am experiencing from you is exactly what I expect from people who say they are spiritual but not religious. You are agnostic which means basically you are too lazy to decide what is right and what is wrong or you do not trust anything. Your general premise that if something is written along after something has occurred is corrected it is usually wrong however if there is an all powerful God that would limit that possibility to zero. It’s the same concept that people use when they say that Mary could not of been a virgin because they’ve never seen it and As far as they’re concerned it is impossible. All this means is you go through life with no faith at all. As the prophets of God said without faith it is impossible to please God so continue to believe what you want to believe that you were going down the wrong path. Do you feel like you have done enough research but you were making assumptions based off of an opinion that has no research behind it
I feel like the argument about the sling being equivalent to a gun is pretty solid, but I feel like Goliath was for sure a better warrior than he made him out to be.
This is a very interesting telling of the story and brings out details I hadn't known before, but it leaves out the moral of the story. David was pissed off at Goliath because he and the Philistines were speaking blasphemy against God. David told Saul: "Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” David knew he was defending GOD'S army, and he had faith that God would rescue him against the giant just as he had rescued him in the past. This is an illustration of faith and the power of God that goes with the faithful.
An important fact, often overlooked, is that David used Goliath's own weapon to deliver the killing blow (coup de grace}. The lesson is, if your opponent is armed, then you are too.
never heard anything so dumb in my whole life. it's so easy to see the holes in his story. why on earth would a army send down a warrior that couldnt see? if he had double vison he would have seen twice the number of people in davids troops. if he had double vision and saw 2 sticks then why did he not see 2 davids? he says goliath was only 6 foot something tall he was at least 10 foot. he mentions modern day giantism, which after the fall things got worse, but in biblical times giants had no defects. i could go on but malcolm will be weell glad lol that i dont. how can a so called intelligiant man be so dumb.
@@questioneverything8301 I also agree that there was nothing wrong with goliath too, he's trying to make it look like the story is a fairy tale even though they found goliaths brothers bed in Iraq.👍
@@TheTheospringer all the people there are listening intently. thats the sad thing. it is a very true story, and yet hes making out it was a fairytale, then why bother to explain something he doesnt believe to be true.
@@questioneverything8301 seems like he's just trying to discredit the bible or the fact that David along with the almighty beat goliath, I'm sure the bible would of said if goliath was like what he said but, it doesn't, the bible and the words of the almighty doesn't lie, man does though, I know who I'd believe and it's not him.👍
For anyone (like Gladwell) willing to take this fable on its own merits the fact that David was not an "underdog" has nothing to do with his sling and everything to do with the fact that the Lord God Almighty and Creator Of The Universe assured the victory. But I look forward to the brilliant Gladwell's next Ted Talk about how the walls of Jericho were brought crashing down by well designed Israelite trumpets.
@Daniel Maximiliano De Lauretis Indeed it is from God. And one of the things I like most about Scripture is that its inexhaustible richness invites people to come to the text through the lens of their own lives and find God's voice speaking not to the multitudes but to him as an individual. (Having said that, reading the Bible, whether religiously or secularly, requires understanding the form it takes, the audience it was written for, the age it was written in, etc. in order to ground one's insights on reality. Malcolm's attention to detail does him credit in this regard, though he got some things wrong, as has been pointed out in other comments here).
This telling of David & Goliath makes me more faithful. So many said the spiritual is taken from it. But no it’s still there. God show up in the miraculous yes but even in the basic and practical
Interesting theory. But Goliath was a champion. He would have most likely fought many of battles. He'd be a veteran solider. David wasn't. Snipers miss shots with scopes. David's victory was not assured.
I totally agree with you. How can Malcolm describe an ancient warrior practice of one on one battle {your best versus our best} and then describe Goliath as a man who was lame- visually, physically and genetically. Did not the Philistines initiate the request? Therefore, it would be wise of the Army, when making such a daring request, to send their very best especially when their livelihoods are at stake. Malcolm said it himself that Israel felt as though they had no choice and that is why King Saul allowed David to fight. The Philistine's were under no obligation and sent the person who they thought was the very best.
Revan i dont think life was so superficial like it is now. If u were a warrior. u were a warrior. U weren't Dwayne Johnstone, or Sly Stallone. You were the real deal
Revan well if u look at the story of the walls of jericho. U can assume the israeli's would have spies. if they have spies they would have found out that goliath wasn't strong. Just like a spy founf out about sampson's hair. I just dont really grasp the idea that its so hard to believe that a giant is strong.it seems to be the most likely situtation. occam's razor
Sounds like he had a squire to assist him with holding his weapons and getting him in and out of heavy armor like medieval knights, not that Goliath was disabled and needed an attendant.
Chris Parrish , yes, but the shield carrier was also traditional at the time so that the champion's left arm wouldn't be tired from carrying the bronze shield before the duel even began.
@@johndevilbiss6607 unless he was left handed then it would be his right hand. Ask Gladwell he knows Goliath's full medical history, I bet he even knows the wind speed and temperature that day. I mean he knows he had a spear and a javelin.
I know little children who know this story and the details better than this guy and not only that, they also know that the story is about faith and believing in the power of the Lord God almighty! This man needs to read the story AGAIN!
Tru Dat... this is an attempt to shape the narrative, the bible states that a man bore goliaths shield, many elite soldiers of that time of antiquity had what is called "armor bearers" their assignment was to carry the shield till the time of battle, the text states nothing concerning goliaths sight which makes his discourse speculative at best. His talking points are not hermeneutically sound, he does not take into account the reality of the great faith that the future boy king had in his God to overcome anything for the sake of righteousness.
Pastor Leroy Little Absolutely well said my friend! I am so glad to see so many people commented on this mans speech. It gives me hope that people do know the truth!
though he doesnt mention davids faith he doesnt knock it either, he only offers explanations on goliaths problems. He also doesnt state that david knevv of goliaths problems, that alone shovvs that david DID come to battle goliath because he "knevv" of his victory,, IE; he vvas full of faith . All thats done in the video is explain vvhy goliath had problems & those probblems very vvell couldhave been put upon goliath for not beliving in God
David was prepared to fight hand-to-hand if necessary. He killed the lion and/or bear up close. "34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it." David did not go out assuming he would use only the sling shot. He was trusting in God to defeat Goliath, however the fight went.
BEAR is where in the sky? ... and the LION? geesh and duh your ignorance is not my bliss .... why do the ignorant Christians ignore the pole star narrative? It will be your undoing sir as it will the flat earth tards who will also be exposed for eliminating the southern pole star ... sad really
Kingdom of Israel is a myth. It's a shame that we live in the 21st century yet a respected channel like TED allows mythology to be told as historical fact!
Archangel Raphael who said the earth is flat? Bible says God sits above the circle of the earth and that he hung it upon nothing? Please share you knowledge with us. I’m up for learning anything. I’m not close minded but I’d really like to know something of which you’re saying
This is not what the story says. Firstly Goliath can see that David is young, "glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him." (1Sam 17:42) so he clearly wasn't blind. Second, the guy with Goliath was his armour bearer, carrying his shield. Armourbearers were common for important people, King Saul of the same story also had one (1 Samuel 31:4) Thirdly the text in the original does not necessitate more than one stick. Fourthly Goliath was not the only giant, he was from a whole family of them (2 Samuel 21:16-22). Agromegaly causes impotence so..? Why do people have to read things into Bible stories that aren't there? The beautiful point, that its actually trying to make, is that God is able to do what is impossible for humans. "...this day the LORD will deliver you into my hand...and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel." 1 Sam 17:46
I love your reply! I started watching this hoping to gain insight instead finding what I think is an atheist trying to prove faith is not needed. Do you know of any videos for Scripture study?
@@SunWKim Hmmm, THE TRUTH HURTS doesn't it. When someone explains the REAL STORY, you god freaks just respond with INSULTS. Are you TERRIFIED that your INSANE beliefs are just INSANE
David grabbed 5 stones from the creek bed because: -they are worn smooth and will not 'wobble' in the trajectory towards goliaths forehead. -he only needed one, and trusted God would make that one among the 5. he ran TOWARDS goliath because the closer to the target, the greater odds of a bullseye. he had NO FEAR because his faith in God was so strong. fear makes you panic, David was cool headed and didnt miss a thing.
Fear makes you alert. Panic makes you panic. If the point of the story is to suggest that faith in god will save you, there are a few billion devotees who would disagree with you, if they hadn't died waiting for their faith in god to save them. And does faith in god only work once in every five? How did David know the odds? If he had picked up a sixth stone would that have upset god enough to let him die? Or was he, you know, terrified at the prospect of fighting a giant infantry death machine and so grabbed as many rocks as a handful would allow him?
Kingko1234 yeah like the morally superior David was to the materially superior Goliath because of Goliath's egregious oppression Our Realities are not just any name we claim But what we do with our intentions and actions How we treat others Palestine has been oppressed now for decades with impunity But in the full light of history so prosperity will know what horrors took place And who David was and who Goliath was
Equality isn't the standard here. The Jews are God's chosen people and despite their continued failings God made a covenant with them and consistently delivered them from those who were not the chosen people. Palestine is still in opposition to the Jews despite Christ opening the "chosen" status to all people.
@@gunjfur8633 humanism focuses on the sufficiency of humans... the superiority of human thinking and human power above the supernatural --- the fool says in his heart "there is no god"
@@cvarieur4433 From my understanding humanism emphasizes the value and agency of human beings (both individually & collectively), & prefers critical thinking and evidence over acceptance of such things as dogma & superstition. Id like to add a quote of my own; "A man honest with himself accepts it when he doesnt know, & a man honest with others will tell them he doesnt know"
1Sa 17:39-43 (39) David strapped on a sword and tried to walk around, but he was not used to wearing those things. "I can't move with all this stuff on," David said. "I'm just not used to it." David took off the armor (40) and picked up his shepherd's stick. He went out to a stream and picked up five smooth rocks and put them in his leather bag. Then with his sling in his hand, he went straight toward Goliath. (41) Goliath came toward David, walking behind the soldier who was carrying his shield. (42) When Goliath saw that David was just a healthy, good-looking boy, he made fun of him. (43) "Do you think I'm a dog?" Goliath asked. "Is that why you've come after me with a stick?" He cursed David in the name of the Philistine gods
youre confusing goliath with king saul, who was head and sholders above his peers. goliath had 4 giant brothers, so it was not a disease, but a genetic trait. he was mocking david.
I found the talk interesting. Regardless of whether Goliath had disadvantages or not every Israelite was terrified of him. It took great courage for David to fight him. The greatness of David taking down the giant is equally impressive. How about the fact that God blessed David by placing those better stones in the valley and God preparing a giant in the path that looks powerful but is weak. Challenges that look terrifying to most can be easier to overcome when we trust God and walk in Faith.
The stones were not "better" they were just plain ole stones. There was nothing special in or about the stones. Those stones had been there for maybe a thousands of years, who knows. The only thing in this story that i better is David's faith and courage.
So God( who must be a person if he 'does' things..walked into the valley and placed stones there just for the purpose of David being able to kill Goliath, and isn't this the same God who gave the commandment:'Thou shalt not kill"? So in essence you are saying that 'God' was an accessory to the killing, thus breaking his own commandment..right?
No man!!! God did not place those stones there. they were already there!!! David just picked up five stones he liked. like most of those back then who were very capable with a sling. you pick "smooth" stones and not jagged rough stones because you dont want to tear up your sling. you assumption that God was an "accessory to the killing" is misplaced. The two parties involved were at "war" witth each other. in war what happens? people are killed. Read the story. whether you believe in God or not. Dont read into a passage your own prejudices. you lose the intent of the writer or the story. what they are trying to convey. thereby keeping you "ignorant of a story that is easy to understand. This "reImagining of this biblical story is a bunch of crap. whether you believe in God or not. Read anything to actually understand and not fit it in to your own beliefs. @@pryzmcat
@@macjones9376 reread your comment, then look in the mirror. The bible has been written, rewritten, revised, amended, had books added, books removed, translated , had parts taken out which didn't serve the needs of the powerful church. Now let me just say, the 'God' of the old testament was wrathful, childish, oh and very jealous! Oh and sacrifice was demanded! Funny, all the best of the best was brought to the temple, hmm, and who were the ones to profit from this great bounty? Only the very few, who used fear to make people give them their best or face the wrathful outcome. It's callled brainwashing. Now Yeshua came and told us to love one another, be good to each other, forgive each other, live well and in peace, that the old ways were dead. No more sacrifice. That didn't suit the priests in power..oh no! They would lose thier lofty positons. But if you look to the new testament, you see a different story a 'new' way of seeing. He said we could do what he did and things even greater..but, He was rejected, why? Because most men delight in killing and power and war and coveting others wealth, so war was justified, despite, the commandments. The metaphor of Moses destroying the tablets is very telling, people didn't want peace, they wanted war. And when they were given the sign of the son of man, most did not see. When Rabbi Yeshua read from the Torah in the temple, He was pointing our their hypocrisy, they claim to be ministers of God, but taught every wayward thing. The bible is a book written by men, many different men, in many different languages, Aramaic, Syriac, Hebrew, Greek..but the commandments stay the same. To obey the first commandment and walk in the rest is living in the will of Love and Peace. But hey...mankind chose the thief Barrabas..now, what does that tell you??
@@pryzmcat Mr. Stevens. it is simple like i said. whether you believe in God, the bible, religion or whatever. if you have a middle school education you can understand the story of david and goliath. You bring alot of subjects that take what i said out of context of what im talking about. im not trying to insult you. if it came across that way i apologise. im not trying to appeal to you in a religiuos sense. Just take the story as literature. it is simple, nothing complicated. Malcolm Gladwell go way out of context. he does not take into account that the story is very simple. He makes incredibly wild assumptions about the physical and mental health that is rediculous. example.in the story it say that he was their "finest warrior" or champion. and Mr. Gladwell goes into incredible wild speculation . ITS A VERY SIMPLE STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My point is not a religious Mr.Stevens. its more academic than anything. dont read into a story what is not there!!!!!! SIMPLE!! hAPPY NEW YEARS TO YOU AND YOUR!!
The scriptures do not say Goliath was led by the hand by a boy into the field of combat. What it says was that Goliath’s armor bearer (shield carrier) walked in front of him. An armor bearer was customary to be with a champion who was going to combat. David too became an armor bearer of King Saul during David’s youth.
Everything you thought you knew was wrong? Don't think you have it solved. The lesson is God +1 is a winning combination. There is also a lesson about asymmetrical warfare.
Therefore, the story is about overcoming the giant within us "FEAR". hence, we should not be fearful but have FAITH. Goliath is an emissary of fear and a diversion tactic of the enemy. The reality is when we have faith in our hearts, we can see God's gigantic and overwhelming power to overcome any circumstances ahead of us.
IS THIS THE BEST THAT YOU CAN SAY ??? READ IT AS IT IS WRITTEN !!! DAVID my father said : IN THE NAME OF THE LORD DO I COME !!!! HE TOLD THE giant philistine and cut off he head after the stone hit him in the third eye ! Goliath is the remnant of the Nephilim.
The Nephilim were destroyed by the Worldwide Deluge (Great Flood) long before the time of the Nation of Israel, or Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Nephilim created a world full of violence and the flood was used to wash them away. King David of the Tribe of Judah, a descendant of Jacob/Israel (name changed by God) went to meet the challenge of the mightiest warrior of an entire nation, so impressive that everyone was afraid to meet him in battle. Goliath was insulting the God of Israel with his challenges, and David rebuked him in saying that he comes to Goliath with the weapon of God's name, which was the Tetragrammeton, (YHWH) (God's name). No, Goliath was no stumbling blind handicapped weakling. He was the mightiest Philistine of all. But still as nothing compared to the True God. It wasn't David, but YHWH.
@@larrymbouche While Noah and his sons were 100% human, we are not told the same about the wives of his 3 sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. What is clear is that one or more of these women were carrying the Nephilim gene. This is the source of the post-flood Nephilim. Nowhere in the Bible is it ever stated that angels once again cohabited with human women.
Goliath would have moved slowly with his height and armor but would have been a terrifying sight. David was a ruthless psychopath that had probably killed before.
@@julesbaccarat2975 Goliath had been fighting wars since he was a youth. He wasn't just best at close combat...he was the best. He was not lead by his hand...he had someone holding his shield so when he needed it, he would not be tired from holding it to that point. If he had his shield, he could have ripped David's head off. He didn't have his shield because he was tricked into thinking he was fighting a shepherd. When David brought out his sling...it was too late.
when all crises appears irretrievable the Lord shows the battle can still be won. Unwavering faith lead David to a victory that day and his fear if any was satiated with the knowledge of the Lord's promise, eternal life can only be gained through him.
soliise arcangel .... yes I agree with you. This guy is pretty much full of crap. Clearly I'm not even that good of a Christian but even I know this guy is missing the boat and only wants to create confusion and doubt.
@@lottiephendah7800 do not doubt your fath brother the lord is GOD there is the father the SON the HOLY SPIRIT GOD is king there is no other name but Jesus that man should be saved
That is exactly what I was hoping to hear... however, the explanation of goliath's weaknesses makes me also see that the most High will never lead me into a battle I cannot win! Especially if and when "I come against you in the name of the Lord of Armies" 😏
@@lottiephendah7800 how come people reject new ideas and fear anything new that's why faith can be dangerous facts and knowledge are the key to enlightenment
It's also interesting how the story reflects on the socities themselves - do you send your disabled soldiers as cannonfodder or your very best to a duel? Are soldiers, and by extension your people, expendable or is each life worth preserving? Sending out Goliath, however intimidating, seems like an incredibly cruel gamble..
@@evannunsince9357 Yeah, I need to reread the story. I can't remember it well enough. But then again, he never says where he may have gotten that info from so it might be a wild goose chase, if it even exists
Yes you are correct and Davids mighty men killed the other 4 brothers. David was also a shield bearer for King Sol. Not a boy he was the best marksman in the army. You would send your BEST soldier to fight a giant end of story.
That is correct, you are the first person i know put attention to that fact, when David collected 5 stones is because he knew he had 4 brothers. Brillant miss Trumpy. And that is a good topic to talk about Genesis 6. Here you are one of the reasonable doubts, Why Golliat and the others are the offspring of the fallen angels if they died in the flood? What do you think about it?
While Mr Gladwell tells a good story and brings out very interesting data regarding the role in battle of slingers, he removes the miraculous element (which was so important for Biblical writers) and debases what was seen as an astounding feat (which was so important for David's myth). Additionally, would Israelite soldiers have been scared of a man who could barely see and could only move slowly? Would the Philistines have entrusted their military campaign to a man as crippled as Robert Wadlow?
I believe that is the whole plan. To remove the miraculous aspect, to remove any role attributable to God, to suggest unsubstantiated details about Goliath's health, to suddenly make David's victory seemingly commonsensical. It doesn't matter what little spin Mr Gladwell puts on the story, however, the Biblical account remains accurate. I wonder what he'll say about Jesus walking on water or Elijah outrunning a King's chariot.
Goliath had a reputation as a fierce warrior which is why the Israelite were afraid of him. He was not a slow ungainly oaf that needed a guide. Shield bearers for such warriors were common and could appropriately be more properly be viewed as squires. This guy who led him down the hill probably was a servant that probably cleaned and serviced his kit. Goliath was a late remnant of the Nephilim referenced in Genesis 6. If Goliath was slow and ungainly with poor eyesight he would have been easy pickings for another warrior that could have easily outmaneuvered him. I think that his slow movement was more about arrogance and confidence from many battles. He knew he could take anyone so what was his hurry. I agree that David had an advantage over Goliath with a sling. Goliath was heavy infantry for sure but one of the tenants of combat is never fight within your enemies strength, make him fight your battle to your strength. IE: This may be the reason we couldn't achieve victory in Vietnam. Goliath had probably seen slingers before but anticipated a battle of man to man combat-his way. I think that Goliath's arrogance made him put his guard down some and David suprisings him with a sling put him at a disadvantage.
We couldn't achieve victory in Vietnam because we refused to invade North Vietnam. How can you expect to win a war when taking the battle to the enemy's home turf is off limits? It can't be done.
Living Chivalry I believe the DNA came through the flood with the wives of Noah's 3 sons. I understand that they were picked as wives right about the time of Methuselah's funeral. 7 days before the flood.
I don't think Malcolm read the whole story. The account said Goliath taunted the Israelites daily. He wasn't a bumbling fool! The Philistines expected to win mightily!
Gladwell is right about the value of a sling in the hands of a well-trained skillful slinger. One weakness in Gladwell's argument is that he thinks he knows something the people at the time didn't, that a sling is a great longer-range weapon. Another thing is that the Philistines would not know if Goliath was inept.
@@krakoosh1 Implied, no, straight up said, yes. He was so feeble, he needed someone to lead him by the hand... and none of the Philistines noticed. Biblical giants are so different from acromegaly patients, you just can't fit a man who should be dead (modern-medicine speaking) into the account of David and Goliath.
@@vaeshethblade931 he said Goliath was 6 feet 4 inches. That is not a giant. There are thousands of people over 7 feet that don’t have gigantism. The scripture does not say, his servant took him by the hand and led him onto the field. It says, the Philistine came closer and closer to David, with the shield bearer in front of him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a youth, healthy and handsome. So Goliath’s sight was not bad like this guy said. Anytime someone says the Bible says, you should look it up. Also, Goliath told David to come closer to him after he was able to see he was young, healthy and handsome. So Goliath was able to see him clearly from a distance.
I read once that the Singers in the Roman army used lead projectials that looked like deflated footballs that would penatrate your flesh just like a bullet. Forgive the spelling. I'm enjoying beer-thirty right know.
Many tests have attempted to replicate the accuracy of the slinged projectile for a three inch opening in the helmet. It still at best a 50% success rate given an actual battle encounter, as responded by Goliath. Finally it loses thby he meaning of interpretation of David and his brothers. An attempt to ignore the point of the story, as explained by the storyteller and witnesses is real pure speculative trivia. Evil usually wins unless good is extremely careful, and is it possible for athletes and warriors to be so possessed as to predict outcomes? "I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel." This doesn't sound like target practice against a nearly blind handicapped weakened warrior suffering from giantism.
Well might be why David hand picked Five Smooth stones... He knew Goliath weakness. And Exploited it to his advantage... And running at your opponent. While yelling at him. Not only increases the velocity of the projectile. While also getting closer. So that your opponent looks down at you. To see where you are. As David was an Expert with it. He had taken on much larger and dangerous beast then Goliath. Why he yelled. He wanted to get Goliath attention. That is how he killed Goliath. He got him to look at him...Thus exposed his forehead...This made Goliath's weapon useless as well. He could not get close enough to use it. The amazing part was. David took Goliath own Sword and chopped his head off with it. The opposing army ran in fear at the sight of it... As the idea of this little weak boy defeating their mighty combatant. Made them think what could the other men do... Just to add. There is nothing that says the Stone Killed Goliath.. But that sword sure did. As he laid there unconscious..
Resurrect the strongest mightiest and best swordsman in history equipped with the best sword ever created and let him go against a trained sniper at 500 meter distance or even a commando at 40 meter distance with an Ak-47. Every one knows the swordsman has absolutely no chance. Just like you can't expect an aircraft carrier to destroy a submarine, you can't expect a melee fighter to kill a ranged fighter.
David certainly was the underdog and overlooked. We know this due to four references: 1) in 1 Samuel 16:10 when god sent the prophet Samuel to David’s house to find the next king of Israel, David’s father presented 7 of his 8 sons to Samuel, David’s father thought so little of David he didn’t even have David come to see the most famous man in Israel who was choosing the next king (using God’s direction) 2) when David came to the battle line to give food to his brothers, David’s brother trashed him in 1 Samual 17:28 saying “I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” 3) when David met King Saul in 1 Samuel 17:33, the king said of David…”You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man” 4) when Goliath saw David in 1 Samuel 17:42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome” Goliath was described as a champion and a hero 1 Samuel 17:4 The real take away from the story is the power of faith in god, just prior to fighting Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:37 David said “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Always amazed at how people with really high IQ can come to really stupid conclusions. If G was so weak and slow and blind, why would no one from Israel go and fight. No doubt G had a reputation at that time for being fierce and merciless in battle. That’s why the story has been told for 3000 years. It’s an extraordinary story of bravery and courage and God helping mankind overcoming giants and fear. Think again Malcom.
The speculation about him being feeble was only supplementary. Whatever version of the story you believe, using a ranged weapon that is guaranteed to have sufficient accuracy to hit someone's forehead from outside their reach and sufficient force from that blow to make them fall over vulnerable, is hardly inspirational.
@@nameforcomments4092 lol, David had a slingshot, not a sniper's rifle, and Goliath was covered in armor and a helmet. The area where david's stone hit was about a square inch. Do you know any slinger who can hit that target from about 200 yards out?
@@fridayvan-defoe6987 Where did you get 200 yards?? There's no reason he wouldn't make the shot from a comfortable range. And hitting Goliath anywhere in the face would be a guaranteed victory. Anyone proficient in the use of the sling would've had good odds; the point here is it was a rock beats scissors situation, so even if it did happen, it makes for a supremely unimpressive miracle. Why couldn't David just kill him by pointing and yelling "pew"? Wouldn't that have been vastly more brave and a better show of his god's power? Edit: Fair warning, please know that "no one would have believed it" is a very poor answer.
@@nameforcomments4092 essed the true advantage right from the start and the minute he took out his sling it was apparent to both sides who had the true advantage. Well, the scenario from the text would never have arisen if you hold Gladwell's assertion true, right? If both sides were aware that the Slingshot was Goliath's kryptonite, then the Israelite army would have sent someone who was a skilled slinger, and the Philistine army would have garbed Goliath in a better helmet..... Even in his attempt to revise history Gladwell was so sloppy it's ridiculous...
@@kj.karuga It's called "reading an ancient historical document." When someone tries to rewrite what's written just to suit their attempt to give a fairy-tale speech, then he will be corrected.
7:26 I don’t think Malcolm’s ever been shot with a “child’s toy” slingshot, or seen someone use one with intent to harm. It can be pretty devastating, especially with hunting shot. Also, i wonder if David was actually using a staff-sling, and the stick he was carrying wasn’t actually a shepherd’s staff. Because, why would he have a shepherd’s staff if he was at a battle, and wasn’t tending sheep?
@@slipstreamxr3763 A staff sling was a specialized military weapon. One end of the sling has to stay fastened to the end of the staff and the other release at exactly the same time mechanically. A staff sling is hard to make and harder to learn to use. You used the term "shepherd's sling" If a shepherd already had a sling and a dangerous animal appeared he would use the sling not waste precious time enhancing it. The Bible says sling not staff sling.
We grew up with it as a story of conquering giants. It's really about God's servants answering the call. I LOVE listening to Malcolm Gladwell. Such an interesting intellectual.
We tend to think of slings as being a weak weapon. I have seen first hand what a sling very much like David would have used can do to a human head and face. They can do major damage when used proper and placement is correct.
@@jaecei9195 On deployment to Iraq in 2007 on multiple occasions had individuals use the same type of sling throwing rocks at us. Had a buddy hit in the face by one from about 25 ft away and shattered his eye socket. He almost lost the eye.
@Tiny mod . I cant tell you why that happened to the Jews coz I dont know the will of God, but I have full confidence he had his reasons why all the worlds tradgic events took place and he didnt intercede,mebbe its like the bible says u know, we sinned so much he had no choice but to turn from us but he didnt have the heart to just leave us with nothing so he left his holy spirit to guide those searching for him !?!?.
Dave Koia that’s because they were the reencarnation of King David’s army, which tortured and killed thousands of people in the name of God Back them. King David wasn’t such a nice guy after all and his army was vicious and merciless. So karma just caught up but now it’s all balanced as they are all in peace and forgiven!
I've been big fan of Malcom Gladwell's books and his podcast "Revisionist History" but after watching this, I'm starting to think his research is suspect. The vision abnormality caused by pituitary tumors tend to be loss of peripheral vision due to compression of optic chasm NOT double vision or nearsightedness. I think the "sticks" comment is likely more a joke/insult and not him actually seeing double. (Although if he were seeing double, he also would have likely saw two Davids as well and thought it a fairer fight.) Something he could have mentioned instead is that acromegaly can cause an enlarged head/forehead though which would have been an easier target for David. I'm interested to see his source for how a sling can be as damaging as a handgun (I'm assuming he meant 0.45 caliber and not 45mm) or accurate at 200 yards. It's quite possible they are based from extrapolations from contemporary literature and art which tended towards hyperbole. I'm not saying he needed to be 100% accurate to make his point, but if you're going to speak at at a TED Talk and challenge one of the most well known stories of all time, you should probably make sure the core facts for your points are accurate.
He didn't say "as damaging" he said "stopping power". A handgun bullet is obviously more damaging because it penetrates, but a sling stone is still sufficient to take someone out. So is a fastball. His point is good about the sling. This story seems to be more a parable about the importance of artillery. The acromegaly though is a big stretch, and adding it into the story doesn't really add anything. If anything it would weaken the story.
Go listen to his Norden bombsight talk. It is so full of factual errors and his conclusions are suspect. I think his entire reasoning is very suspect, but then, what do I know?
I read, back during Desert Storm, that there were still locals skilled in the use of slings who were formidable adversaries. A sling is a fair alternative for someone who can't afford or acquire a gun. Slings were used for hunting as much or more as for warfare.
Slings were common in battle and Goliath wouldn't be surprised to see one. The insult was that they sent a boy to fight the champion of the whole Philistine Army. Goliath must have been wealthy to be able to afford the brass armor and a very fine sword as David said later in 1Samuel 21:8 - 9. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+21%3A8-9&version=KJV I doubt Goliath got rich bumbling about on the battlefield.
The stone could very possibly have the stopping power of a bullet. The question is what would the mass of the stone be. E = .5*mass*velocity^2 If the stone was 1kg, that would mean: E=.5*1000*35^2=612 J According to Wikipedia, a .45 bullet has 483 - 795 J. So it's possible.
After listening to this great story/talk by Malcolm, I thought, the idea that others are “stronger or weaker” than us is solely an illusion, as the strength of the individual we are looking at may strongly depend on the person who is judging. Whilst, neither can we say that a person is “strong” or “weak” only based on our first impression of them, as I think people all have strengths and weaknesses, and it is merely a matter of how obvious these traits are. Therefore, I would argue, beyond not to exaggerate or underestimate people’s strengths and weaknesses, in a practical sense, we would have to logically examine people’s strengths and weaknesses, so that we can use this information to understand others and protect ourselves.
King of boggles my mind that he admitted to not understanding it initially, only to then speak confidently about the story while lacking understanding and asserting something that is wildly speculative just because it lends itself to a good story. Armor bearers and shield bearers were very common. Goliath was considered a champion, meaning he had fought successfully in wars previously. Armor bearers were also common for people of high status
Don't know how this came up but I was intrigued then soon as he started speaking I realized the foolishness of it and the intent probably to deny v.46 of 1 Samuel 17. I was thinking exactly as you stated. Being led by the hand of an attendant- LOL. It doesn't say that. An armor bearer yes and well needed while dressed in heavy armor carring a heavy spear and sword going down a hillside into a valley. The part where Goliath mentions "staves" plural, David carried a staff but was also going down a hillside into a valley to do battle. I live in the hills of Tennessee and always carry a staff because nothing is flat, it's rocky and we have copperhead & timber rattlers. When I take my dogs for a walk up the other side of this valley I need 2 staffs for climbing up and 2 for going down. The medical explanation is a nice try but they new battle back then and no army is going to send a weak link that is handicapped & can't see well to win a one on one battle match, defies common sense. But, they keep trying to disprove God's Word and it just ain't happening
@@timjohnson9325 did they know the technology? Did they expect someone to roll up with the counter to heavy infantry? cavalry beats slingers that beat heavy infantry that beat cavalry (or something to that effect). Who expects slingers when the fight is clearly meant to be a hand to hand combat demonstration? Even his own team thought it would be a melee lmao you need staves? fake anecdote unless you're >78 and therefore not an applicable representation for this story
I played with such a sling as a youngster of 10 or 11. At that time I weighed maybe 65 or 70 lbs. With such a sling I could throw a 12 Oz can full of wet sand the length of a football field. I wasn't very accurate, but you can be sure that that 12 Oz can was a deadly projectile. I've know most of my life that Goliath never had a chance even if he had been a champion Gladiator.
I made my 6 year old sling recently based on how we made them when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s. It worked great. We were poor so we had to use our imagination often.
Asa Menchaca You are EXACTLY RIGHT ! He was of the Nephilim, a Giant ! In the earliest Egyptian Cubit over 11 ft tall. These egghead academia types hate anything that interferes with their Darwin belief. They are idiots !
Have read a number of these comments and find almost everyone misses the point of the story. I like Mr. Gladwell and enjoy most of his talks. He seems an intelligent, thoughtful and smart man, but he misses it too. If one reads 1st Samuel 17 45-47 it gives you the reason David was victorious and why he knew he would be. " I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou has defied.''
Goliath was 6.5 CUBITS...which means he was NINE feet and 7 inches. It says that his shield bearer went before him..the shield bearer was not leading him by the hand..he was carrying his shield. He made his defiance for 40 days...not at all a feeble man walking slow. And when he saw David it says, “He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him.” If he couldn’t see well then how would he know that David was glowing with health and was handsome?
Also interesting to note that Goliath had a brother and three sons, also of gigantic proportions..they also had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. David did not pick up five stones for arbitrary reasons. He was prepared to kill Goliath as well as his brother and three sons, who may have been struck with desire for vengeance at seeing Goliath fall.
Nice talk though...I especially like the acknowledgement of slingers as deadly accurate with the weapon. It is very true.
yep, this dude straight up made up stuff out of thin air and speculated wildly. Goliath was clothed in armor impregnable to slingshots. David had no practical plans or strategies to kill Goliath except for his trust in God. He deliberately minimized this.
No look it up actually 6’9 is the most accurate cause it’s from the oldest text. The text that is in the Bible actually comes from the same story but 100’s of years after. You can look it up
Good points. Still, I don't think the nuanced view this guy has is completely bad. If Goliath really was as strong as he was believed to be, then David should have had a hard time fighting him. Instead, it took only one shot. He could have been both the underdog AND Goliath wasn't as strong as he seemed.
@@fridayvan-defoe6987 That's right GOD gets the glory. David came against him in the name of the living God.
they dont want people looking into genesis 6, they dont want you to know about the fallen who mated with humans, thats why people like him are hired to tell stories
The others thought Goliath was too big to beat while David thought he was too big to miss
Lol
HAHA
It says in the Old Testament that various Jewish soldiers could "sling at a hair's breadth and not miss", so ...
I get it, you turned a negative into a positive.
@Eugene Elon you're right, no one cares
Romans 1:22: "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."
You are right on. This guy has his facts all wrong and adds speculation.
@@twodogs716 Gladwell and his ilk are akin to modern-day Nimrods...except of the intellectual variety. Anything to shift the focus from the Most High to the abominable mother-goddess principle - whether they do it through sleight-of-hand, or direct heresy.
@@TomiAdewoleAdetom Must surely be. Thought I might learn something. NOPE!
Lisa Haven put out a video today, which discusses the ongoing deception.
Sounds like the democrats.
Tomi Adewole exactly right
When I talk about David, I always talk about how he never ran into kingship the moment he was chosen. He lived his life and in doing so he was slowly prepared for what was to come. Unlike the average soldier, David faced lions and bears and killed them. He was courageous and fearless but mostly he was faithful in the covering he had. What you belief is very important because what you believe is what you give power to. He had no doubt and no fear!
Lesson: Every difficult situation we face and overcome, seasons us, prepares us and strengthens us, if you learn the lessons it brings! Life is full of lessons! Hammered metal is the toughest! Be confident, brave and fearless! But mostly have FAITH IN GOD!
SUSTAINED MY FRIEND! I LOVE IT! THANKS LORD JESUS! GLORY TO GOD ALMIGHTY IN THE HIGHEST!
Don’t you mean the made up nonsense humans created.
David was totally devoted to his God.
When he came into the camp and heard the Phi'- lis-tine saying all kind of bad things about his Lord it made him really pissed. David was a sharpshooter with a sling, and he wanted to blow Goliath's head off. To him danger - wise he was just another large bear like so many he had dealt with. PLUS he had faith in his God.
No fear of Goliath whatsoever.
He put a slug in his forehead and when he went down he cut his head off with his own huge sword.
@@lurettagarner9670 YES! AMEN! HE IS THE KING OF KINGS!!!!!♥️👑
I don't see a single reference in the King James Bible to Goliath having to be led like a blind cripple. I don't know what exotic version he gets it from.
Goliath had four brothers, all of whom were also Giants.
It was also a standard practice for heavy infantry to be accompanied by an armor bearer, as recorded in the story of Jonathan and his armor bearer, single-handedly attacking a Philistine Garrison.
When the Israelites first approached Canaan several hundred years earlier they were initially afraid to enter because it was a land full of giants.
So while the story has an interesting spin to it, probably the giantism so, in the land was due to genetics, rather than pituitary malfunction.
which is why he had four extra stones!
And how do you know this? Source please.
@@danielbond9755 A source for what? The account of David and Goliath is found in I Samuel 17 and David pulled five smooth stones from the brook on his way to the battle. Numbers 13 is the account of Israel spying out the land and being dis-swayed by a population of giants. Did you ask Malcolm Gladwell for his source that explained to him that Goliath was a 6' 9" cripple with bad eyesight? You probably should, because he doesn't have one, he made that stuff up. When someone says, this is what the Bible says, try picking one up and reading it. The source is... the Bible, so just read it. It's not that big or scarry, I knocked the whole thing out in a little over two weeks, so you should be able to verify an Old Testament claim in a couple days even by just starting in Genesis 1: 1 and going from there.
@@danielbond9755 Uh....the Bible???!!!!🙄👍
It wAs due to angelic dna polluting Gods creation by Satans angels. Read the first book of Enoch
When I was a teen I was taken to the country to play with some boys who lived on a farm. A ten year old had a sling and asked if I wanted to see him hit a building in the distance. Off on the horizon I could see a galvanized grain storage building - a long rifle shot. The boy selected a chunk of concrete about the size of a fist, spun it, let go and then we waited and waited. Then - CLANG! At that moment the David and Goliath story changed in my mind.
Though far slower than a bullet a sling stone has more mass.
@@pruephillip1338 Depends on the stone. And often they didn't even use stone, they often used lead "bullets".
lol.
Impressive!
Hahaha
I never saw David as an underdog. When I grew up hearing the story and they told how he defended his flock and I knew he was no one to mess with. Maybe it’s because I was raised around animals and know their capabilities when hungry or stressed. They are very fast, agile and sneaky. In order for David to be able to kill an hungry animal he would have to have a skill compatible to a trained warrior. Yes he was young but back in those days children didn’t just sit around all day they too had responsibilities. It dismays me that from the start people don’t give David the credit he is due. Youth doesn’t mean incapable.
The biblical story has him get 5 stones, ( early clip) but needed JUST ONE !!!
Why do people pretend that the Judaeo-Christian religion isn't just a mythological tale? It is no more factual then Greek Mythology.
@@tonygrowley5275 we’re you there? Nope.
tony growley university of Virginia has studied near death experiences for 4 decades and has concluded that there is strong proof of spiritual existence. There is a long utube on this subject matter. Moreover, A Roman historian specifically notes the existence of Jesus.
the lesson was: guns are better than swords
Dear Malcolm,
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your insight and perspective on this event. Your talk is a fine example of a commentary on Scripture grounded in sound research. As many of your commentators stated, your take may not be the full story about David, but it certainly is worthy of contemplation.
As to the question that you started with: why do we call David the underdog, a Catholic answer might be that Scripture must always be interpreted in light of Scripture and the Living Tradition of the Magisterium. One can therefore fruitfully read Scripture with one of four meanings. For instance, Christ said, "destroy this Temple and I will rebuild it in three days." The literal meaning of the word "temple" is the third temple built by Herod. The typological meaning is Christ's own body. That is the meaning that seeks Christ in the Scripture. The allegorical meaning of the word "temple" is the Church, which was born out of Christ's side on the Cross and the moral meaning is each one of us since as Saint Paul stated, each of us and all of us collectively are to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit. These four senses: literal, typological, allegorical and moral are a very good way to apprehend Scripture.
Typologically, therefore, the reason why David was called the underdog is that he is a forerunner of Christ: He alone goes down into the valley to meet Goliath. Likewise, Christ alone went down into the valley of the dead to defeat Satan. The perfect shot of David represents the perfection of Grace that put an end to the reign of Satan. Like David, Christ had no weapons and no allies when he carried the Cross. Like David, his own people did not believe in his victory. Like David, he faced death with the glory of God and like David, he was triumphant.
In the final analysis: every hero is a reflection of the Son of Man, the one and only Savior of mankind.
Wow cool. Are you a theology major? You're so smart. Are u Catholic?
To be fair, this only one of a few Methods in how to interpret the Old Testament. Seeing everything as a foresight on Jesus has much todo with speculations.
Thank you powerful insights
Very wise
Goliath is described as a champion not an acromegalic cripple...he was not being led down, it was his armour bearer.. Goliath could tell that David was good looking with clear skin glowing with health, meaning he had great vision...why would an army have a champion with poor vision???..As for sticks., that is simply euphemism.. and if you doubt my analysis, fact check, the biblical story is from the 1st book of Samuel chapter 17, and the battle sequence is in verse 41-48.
This guy knows how to make up stuff that's sounds true to people who don't know. Goliath had an armour bearer not an attendant. Which means that like King Saul he used arrows swords whatever and the armor bearer would hands him his requested weaponry. If he was a front the entire philistine army wouldn't have fled but they were depending on goliath to win the war and king Saul already had heard of goliath. Like Jordan getting schooled or Berry Sanders getting sacked by the smallest guy on the team the rest gave up knowing they relied on him. Stones don't go through bronze as thick as his helmet was as David figured he needed multiple stones but GOD ALMIGHTY (who this undercover satanist is trying to delete from this story obviously) pulled the 1 st stone through hardened metal and into goliaths brain killing him. David beheaded him because he kept his promise to goliath to behead him with his own sword which he kept in future battles as a sign to armys' goliath defeated that he's the one who beat the one who beat them.
He is interpreting a translation of a translation of a translation. It may go back even further according to some evidence and is especially evident with the Flood Myth. Your analysis is ALSO an interpretation of that same text translated multiple times. The Aramaic written in the Old Testament clearly names God to be "Elohim", which is a PLURAL word, but Judo-Christian religions are ultra mono-theistic now. The words we read are so far removed from the original intentions of the author. Sorry, but there are no "facts" in a document translated so many times in the last 2000 years that clearly plagiarizes what's written from other older cultures like the Sumerians.
@@commandante6709 actually we have copies of the actual originals sir guessalot. They're not myths but have plenty of archaeological and historical findings to support the history.
@Sirius Magus where's your proof?
@@commandante6709
Wrong it is the Sumerians who plagiarized .
Very good presentation with some thoughtful points. But just for the record:
1. Goliath's height was noted as six cubits (18 inches x 6) and a span (9 inches) which calculates to 9'9", not 6'9".
2. David fought off lions and bears, not lions and wolves.
3. And sometimes David did strike said animals with his hands and kill them. So he did have hand-to-hand combat training in fields and saw Goliath as just another animal who mocks God.
Bravo, well said!
Thank you for these corrections!
@@KRtheKUTTA Just wanted to reiterate that although it is said online that the sacred scrolls identify Goliath's height as 4 cubits and a span (6'9"), nearly all modern Bibles of the past 2000 years mention he was 6 cubits and a span (9'9").
But I'm glad people appreciated my comment. David saw weakness in Goliath where all other Jews felt only fear. And he knew what he has been prepared for when nobody else saw that as well.
Well said Mr D! Aey he did throw me wit tha 6'9 thang n I'm 🤔ing What David is 5'5 or 5'0 n under lil boy 😲🤣?? Anybody that looked n 2 tha Giants timeline and tha tha ancient home their 🛌's was @least 9'0 - 13ft long! Plus if this guy was looking @ tha ancient temples 🛕 or their front doors being super huge especially the bloodlines of Hi-Tites or Titans) etc (can't remem all tha Tites' name) but that wud hint that this poss Titan was a cannibal as well! As he said Goliath my hav had a pituitary issue that made him slow etc or being slow that day what happened 2 tha warriors who faced him (tha ones who lived) prior 2?? Did they mention that Goliath was slow cucumbersome n his movements and his mental sumwhat off? Dude's telling of tha story is good but think it's a lil skewed on sum his points. Do have accurate account of average heighth of tha ppl @ that time? Oh also throw in tha name David 😳 I not fixed on tha name as it wud pronounced different or even a total different from telling of tha David v Goliath story! These common names n Bible isn't their actual names. Nobody in those ancient times spoke or wrote plain names as tha alphabet (or even tha letter J') has been around ruffly abt 700yrs. As stories were taken from older text or scrolls 📜 and interpreted or translated by man...U kno WHO... hence: Tha KJ Version n so on! Anyway I get what u were saying thou. 🙏🏾👊🏾✌🏾
Try again!! Do you really believe 5 brothers all had the exact same tumor? Why do you think David picked up FIVE smooth stones?? Goliath had four brothers!! David knew with Gods strength he couldn't miss any if them!! 9'9" Easy Peasy !!! Go David Go!! Where do you think the phrase the bigger they are the easier they fall was coined!! Get your facts right jack!!
I’m so glad to hear what those stones were made of because I picked some up from that valley and they ARE. Very heavy.
The Bible says that David won the battle versus Goliath because God is with Him and the power of God is with David. Lesson Learned How Big is the battle we are facing we can be victorious because God is with us.
The God gifted David with skills, analytical abilities, and bravery.
ברוך השם!
Interesting interpretation, well told. However, it contains unsupported suppositions regarding Goliath's condition and alleged handicaps.
Goliath wasn't a handicapped show freak. The Philistines recognized Goliath as a "champion" (1 Samuel 17:4, 23, 51) because he'd whooped some butt. He was accompanied by a shield bearer, not some kind of caregiver. There are many races of giants in the Bible and the spies sent to scout out Canaan reported such in this very region; no need to speculate Goliath was a one-off mutant with some pituitary condition.
The Bible explains the basis of David's victory in 1 Samuel 17:46-47:
"Then David said to the Philistine, “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. ... For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.”
Marten Dekker
Good point. Helps suspension of belief if it matches known things. Bottom line, you know this is a story, right?
Except your bible quotes (1 Samuel 17:4, 23, 51) say nothing about Goliath's ability. Champion is only defined as someone who fights for someone else when in the context of the military definition (Oxford English Dictionary) and says nothing about ability. The Philistines selected Goliath as their champion and it makes sense. He's the largest one. No where in those 3 verses does it say Goliath has ever whooped butt. Samuel 17:4 only described Goliath's height. Samuel 17:23 merely repeated again Goliath was the champion and that he came forward. And Samuel 17:51 merely said the Philistines saw their selected champion was killed and fled.
Further, Samuel 17:46-47 only supports the obvious that which is overlooked. That David was not the underdog. You interpreted these two passages as some proof that God delivered the victory as if some unseen being guided David's hand which is absurd and illogical. If the bible wanted to deliver this story, then perhaps it should have presented David as some random guy who had never before used a sling and was a blind invalid that somehow turned into a sniper for this battle, but it did not. He was a veteran slinger.
They recognised him as a champion because he was probably extremely skilled in hand to hand combat. You seem to be assuming that being handicapped at some specific aspect would automatically make you completely incompetent in every other regard as well, which is not only not true but very often even the other way round.
All Mr. Gladwell is saying is that, even if Goliath was an extraordinarily strong fighter, David was the one favoured in their particular matchup, and if you were to repeat it a 100 times, David would prove victorious in the majority of the cases. Think of it less with a "everyone has a strength value and the one with the higher value wins", but more with a rock-paper-scissors like approach. Scissors is not generally stronger than paper in an absolute sense, but when fighting each other, the scissors will always win.
I'm not saying he's necessarily right, some of it seems like a streched overinterpretation to me, like the part about "sticks" being plural, but it's a viable and very interesting interpretation that gets you thinking (which is ultimately the primary purpose of these stories).
Louigi36
In the context of the bible verses, there is nothing that says they chose Goliath as a champion for any reason other than he was big. In a historical context this makes sense because it isn't until really until the Spartans of Greece or Philip of Macedon that history tells us of truly great disciplined infantry. So contextually and based on what is evidenced in text it makes sense that all that makes Goliath a champion is that he is large, the biggest guy and that is what makes him a champion. In that time frame with poor training, if you give your biggest guy your best armor in hand to hand combat, it would make sense that he would be your best warrior in a frenzied, chaotic melee.
If you choose to interpret "sticks" as an overinterpretation by Gladwell, then in the same vein, you also have to accept that you are overinterpreting "champion" because there is no textual evidence that Goliath has ever been proven in combat. The bible verses only present to us that Goliath was the biggest warrior they had and they chose him. That's it. There is no mention of his skill or experience or his conquests. The word champion also does not reflect skill in combat. It only reflects skill in the modern definition in the context of sport. If the bible wished to portray Goliath as a skilled warrior, why did it not instead choose to use a more fitting word like say the Philistines chose their "hero" since the word hero in no uncertain terms is defined as a person recognized and admired for his courage and achievements and conquests? But no, the bible used "champion" which in the context of battle only means "one who is chosen to fight". I could choose you to be my champion. Does this make you the most skilled warrior I know simply because I called you my champion? Not at all, it simply means I chose you to fight in my place or die in my place. Champion indeed.
Praise GOD
Great reply
Amen and Amen
The true moral of the story: "the battle belongs to the Lord" -- quoted by David in the story.
+Dave Graham www.academia.edu/3068947/Did_David_Bring_a_Gun_to_a_Knife_Fight_Literary_and_Historical_Considerations_in_Interpreting_Davids_Victory_over_Goliath
+Dave Graham I am a muslim and our book "Quran" says the same thing.
+Dave Graham The moral of the story is that ill prepared and under equipped people win only in stories and not in reality.
+TorianTammas Your conclusion is completely off base due to your ignorance of ancient warfare. Ancient armies used both archers and slingers (soldiers who used sling-shots) as a first-wave attack on their enemies. These archers and slingers needed to wear light armor in order to have the range of motion necessary to use their precision weapons. Once they strafed the enemy, the heavy infantry would rush in and conduct hand-to-hand combat to overcome the enemy and then hold the position. When King Saul offered his armor to David, he was offering heavy infantry armor to a slinger. It would have made no sense whatsoever for a slinger to wear that type of armor, and so David opted for no armor at all. He was a shepherd who was used to using his sling without armor and knew the heavy weight of the ill-fitting armor would make it more difficult for him to shoot accurately. Trained slingers could hit targets with deadly force up to about 100 meters. So it's perfectly reasonable that a shepherd who had killed lions and other predators with a sling could also deliver a very serious shot to a man who was just a short distance away. In other words, every thing about this story is consistent with what we know about ancient weaponry. Goliath was armed and ready for hand-to-hand combat, but David had the longer reach of a deadly accurate sling. He didn't need armor because he never got close enough to sustain damage until he had already rendered Goliath incapacitated.
M McAllister You claim: A shepherd who killed lions? I would like to see the evidence that the character in the story ever did kill a lion. What evidence do you have that in that time the story plays any lion lived in the area we call today Israel?
With all that technological and medical advancement we can today measure Goliath’s weaknesses but I’m sure nobody 3,000 years ago had such knowledge. It was all David’s courage, self believe and probably observation that led him to win against Goliath.
He BELIEVED BRAVELY ....
Self belief no. The point is that he trusted God
@@SuperIliad YES !!
@@SuperIliad Got that !!!
shahid, you dear moron, people understood that someone with acromegaly would not make a good warrior. also, it is a story in a book, who knows what happened.
Amazing! I've heard the first part, about how powerful slingshots/slingers could be, talked about before (probably after this talk was originally given 9 years ago), but I'd never heard the second part, and that's what makes it powerful! Just hearing that David wasn't as helpless as people thought just gets rid of the underdog theme without replacing it with a new theme - you need the second piece, that a giant's greatest strength may actually be (or be caused by) his greatest weakness. Valuable lesson for all of us.
His greatest strength was being big and tall?
The Philistines fled because David put the fear of God in them. If the Philistines believed Goliath was not a capable warrior, they wouldn't have run away. If the Philistines believed David got a cheap shot off on their main man, they wouldn't have run away. As it stands, they turned tail and ran. It was a moment of clarity for the Philistines - "God is on their side."
You're blessed.
Eyes to see and ears to hear... PRAISE!
Go back and read the original story. Read it and think, "Kayfabe." The Philistines turned and ran because the anointed king of Israel had just killed their champion, and there were ten thousand screaming Israelis pumped up to a frenzy and frothing at the mouth, running down the hill at them. They had lost parity. Read about those ancient battles and see how many of them turned on morale or surprise.
Nathan Zavitz yes, and in addition, if the sling was a superior weapon, then why would the commander panic sending David in? The speaker misses the mythological value of the story. His main premise: Goliath is a victim because he has a disability.
Thank you. 😀 well said!!
What we can learn from this story is that David was assured and secured in who he was (Identity), and what he can and cannot do (Ability).
Most of us would be easily overawed by the occasion of needing to properly represent the King and thus putting on Saul's royal armor.
How many of us could say no, and be fully assured of our own personal skills and experiences that we do not need to look like someone else to be more instagram worthy?
David knew who he belong to, and what he can and cannot bring with him.
He knew he was not representing Saul the king, but the God who made Saul king. He knew his abilities with his shepherd sling and his lack of ability with sword and shield.
If only we can apply the same philosophy to every part of life, most of our insecurity and imposter syndromes would not cripple us.
What would our world look like if we are assured in who we are, and confident in offering our honed skills and abilities instead of conforming to what is politically correct trying to fit square pegs in round holes?
Better yet if everyone had the revelation of David's God. If everyone drew close to the Creator. Satan would be really upset. But He put before us life and death and said, "choose".
No, what we learn most is that the speaker has no idea how great God is. His best attempt to write off the plan of God to luck and a feeble giant fall very short in honoring God.
The story is about faith in God and where that can take you in battle. It's a story of purely spiritual significance and that's why it was captured in the Bible.
The reason why popular non-faith scholars speak on this story is because of the non-faith based inspirational aspects to the story if taken as completely historically accurate. It's absolutely an underdog story but, in spiritual terms the mismatch is caused by the faithful man against an enemy of God's people.
@@razorbeard6970 i concur
beautiful words ❤
Goliath didn't have an attendant; he has a "shield bearer". David got the rocks from a brook not the ground. David had already killed a bear and a lion defending the flock.which means he defeated the layers of protective thick matted hair which protects those animals with his sling. David knew exactly what he was facing and how to defeat the problem because he saw Goliath for what he was.
The soldiers were in panic mode at the sight of him. The soldiers had lost their cognitive reasoning because the brain had moved to survival mode and shut down the creative thinking part of the brain. David was not being threatened because he wasn't a soldier. He was just bringing his brother's lunch! so in David's relaxed, unthreatened brain, David could see the solution.
When we panic we lose perspective and the agency to chose the best. Sin makes us panic. And that, for me, is the moral to the story.
More like lack of faith.
So fighting for a military is sin? Also David cheated in a fight of honour, so...
@@Owen2108 I'm confused by your brief post. Are you saying soldiers are sinners for fighting for their freedom and their lives? Perhaps you could take a moment to explain how David cheated. I'm not aware of the reference you are using to state this fight was a fight of honour. Would you care to share that reference too?
Notice how you used logic them came up with "sin" out of nothing
This is a very good take on that event 👏. I heard a preacher say years ago that David had the courage to face him because of all the wild animals he had to fight off to protect his sheep. Defending his sheep established his faith and made him believe that he could take on Goliath.
Our “trials and tribulations” are meant to make us stronger. Little did we know the trial that brought us to our knees made us stand tall one day against our biggest challenge. ❤️
Event? It never fucking happened.
Three errors: 1. Goliath was 9'6 not 6'9 2. Saul was mentioned as being head and shoulders above all in the land, not Goliath 3. This story is about faith not human power.
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 meters). Large numbers of scholars believe that the "taller" reading is based on an exaggeration and that the "shorter" reading is original, although some disagree.
@@silpink Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately the Seputagint is not reliable compared to the Antiochan text, and although men were certainly shorter in those times, the Biblical giants are clearly described as being massive e.g. Og king of Bashan. I lead a Bible tour of the British Museum, and Goliath does get a mention :-)
@@quierodesign3958 why would this conclusion be adopted when the Seputagint is the earliest Greek translation of the Hebrew text? You are saying that a later version is more accurate? What text was it taken from?
@@wdbland0820 See Gail Riplinger's 'In Awe of Thy Word' book. We have tens of thousands of manuscripts supporting the Antiochan line, but comparatively few supporting the corrupted Alexandrian text represented by the three codexes that make up the Septuagint (I have seen two of them in person).
@@wdbland0820 Also see ruclips.net/video/L5HY22JBzDU/видео.html
"And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him". 2 Samuel 17:41. I do not get a sense of Goliath being led by a boy or that he was not able to get to the valley without help. Mr. Gladwell is an interesting storyteller
but he changes the Bible's account of this for his purposes.
I was listening to this and thinking the same thing and by the way Goliath was taunting david thats why he said come to me so I can feed you to the birds. Not because he can't see him.
Valerie Wise - yes. Yes. And double, triple yes.
Mandy Loftis - exactly. And I could go on and on All Day with this.
Both you, and Valerie are correct.
definitely agree. it was incredibly common for high ranking military members to have attendants or "squires". his analysis seems pretty flawed.
So,..according to you folks Goliath just stood there unprotected and for some unknown reason allowed David to just take him out with a sling and stone.....yeah that makes so much more sense. Jesus Christ no wonder theists are so gullible.
He's right about one thing. David was not the underdog. It didn't matter who David fought, he was going to win because he was YHVH's sling. No one can stand against YHVH and win.
Who, really, is YHVH? The God of LOVE? But, also of Anger and Retribution? And, let's not forget VENGEANCE! Which, is, His! Right? "VENGEANCE, is, MINE, Sayeth, The LORD." The One True God? But, He admits that, He, is a jealous God...if He is, the ONE, TRUE GOD, who then, does He have, to make Him feel jealousy??? One of the many lesser false gods? That one confuses me. But, they ALL contradict themselves. If God is a God of LOVE, if God IS Love. If God is pure love, then the only things we could ever expect from Him, would be Love, and, more love,(forgiveness, grace, acceptance, unconditionally), or indifference. Vengeance, punishment, retribution, and, restitution do not figure into, nor equate to Love. The entire institution of organized religion, is, about control of the sheople, that, the Sheopherds lead to their fleecing and slaughter, in association with their Gov issued tax exempt status...
Amen
@@syndrome1965 God is slow to anger and quick to forgive. However, some of 'God's children' really tested His patience and understanding enough is enough. Imagine the jeers and scoffs if God had remained inappropriately unresponsive in the face of outright injustices and sacrilege. People would/will have then created their own revenging god.
@@lindakachur4862 "People would have then created their own revenging god" - agreed, just like they created YHVH or whatever they call the xian god. Imagine creating a world with millions of humans on it then destroying the world except for a few favored humans, all while knowing that would happen, yet you created them anyway? This god is a moron.
@@joecoolioness6399 Agreed. The Children of Israel fashioned a golden calf in the desert of Sanai.
Oh wow! So Goliath of Gath was a champion. A killer! The person who “led” Goliath down to the valley floor was not a seeing eye dog, he was an armor bearer for a champion which was common practice for great warriors and kings. He said Goliath was only armed with weapons for close quarters combat, yet last I checked a spear and a javelin can be devastating at a pretty extreme distance. Also the Philistines would have been out of their minds to send a blind man with such a handicap to represent them against the nation of Israel.
Youstill didnt get the talk, Quwstion is why didn't Goliath react when he saw David with no sword or armor or spear? i mean if he hauled his javelin at David then your point will be valid. Hand to Hand combat was not only fought by the use of swords, spears are use for hand to hand combat too. Thus said, he was expecting his challenger to 'COME TO HIM' if david or anyone else had gone closer he would have ended him, which is how i assume he became the champion of the philistines. David took the Hand to Hand combat out of the equation, and he became a big target,
I stand with you on this. It was a very beautiful presentation by Malcom. but I can't just get to agree that an army general will want to send a visually impaired soldier to represent them. it is not logically correct. a good soldier is trained in all art of combat whether one on one or whatever. I will just say Goliath underrated the boy David and his ability to use the sling.
A spear is a hand to hand, close quarters weapon, not thrown. A javelin is thrown. So the “last time you checked” was wrong.
Yeah what he said!!
Yee. I feel its a moot point to say "you bring sticks" in a literal sense. Im sure it was an idiom at the time.
It's strangely comforting knowing that "TED Talks" occur in my parents' converted-basement family room.
While history can be analyzed for accuracy, we will never capture that moment in time. According to scripture, and secular notes, we can draw on the probabilities of what might have transpired. Nevertheless, it is a great story, with both the power of the flesh vs the power of the Spirit. “ Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit, “ sayeth the Lord. David had the anointing of God on him, and that stone was going to make its mark, no matter what. Five stones were picked, because David heard, Goliath had other brothers like himself. Yes, the job was not complete until the head of the snake was cut off. Most of all, this story is a lesson in absolutes. David absolutely trusted in his God to deliver him out of the hands of this uncircumcised heathen. After all, his faith was tempered through his victory over the bear, and the lion. This story is for all, who can identify with the sovereignty & Power of God to change the course of time. For David, this was pivotal. From boy to a man, from a man to a King, his life changed,..forever….
Well said - that is what I always got out of it too. On a side note, it has always bemused me why. given this. AND the Israeli victory in 1967, they felt the need for nuclear weapons. Not a political comment it just always has. Faith is hard, I guess.
The story is a myth, like all of the magical stories in the buybull.
@@tonygrowley5275 tell all the little kids you see there is no Santa. You're probably a hoot at Christmas. Maybe knowone wants you around.
God wants you though. Keep looking.
David had been practicing with his slingshot get-up, for many years. That was his strength, as Gladwell says. His victory was not because, as you stated, " that stone was going to make its mark, no matter what."
@@lindadee34 …. OK Linda. Whatever you say….
The moral of the story is that David was walking with God and that we should have faith. David was the only brave person standing up against Goliath.
David knew that he wouldn't die that day because he believed in the prophecy that he would be the king in the future. At the time David wasn't a king, but the prophecy said he would be king, so he already knew that God would protect him so he could be the king in the future. David walked with God and God protected him. That is the moral of the story.
David didn't die that day because he knew he was a damn good sling shotter and he could see that Goliath was actually slowed down by his armour and the fact he had a the best position looking downhill to Goliath who was right at the bottom looking up at him.
Well written, Eric! The greatest of Israel's warriors were _shaking in their boots_ at the mere thought of going up against that blaspheming giant. But God uses a little shepherd boy with a slingshot to drop him to the ground, dead in one shot. God likes to use the weakest in doing His mightiest work, so that there'll be no doubt Who's hand really delivered that stone to it's final destination.
I know this to be true because I am a descendant of King David. God Bless.
@@swizzleproxi4810 If that were true why didn't one of Saul's other slingers stand up to Goliath? There had to be something more to David.
@@RichardBragg How about the story is just fairy tale, just like the rest of them? It is meant to teach a lesson, like the other stories in the bible. I wouldn't put too much faith in what the bible says, way too many contradictions.
I know this, regardless of anything between David and Goliath, God always referred to David as "a man after his own heart". So take what you want from this biblical fact, but remember to strive to be a man or woman after God's own heart! ♥️
Personality traits: Let the “The attractiveness of Christ” ibe our goal.
@@lhelms2850 thats not the Word which is used in the Greek scriptures ^^
Funny. He gives all of Goliaths quotes but none of Davids replys.
Also Saul said that Goliath had been a " warrior from his Youth" He was also Referred to as a "Champion" so he obviously had a fearsome reputation and the only way you Lived Long in the WARRIOR profession or as a CHAMPION in that time period was to be Good. Being lucky was not an option, Because Luck doesn't last that long in "hack and slash" combat. Because someone else will be luckier than you sooner than later.
I would further submit that David was highly skilled with the sling and not lucky.. As a shepherd he had plenty of time to practice while watching the sheep.
He would have been they guy saying "it'll never work!"!!!
This same King Saul was sore afraid and he himself was a mighty warrior that stood a head taller than any other Israelite. Also the Hebrew or Masoretic text describes Goliath a 6 cubits and a span or right at 10' tall.
Goliath had armor and an extra warrior with a shield. No this guys telling makes no sense honestly.
he didn't claim that goliath sucked or was not a good fighter. he assumed enough intelligence in the audience that they'd realise a huge guy would make an excellent fighter.
Jeffrey N Frazier the Point of the sling as a shepherd is to fend off wolves!!
Jeffrey N Frazier. You said "Goliath was a champion from youth" . So what !!!! When Goliath was younger he probably wasn't as big and therefore not as disabled by his size. With untreated Pituitary gland gigantism the individual keeps on growing until they are too big and heavy to walk and then they die usually from heart failure. Malcolm Gladwell gives a very reasonable medical explanation for the demise of Goliath which only religious blind faith could deny.
1. Some people may call an attendant a squire in certain cases. Not unlike knights of old.
2. Some armor is heavy. Slows a person down.
3. "Come to me!" Commanding behavior isn't uncommon in those that are full of themselves.
I think the most important thing about this story is how God used David.
"David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47
Also, I don't think Goliath was blind or visually impaired because in 1 Samuel 17:41-42 it says, "Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him."
He does make some good points, but when he says that everything "he thought he knew about David and Goliath was wrong," I don't think he can discredit every other sermon or teaching on what usually hear about the story
Ryan, That's the point of the story, isn't it? That God can use - and typically does use - a weaker force to defeat a superior one - in God's name. There are dozens of examples of that in the Bible. The birth of the United States and birth of modern Israel demonstrate that it's still happening today.
I really enjoyed this talk. I do have something to add. The Masoretic Text has "six cubits and a span" (9 feet 9 inches or 2.97 metres) as Goliath's height. Another thing you didn't mention was that David went and picked 5 smooth stones before his battle with Goliath. Why was that? Because Goliath had 4 brothers. I suppose he felt he might have to fight them out.
I loved the end of your talk, what appears to be their greatest strength can also be a giants greatest weakness.
With God all things are possible.
Six Egyptian cubits is almost identical to 9 Hebrew cubits. Its in the context.
King Soloman used a 20.5 cubit to build the Temple...therefore, six cubits of 20.5 inches = 10.3 oh, and a span, the width of the hand is 5 inches...so, Goliath was really 10.8 inches...
Now, if the cubit were the same as the one that Noah used to build the ark, that was 25 inches...which would place Goliath in the 13 ft. range of say, King Og, of Basham.
Goliath was not the weakling you bastardized the Bible to fit into nonsense version you were brainwashed by idiot prof's to disregard that King David fought a Nephilim GIANT...
Gen.6:4 speaks of giants ...powerful hybrids, the result of fallen angels and human women...
The Gd of A-I-J told the israelites SPECIFICALLY NOT TO FEAR KING OG! WHY? BECAUSE HE WAS A FEARSOME GIANT, AS WAS GOLIATH.
When Joshua and Caleb came back with a report of the promised land filled with GIANTS, you think they were talking about stumbling bumbling A/C/M stiffs like Wadlow.
You sir, have been brainwashed by biased prof's who ran with lies, to explain away the supernatural Gd of the Law and the Prophets...King Saul was 6'6, so you are really silly, now...
Are you trying to say, that King Saul was the only tall man in Israel's army? The combatants were actually 100 yds away from each other...plus, the sun was in Goliath's eyes, not Davids... the sling, having the appearance of 2 sticks, as the sling was aprox. 18 inches, and the manner in which David carried same, the sling might very well appeared as 2 sticks....half your speech was B.S.
IF GOLIATH SAW 2 STICKS HOW COULD SEE FACIAL FEATURES, IF HE WAS SEEING DOUBLE?
THIS WHOLE SPEECH NEEDS A REWRITE...YOU PROBABLY DON'T BELIEVE THE RED SEA MIRACLE OF GOD, AS THE RED SEA CROSSING, HAD 900 FT. OF WATER HELD BACK ON BOTH SIDES BY GOD.
I agree with you here. Sadly he in my belief misrepresented the Word in a very disgraceful way.
@@dannoah1002 Are you speaking to me or to the person who gave the lecture. Believe me, I do agree with you. That doesn't mean he didn't have some interesting things to say.
David went and picked 5 smooth stones = 4:19
This is not accurate on many levels:
1) David wasn't practicing slinging back then on the lions and bears as Mr. Gladwell claims, he was fighting them close range, more like wrestling, striking with something, grabbing their jaw etc.
2) Goliath was not "lead" because he was blind (or poor sighted), he had a shield bearer walking in front of him. That was a common practice (look up Jonathan, son of Saul, in the same book).
3) If Goliath was blind or poor sighted, how would he see that David is young, that he had some "sticks" (meaning carrying something that is not sword) etc.
This video has no basis in the Bible story (that Mr. Gladwell claims that is based on), but I do agree with his last statement "Giants are not as strong and powerful as they seem", I would add if we conquer our fear and put our trust in God.
Malcom doesn't look like he gets out into the wild much, but as you said, Lions are not something you casually hurl rocks at. They are dangerous apex predators that will murder you in short order. No shepherd would take them lightly. I agree also that the idea that Goliath was some lame giant like Sloth is ridiculous. He was more like Tigris the Gaul from Gladiator. He was a champion with a retinue of servants. He yelled for 40 days for someone to come out and fight him. He immediately recognized David as a boy and was insulted.
I think you're confusing David with Samson if you really believe a man can fight a lion with his bare hands. No offense intended but we're talking about an animal that could rip your arm off with little effort.
No offense taken :) The point is that the author here is misinterpretating the original, and in the original David claims to king Saul that he fought the lions and bears with his own hands (OK maybe he was lying or exaggerating, but still...) Please read 1 Samuel 17, especially verses 34-37
I have profoundly poor eyesight (without my glasses) I can still see someone moving towards me and if they are carrying something, the basic shape of what their carrying and prime colours such as red, black etc. I may be able to guess the thing they are carrying using probability eg someone is walking towards me with a straight, dark object taller than themselves that their using to help them walk I may assume walking stick or stick. Pale and cream usually mean crutches or a cane (movement is different as well). Assuming Goliath is my age and no one taught me to do this he (like myself) could have learned to compensate for issues he was experiencing.
Goliath disdained David because he saw that he was a youth, ruddy and pretty.
And yes, David wrestled with Lions and bears.
A few points
1- I don't think goliath was sight impared since he was able to tell the difference between a staff and a spear since he said sticks or stick depending on the version you've read.
2- He moves slowly due to the armour he is wearing and gravity
3- The reason he react so slowly towards David is that he didn't believe David was coming out to fight him and was probably thinking "Seriously?"
4- that attendant was his shield bearer
5- When Goliath says come to me. this is depicted in movies all the time where a character makes the 'come here' gesture with their hands to an enemy of enemies.
I have to disagree with the exegesis here; Gladwell has some agreeable points here and there, but I don’t think the overall conclusion is sound.
Gladwell here argues for the lethality and efficiency of the slinger. This is true to a certain degree. Slingers certainly could kill from a distance; we have tested that sling bullets can penetrate shields and armor to varying degrees. However, I think Gladwell overestimates the effectiveness of slingers on the battlefield, stating that they’re the primary inflictor of casualties, and the bane of heavy infantryman and whatnot, so much so to the impression that the slinger was in most respects superior to the heavy infantryman on most occasions.
From a military history perspective, this simply is not true.
For the sake of brevity, I won’t cite an exhaustive list of historical examples, but will only argue from the logical perspective: If slingers were so much more effective and feared on the battlefield, why was heavy infantry the numerically predominant soldier in almost all of pre-gunpowder era, instead of being phased out at the introduction of the sling (which was VERY early in human history)? Why were slingers’ role eventually completely replaced by the bow in the early middle ages? This point alone should sufficiently shake Gladwell’s entire argument about David’s superiority in combat.
However, if we see how slingers consistently took a supportive role in field battles and sieges in history, we could then appropriately conclude that slingers had situational uses, but probably did not supersede the heavy infantryman in combat effectiveness, thus invalidating Gladwell’s argument of David not actually being disadvantaged against Goliath.
Gladwell’s other conclusion that Goliath was not actually combat effective is on shaky ground; specifically, the interpretation that Goliath was not very mobile or was visually impaired are vaguely drawn from the passages. The fact that Goliath was accompanied by a squire is a very common concept in history, and does not necessarily indicate that the fighter was physically impaired in any way. And the fact that Goliath used the plural form of the word “sticks” does not necessarily imply that he saw multiple; it’s very possible that he just used it as a rhetorical figure (e.g. “Was I born to argue with a mob of idiots on RUclips?” when there may be only one person engaging in argument with me). I submit that it is overreaching to take that passage as good evidence that Goliath was indeed visually impaired. In fact, the author explicitly states that Goliath was an experienced warrior and was feared by many. If he were physically lame, as Gladwell suggests, I don’t think he would have such a respectable reputation, nor would the Philistine army have had that much confidence in him to rely on him in single combat.
Thus, I do not find Gladwell’s argument very convincing. I can understand the moral he’s trying to make, but I don’t think the passage fits his narrative.
JinandJuice so nice to see intelligent assertions on a RUclips comment section.
JinandJuice so nice to see intelligent assertions on a RUclips comment section.
JinandJuice slingshots were replaced by bows because bows in the right place would kill and a sling could only maim, or knockout, and sometimes maybe kill
he said that slingers were the "most decisive factor" "time and time again"
"time and time again" does not necessarily mean 'every time', or even 'majority of the time', he could just as well meant "often enough".
"most decisive factor" does not mean most essential.
they could be the most dispensable unit in your army and still be the greatest deciding factor should you utilize them.
you're right but youtube is definitely the wrong place for you bro
Brilliance is not about how much you know, but rather, how deeply you look into how much you know, to find out what you don’t know! This was brilliant! Thank you sir; I hope you dissect more of the Biblical cannon, especially the book of Ezekiel, and the noncanonical book of Enoch! I am a great admirer of your work! Blessings!
times like this is why i like read the comments before getting invested in a long video
That's smart!
There are plenty of scholarly folks commenting, but more nincompoops, go with the credentialed and peer reviewed expert, then due your due diligence and cross-reference even that if there's no skin in the game doesn't matter do what you need to do with the information but if it's something of importance with life-altering consequences then apply some scrutiny
@@debbiesimmons4593 the internet is amazing but still we still need to put effort in to maximize gains and minimize tragedy
Possible......but It was the practice of Warriors to have a Shield Bearer accompany them into battle.
Also, if he was not a threat, why was the entire army except David, itimidated by him?
KIT KAT 88 Pen The author is a quack - alleged that Goliath was half blind but that the Israelis did not know that. Actually, the Israelis of the time had a spy and messenger runners system (nowadays called "intelligence"). This author is clueless, but writes a book with an interesting title, and then proceeds to state that only he knows the true story. Pretentious! But people eat it up, so it's not entirely his fault. The materialistic motto is: " if there's a profit, it must be good. " Want to make money? Criticize the Old Testament (Thorah). Look how many comments here correcting him, unpaid, but he's the one that makes a profit... That's the real story here.
Correct and DAVID was a shield bearer before becoming the best marksman in SOLS army.
Other Philistines were with him some of them were big also.
@@johndevilbiss6607 SO true! Good for you! He just blindly read it and then assumed he was intelligent enough to teach the rest of us his stupidity!
@@johndevilbiss6607 Yep!
I liked the artillery/slinger vs infantry comment, but Gladwell took a lot of liberties in his translation of the text to make this story work.
- David reportedly "clubbed" wild beasts to protect his flock
- Goliath was not led by the hand by a servant. He was a "champion" with a shield-bearer to go before him, which was common for kings
- Goliath had a javelin, sword, and spear. He was heavy infantry and artillery.
- Goliath did not say "sticks" but "stick"
- After stating that Goliath had the advantage of armor weaponry, David does not cite his club, nor this sling, but that his weapon was "the Name of the Living God"
This story is recorded as an historical account, not epic fantasy. That sort of literature did not exist until 2,000 years later. Facts matter.
I agree. I was disappointed with Malcolm's "misinformation". Sounded like an atheist trying to bend the facts to find an alternative story. He left out all mention of God by David and the fact that Goliath was a champion not a invalid with a medical case. What about Goliath's brothers???
@@julianawad6980 Ya, but based on how he reacted, Goliath still could have been severely near sighted. If "slingers" were that deadly, then Goliath being an experienced warrior would have reacted the moment David pulled out his sling and loaded it. He would at the very least tried to take cover behind his shield, or closed the distance and forced David to hit a moving target.
But instead he just stood there...not moving like a sutting duck?
@@julianawad6980 The way I see it is that since it cannot be discredited as a historical occurrence then the story must be watered down and David vilified to ruin its message...
It also was ritual combat. It was supposed to follow a certain script. The champions come out in the company of their seconds. They preen around in some prescribed manner and talk trash. The combat commences with the performance of certain specific rituals. Then the actual mortal fighting begins. The people of that day believed, God or the gods determined the outcome anyway, so why have some massive battle in which many die or are maimed? It's a form of limited warfare, with likewise limited consequences. It determined who ruled the land and to what purposes the surpluses and developable resources were turned. For everyone, life went on as before. Is total war better? Is asymmetrical warfare that goes on for generations better?
A "champion" would have seen the sling and known what it was. it wasn't exactly top secret technology and Goliath had a shield
I think this was very interesting RPMs, stone density ete.. To think that David was still relying on the Lord for this Battle. "today the Lord will give you into my hands" pretty sure David did not know all this info about Goliath before the fight! His courage was amazing.
A 45mm handgun doesn't exist.
David volunteered because God was going to protect him and his confidence in God is what gave him strength. He brought 3 stones because Goliath had 2 brothers. Amazing story and David went on to kill many giants! Not just 1 what a testament to God. Praise Yahweh!!!
@Navroze Panthaky why would you believe the dude in the video but not what the bible says? Just curious.
Navroze Panthaky any facts or are you just a troll that makes blanket statements?
Butt Junkie Yes I believe what the book says what do you believe? Where does your information come from? Do you have anything that substantiates it? I have a completely accurate historical account of everything else that has happened and has not been proven in accurate anyway would you like to take it on. Are you smarter than 1000 to tried to debunk the Bible lol I think not! My point is that this guy was using the Bible to tell a story and it was saying it in a way that was in accurate to what the Bible says..... what exactly is your point
Butt Junkie I don’t think by taking it literally you miss any point at all. I don’t understand your logic basically you’re saying that because God gave you a brain you can have an opinion and because you choose not to trust pretty much anything you cannot see you choose to make up your own opinion about everything. Good luck with that I do not believe that everyone’s reality is their own reality that does not make any sense. There is one God there was one way and no one comes to the father except through him. I don’t think by taking it literally you miss any point at all. I don’t understand your logic basically you’re saying that because God gave you a brain you can have an opinion and because you choose not to trust pretty much anything you cannot see you choose to make up your own opinion about everything. Good luck with that I do not believe that everyone’s reality is their own reality that does not make any sense. There is one god there is one way and no one comes to the father except through him.
You are seriously belittling the astonishing achievement of the Bible. We do know that at least from the Dead Sea Scrolls that the Bible we read today is 99.8% the exact same Bible that was read At the time of Jesus. That and it’s self defies the logic that you were using. As the Bible says I test everything I was not taught nor brought up to believe any kind of way I have sought treat myself since I was 16. Your assumption of what you know about me is based on what you have experience with other people who claim to be Christians. However what I am experiencing from you is exactly what I expect from people who say they are spiritual but not religious. You are agnostic which means basically you are too lazy to decide what is right and what is wrong or you do not trust anything. Your general premise that if something is written along after something has occurred is corrected it is usually wrong however if there is an all powerful God that would limit that possibility to zero. It’s the same concept that people use when they say that Mary could not of been a virgin because they’ve never seen it and As far as they’re concerned it is impossible. All this means is you go through life with no faith at all. As the prophets of God said without faith it is impossible to please God so continue to believe what you want to believe that you were going down the wrong path. Do you feel like you have done enough research but you were making assumptions based off of an opinion that has no research behind it
Dominick Torres I stand corrected but the principle is the same one stone for each giant.
I feel like the argument about the sling being equivalent to a gun is pretty solid, but I feel like Goliath was for sure a better warrior than he made him out to be.
Andrew the giant could probably kill people with a beating of his bare hands, doesn't mean someone with a sling couldn't take him out instantly
I agree
@@pazzodi3 "Andre"
"The giants are not as strong as they seem" does not mean he is not incredible strong.
Against his own or comparables..princess bride movie covers a similar iesparity
1st COR.3:19
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
This is a very interesting telling of the story and brings out details I hadn't known before, but it leaves out the moral of the story. David was pissed off at Goliath because he and the Philistines were speaking blasphemy against God. David told Saul: "Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” David knew he was defending GOD'S army, and he had faith that God would rescue him against the giant just as he had rescued him in the past. This is an illustration of faith and the power of God that goes with the faithful.
An important fact, often overlooked, is that David used Goliath's own weapon to deliver the killing blow (coup de grace}. The lesson is, if your opponent is armed, then you are too.
wilfred vanvalkenburgh: Good luck disarming a gunman from across the room with your hands.
Deep and so dark its bone chilling to read 🤣🤣🤣🤷🏾♂️
I like that saying “if your opponent is armed…then you are too!”
GOOD ONE - 2 remember !!!!
@@rogergeyer9851 Can be done, look up 15:17 to Paris
No mention of the fact that the almighty being with David that day and giving him courage and the victory!!!🤔
You nailed it Theo! It wasn't David vs. Goliath. It was the Lord Almighty through David vs. Goliath.
never heard anything so dumb in my whole life. it's so easy to see the holes in his story. why on earth would a army send down a warrior that couldnt see? if he had double vison he would have seen twice the number of people in davids troops. if he had double vision and saw 2 sticks then why did he not see 2 davids? he says goliath was only 6 foot something tall he was at least 10 foot. he mentions modern day giantism, which after the fall things got worse, but in biblical times giants had no defects. i could go on but malcolm will be weell glad lol that i dont. how can a so called intelligiant man be so dumb.
@@questioneverything8301 I also agree that there was nothing wrong with goliath too, he's trying to make it look like the story is a fairy tale even though they found goliaths brothers bed in Iraq.👍
@@TheTheospringer all the people there are listening intently. thats the sad thing. it is a very true story, and yet hes making out it was a fairytale, then why bother to explain something he doesnt believe to be true.
@@questioneverything8301 seems like he's just trying to discredit the bible or the fact that David along with the almighty beat goliath, I'm sure the bible would of said if goliath was like what he said but, it doesn't, the bible and the words of the almighty doesn't lie, man does though, I know who I'd believe and it's not him.👍
For anyone (like Gladwell) willing to take this fable on its own merits the fact that David was not an "underdog" has nothing to do with his sling and everything to do with the fact that the Lord God Almighty and Creator Of The Universe assured the victory. But I look forward to the brilliant Gladwell's next Ted Talk about how the walls of Jericho were brought crashing down by well designed Israelite trumpets.
Why do you presume that everyone who reads the Bible must do so from the perspective of faith?
@@ilovemylifeyay Oh my comment was directed toward the OP not to you, but thank you for clarifying where you were coming from. :)
@Daniel Maximiliano De Lauretis Indeed it is from God. And one of the things I like most about Scripture is that its inexhaustible richness invites people to come to the text through the lens of their own lives and find God's voice speaking not to the multitudes but to him as an individual.
(Having said that, reading the Bible, whether religiously or secularly, requires understanding the form it takes, the audience it was written for, the age it was written in, etc. in order to ground one's insights on reality. Malcolm's attention to detail does him credit in this regard, though he got some things wrong, as has been pointed out in other comments here).
This was not a myth.....David became King David.....a mighty warrior.
@@paularivera5122 May I ask to whom you were directing your comment to?
This telling of David & Goliath makes me more faithful. So many said the spiritual is taken from it. But no it’s still there. God show up in the miraculous yes but even in the basic and practical
Interesting theory. But Goliath was a champion. He would have most likely fought many of battles. He'd be a veteran solider. David wasn't. Snipers miss shots with scopes. David's victory was not assured.
I agree 100x
I totally agree with you. How can Malcolm describe an ancient warrior practice of one on one battle {your best versus our best} and then describe Goliath as a man who was lame- visually, physically and genetically. Did not the Philistines initiate the request? Therefore, it would be wise of the Army, when making such a daring request, to send their very best especially when their livelihoods are at stake. Malcolm said it himself that Israel felt as though they had no choice and that is why King Saul allowed David to fight. The Philistine's were under no obligation and sent the person who they thought was the very best.
Because Gladwell is trying to tell a "cool" story by flipping the script.
Revan i dont think life was so superficial like it is now. If u were a warrior. u were a warrior. U weren't Dwayne Johnstone, or Sly Stallone. You were the real deal
Revan well if u look at the story of the walls of jericho. U can assume the israeli's would have spies. if they have spies they would have found out that goliath wasn't strong.
Just like a spy founf out about sampson's hair.
I just dont really grasp the idea that its so hard to believe that a giant is strong.it seems to be the most likely situtation. occam's razor
Sounds like he had a squire to assist him with holding his weapons and getting him in and out of heavy armor like medieval knights, not that Goliath was disabled and needed an attendant.
Chris Parrish , yes, but the shield carrier was also traditional at the time so that the champion's left arm wouldn't be tired from carrying the bronze shield before the duel even began.
@@johndevilbiss6607 unless he was left handed then it would be his right hand. Ask Gladwell he knows Goliath's full medical history, I bet he even knows the wind speed and temperature that day. I mean he knows he had a spear and a javelin.
That’s a good point
I know little children who know this story and the details better than this guy and not only that, they also know that the story is about faith and believing in the power of the Lord God almighty!
This man needs to read the story AGAIN!
Tru Dat... this is an attempt to shape the narrative, the bible states that a man bore goliaths shield, many elite soldiers of that time of antiquity had what is called "armor bearers" their assignment was to carry the shield till the time of battle, the text states nothing concerning goliaths sight which makes his discourse speculative at best. His talking points are not hermeneutically sound, he does not take into account the reality of the great faith that the future boy king had in his God to overcome anything for the sake of righteousness.
Pastor Leroy Little Absolutely well said my friend! I am so glad to see so many people commented on this mans speech. It gives me hope that people do know the truth!
though he doesnt mention davids faith he doesnt knock it either, he only offers explanations on goliaths problems. He also doesnt state that david knevv of goliaths problems, that alone shovvs that david DID come to battle goliath because he "knevv" of his victory,, IE; he vvas full of faith . All thats done in the video is explain vvhy goliath had problems & those probblems very vvell couldhave been put upon goliath for not beliving in God
They know the story because they were thought, duhh. What do those children know about Acromegaly???
@@JRPrestonIL who are you calling a fool and for what reason?
Love ❤️ this story.. ‘never judge a book by its cover’
David was prepared to fight hand-to-hand if necessary. He killed the lion and/or bear up close. "34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it." David did not go out assuming he would use only the sling shot. He was trusting in God to defeat Goliath, however the fight went.
BEAR is where in the sky? ... and the LION? geesh and duh your ignorance is not my bliss .... why do the ignorant Christians ignore the pole star narrative? It will be your undoing sir as it will the flat earth tards who will also be exposed for eliminating the southern pole star ... sad really
Kingdom of Israel is a myth. It's a shame that we live in the 21st century yet a respected channel like TED allows mythology to be told as historical fact!
Archangel Raphael who said the earth is flat? Bible says God sits above the circle of the earth and that he hung it upon nothing? Please share you knowledge with us. I’m up for learning anything. I’m not close minded but I’d really like to know something of which you’re saying
@@islandbuoy4 What is the problem with bear and lion? And I don't recall flat earth getting a mention anywhere.
@Bob Gnisir Sky? What are you talking about?
This is not what the story says. Firstly Goliath can see that David is young, "glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him." (1Sam 17:42) so he clearly wasn't blind. Second, the guy with Goliath was his armour bearer, carrying his shield. Armourbearers were common for important people, King Saul of the same story also had one (1 Samuel 31:4) Thirdly the text in the original does not necessitate more than one stick. Fourthly Goliath was not the only giant, he was from a whole family of them (2 Samuel 21:16-22). Agromegaly causes impotence so..? Why do people have to read things into Bible stories that aren't there? The beautiful point, that its actually trying to make, is that God is able to do what is impossible for humans. "...this day the LORD will deliver you into my hand...and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel." 1 Sam 17:46
I love your reply! I started watching this hoping to gain insight instead finding what I think is an atheist trying to prove faith is not needed. Do you know of any videos for Scripture study?
The Picket Fence Life THANK YOU for speaking this Biblical clarity & truth!
Agree, event comes from the Bible, he also cursed them and laughed.
Is this the first well known instance of trash talking your opponent?
@@SunWKim Hmmm, THE TRUTH HURTS doesn't it.
When someone explains the REAL STORY, you god freaks just respond with INSULTS.
Are you TERRIFIED that your INSANE beliefs are just INSANE
David grabbed 5 stones from the creek bed because:
-they are worn smooth and will not 'wobble' in the trajectory towards goliaths forehead.
-he only needed one, and trusted God would make that one among the 5.
he ran TOWARDS goliath because the closer to the target, the greater odds of a bullseye.
he had NO FEAR because his faith in God was so strong. fear makes you panic, David was cool headed and didnt miss a thing.
He had no fear because he would not even break a sweat running away from the sword of Goliath.
@@davidc1961utube wtf are you talking about? he did NOT run away. run the bible where this story came from. theyre still very much available.
@@daskritter3018 His ABILITY to run circles around Goliath was another advantage.
If memory serves Goliath was one of 5 brothers? Five stones to potentially slay five Large brothers after Goliath was given into David’s hands?
Fear makes you alert. Panic makes you panic. If the point of the story is to suggest that faith in god will save you, there are a few billion devotees who would disagree with you, if they hadn't died waiting for their faith in god to save them.
And does faith in god only work once in every five? How did David know the odds? If he had picked up a sixth stone would that have upset god enough to let him die? Or was he, you know, terrified at the prospect of fighting a giant infantry death machine and so grabbed as many rocks as a handful would allow him?
So basically, David brought a gun to a sword fight.
The true moral of the story: Bring a Gun to a knife fight.
The true true moral of the story: Bring a knife to a gun fight
Now how will you win?
Palestine seems to be the contemporary David
Sami Haque wrong.... Palestine is still the true enemy of Isreal.
Kingko1234 yeah like the morally superior David was to the materially superior Goliath because of Goliath's egregious oppression
Our Realities are not just any name we claim
But what we do with our intentions and actions
How we treat others
Palestine has been oppressed now for decades with impunity
But in the full light of history so prosperity will know what horrors took place
And who David was and who Goliath was
Equality isn't the standard here. The Jews are God's chosen people and despite their continued failings God made a covenant with them and consistently delivered them from those who were not the chosen people. Palestine is still in opposition to the Jews despite Christ opening the "chosen" status to all people.
He forgot to say the most inmportant part were david tells him he comes in the name of the lord etc
Woa there i think you have had a little much to think. We don't use the L-word here at Ted..
@@eirikmurito what you talking bout
@@Marc-mo3pe this is an anti Christian channel
@@eirikmurito apparently not..
This is pure speculation on this guy's part!
Humanism at it’s finest, in your wisdom sir you plainly show your foolishness.
How does this have anything to do with humanism??
Gunjα Fury overconfidence
@@davidhatchell6473
How does "overconfidence" have anything to do with Humanism?
@@gunjfur8633 humanism focuses on the sufficiency of humans... the superiority of human thinking and human power above the supernatural --- the fool says in his heart "there is no god"
@@cvarieur4433
From my understanding humanism emphasizes the value and agency of human beings (both individually & collectively), & prefers critical thinking and evidence over acceptance of such things as dogma & superstition.
Id like to add a quote of my own; "A man honest with himself accepts it when he doesnt know, & a man honest with others will tell them he doesnt know"
1Sa 17:39-43
(39) David strapped on a sword and tried to walk around, but he was not used to wearing those things. "I can't move with all this stuff on," David said. "I'm just not used to it." David took off the armor
(40) and picked up his shepherd's stick. He went out to a stream and picked up five smooth rocks and put them in his leather bag. Then with his sling in his hand, he went straight toward Goliath.
(41) Goliath came toward David, walking behind the soldier who was carrying his shield.
(42) When Goliath saw that David was just a healthy, good-looking boy, he made fun of him.
(43) "Do you think I'm a dog?" Goliath asked. "Is that why you've come after me with a stick?" He cursed David in the name of the Philistine gods
youre confusing goliath with king saul, who was head and sholders above his peers.
goliath had 4 giant brothers, so it was not a disease, but a genetic trait.
he was mocking david.
Yeah... now-a-days, Goliath could have been a power forward, a center, or maybe a line-backer.
Hence the need for 5 stones for 5 brothers?
Samuel Reed Good point.
@@gilbertwest8245 he was more like 9 feet tall
Goliath was 5'4" and queer. I knew him in High School.
It's a story...
Most athletes in the NBA are giants, and they all seem to display great vision and physical prowess.
Giant is not the disease. You have it backward. It’s like saying how come I see smoke in the morning but there was no fire.
What?
I found the talk interesting. Regardless of whether Goliath had disadvantages or not every Israelite was terrified of him. It took great courage for David to fight him. The greatness of David taking down the giant is equally impressive. How about the fact that God blessed David by placing those better stones in the valley and God preparing a giant in the path that looks powerful but is weak. Challenges that look terrifying to most can be easier to overcome when we trust God and walk in Faith.
The stones were not "better" they were just plain ole stones. There was nothing special in or about the stones. Those stones had been there for maybe a thousands of years, who knows. The only thing in this story that i better is David's faith and courage.
So God( who must be a person if he 'does' things..walked into the valley and placed stones there just for the purpose of David being able to kill Goliath, and isn't this the same God who gave the commandment:'Thou shalt not kill"? So in essence you are saying that 'God' was an accessory to the killing, thus breaking his own commandment..right?
No man!!! God did not place those stones there. they were already there!!! David just picked up five stones he liked. like most of those back then who were very capable with a sling. you pick "smooth" stones and not jagged rough stones because you dont want to tear up your sling. you assumption that God was an "accessory to the killing" is misplaced. The two parties involved were at "war" witth each other. in war what happens? people are killed. Read the story. whether you believe in God or not. Dont read into a passage your own prejudices. you lose the intent of the writer or the story. what they are trying to convey. thereby keeping you "ignorant of a story that is easy to understand. This "reImagining of this biblical story is a bunch of crap. whether you believe in God or not. Read anything to actually understand and not fit it in to your own beliefs. @@pryzmcat
@@macjones9376 reread your comment, then look in the mirror. The bible has been written, rewritten, revised, amended, had books added, books removed, translated , had parts taken out which didn't serve the needs of the powerful church. Now let me just say, the 'God' of the old testament was wrathful, childish, oh and very jealous! Oh and sacrifice was demanded! Funny, all the best of the best was brought to the temple, hmm, and who were the ones to profit from this great bounty? Only the very few, who used fear to make people give them their best or face the wrathful outcome. It's callled brainwashing. Now Yeshua came and told us to love one another, be good to each other, forgive each other, live well and in peace, that the old ways were dead. No more sacrifice. That didn't suit the priests in power..oh no! They would lose thier lofty positons. But if you look to the new testament, you see a different story a 'new' way of seeing. He said we could do what he did and things even greater..but, He was rejected, why? Because most men delight in killing and power and war and coveting others wealth, so war was justified, despite, the commandments. The metaphor of Moses destroying the tablets is very telling, people didn't want peace, they wanted war. And when they were given the sign of the son of man, most did not see. When Rabbi Yeshua read from the Torah in the temple, He was pointing our their hypocrisy, they claim to be ministers of God, but taught every wayward thing. The bible is a book written by men, many different men, in many different languages, Aramaic, Syriac, Hebrew, Greek..but the commandments stay the same. To obey the first commandment and walk in the rest is living in the will of Love and Peace. But hey...mankind chose the thief Barrabas..now, what does that tell you??
@@pryzmcat Mr. Stevens. it is simple like i said. whether you believe in God, the bible, religion or whatever. if you have a middle school education you can understand the story of david and goliath. You bring alot of subjects that take what i said out of context of what im talking about. im not trying to insult you. if it came across that way i apologise. im not trying to appeal to you in a religiuos sense. Just take the story as literature. it is simple, nothing complicated. Malcolm Gladwell go way out of context. he does not take into account that the story is very simple. He makes incredibly wild assumptions about the physical and mental health that is rediculous. example.in the story it say that he was their "finest warrior" or champion. and Mr. Gladwell goes into incredible wild speculation . ITS A VERY SIMPLE STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My point is not a religious Mr.Stevens. its more academic than anything. dont read into a story what is not there!!!!!! SIMPLE!! hAPPY NEW YEARS TO YOU AND YOUR!!
Moral; never bring a knife to a gun fight. Or in more biblical terms, never bring a sword to a sling fight. Good interpretation Malcolm.
Moral: Maybe your not a giant, but maybe you are a shepherd. ;)
The scriptures do not say Goliath was led by the hand by a boy into the field of combat. What it says was that Goliath’s armor bearer (shield carrier) walked in front of him. An armor bearer was customary to be with a champion who was going to combat. David too became an armor bearer of King Saul during David’s youth.
Agreed. This guy's scriptural twisting reminds me of Rob Bell.
The only story that I need about David & Goliath or David and anything is located in the Scriptures.
Everything you thought you knew was wrong? Don't think you have it solved. The lesson is God +1 is a winning combination. There is also a lesson about asymmetrical warfare.
man i could listen to this guy talk for hours. it’s what i’ve been doing for hours
Therefore, the story is about overcoming the giant within us "FEAR". hence, we should not be fearful but have FAITH. Goliath is an emissary of fear and a diversion tactic of the enemy. The reality is when we have faith in our hearts, we can see God's gigantic and overwhelming power to overcome any circumstances ahead of us.
Do your best. Let God take care of the rest.
IS THIS THE BEST THAT YOU CAN SAY ??? READ IT AS IT IS WRITTEN !!! DAVID my father said :
IN THE NAME OF THE LORD DO I COME !!!! HE TOLD THE giant philistine and cut off he head after the stone hit him in the third eye !
Goliath is the remnant of the Nephilim.
The Nephilim were destroyed by the Worldwide Deluge (Great Flood) long before the time of the Nation of Israel, or Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Nephilim created a world full of violence and the flood was used to wash them away. King David of the Tribe of Judah, a descendant of Jacob/Israel (name changed by God) went to meet the challenge of the mightiest warrior of an entire nation, so impressive that everyone was afraid to meet him in battle. Goliath was insulting the God of Israel with his challenges, and David rebuked him in saying that he comes to Goliath with the weapon of God's name, which was the Tetragrammeton, (YHWH) (God's name). No, Goliath was no stumbling blind handicapped weakling. He was the mightiest Philistine of all. But still as nothing compared to the True God. It wasn't David, but YHWH.
@@larrymbouche
While Noah and his sons were 100% human, we are not told the same about the wives of his 3 sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. What is clear is that one or more of these women were carrying the Nephilim gene. This is the source of the post-flood Nephilim. Nowhere in the Bible is it ever stated that angels once again cohabited with human women.
@@wichitadisciple9874 exactly...research people and common sense. you nailed it.
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days and also afterward- Gen. 6:4
If Goliath was such a crippled, nearsighted mess, why was he the Phillistines' "champion"? (1 Samuel 16:4).
Rob Adams read the book of Enoch. King James translation is written with personal perception.
Goliath would have moved slowly with his height and armor but would have been a terrifying sight. David was a ruthless psychopath that had probably killed before.
Jews don't believe the Bible.
Guess he was the best at close combat. Also, I thought he was 10 feet tall?
@@julesbaccarat2975 Goliath had been fighting wars since he was a youth. He wasn't just best at close combat...he was the best. He was not lead by his hand...he had someone holding his shield so when he needed it, he would not be tired from holding it to that point.
If he had his shield, he could have ripped David's head off. He didn't have his shield because he was tricked into thinking he was fighting a shepherd. When David brought out his sling...it was too late.
That was a brilliant explanation. Makes so much more sense now.
lol
I specially liked the geography lesson. It really set the scene.
Great storytelling. I’d go to church if it was like this.
That was well done. It enhanced a story that I have known since childhood.
when all crises appears irretrievable the Lord shows the battle can still be won. Unwavering faith lead David to a victory that day and his fear if any was satiated with the knowledge of the Lord's promise, eternal life can only be gained through him.
AND, Moses crossing the water / Remnants of chariots found on water floor....!!
Why do people pretend that the Judaeo-Christian religion isn't just a mythological tale? It is no more factual then Greek Mythology.
@@tonygrowley5275 mostly because we tend to believe people we trust.
THE UNDERDOG WAS GOLIATH BECAUSE DAVID HAD THE MOST HIGH GOD WITH HIM DAVID WAS FAITHFUL AND FEARFUL OF THE MOST HIGH AND GOD WAS WITH HIM
soliise arcangel ....
yes I agree with you. This guy is pretty much full of crap. Clearly I'm not even that good of a Christian but even I know this guy is missing the boat and only wants to create confusion and doubt.
@@lottiephendah7800 do not doubt your fath brother the lord is GOD there is the father the SON the HOLY SPIRIT GOD is king there is no other name but Jesus that man should be saved
That is exactly what I was hoping to hear... however, the explanation of goliath's weaknesses makes me also see that the most High will never lead me into a battle I cannot win! Especially if and when "I come against you in the name of the Lord of Armies" 😏
😂 watch Zeitgeist
@@lottiephendah7800 how come people reject new ideas and fear anything new that's why faith can be dangerous facts and knowledge are the key to enlightenment
An excellent talk. Thankyou very much. It is wonderful that we received a detailed explanation.
It's also interesting how the story reflects on the socities themselves - do you send your disabled soldiers as cannonfodder or your very best to a duel? Are soldiers, and by extension your people, expendable or is each life worth preserving? Sending out Goliath, however intimidating, seems like an incredibly cruel gamble..
Yea
Yeah, I really dont think they would send someone that is heavily handicapped into such an important battle, that truly doesn't add up
Its complete nonsense bro. He literally made up the part about goliath moving slow and having a child lead him,onto the battlefield.
@@evannunsince9357 Yeah, I need to reread the story. I can't remember it well enough. But then again, he never says where he may have gotten that info from so it might be a wild goose chase, if it even exists
@@jaquesstrappe7664 It was a one on one though
Nephilim -- and 5 stones -- Goliath had 4 brothers. They were giants -- offspring of the fallen angels.
In other words another branch of humans. They also exist in non-christian and non-jewish mythology. Probably went more or less extinct
Yes you are correct and Davids mighty men killed the other 4 brothers. David was also a shield bearer for King Sol. Not a boy he was the best marksman in the army. You would send your BEST soldier to fight a giant end of story.
Why did'nt his brothers helped him?
They must have all had acromegaly!
That is correct, you are the first person i know put attention to that fact, when David collected 5 stones is because he knew he had 4 brothers. Brillant miss Trumpy. And that is a good topic to talk about Genesis 6. Here you are one of the reasonable doubts, Why Golliat and the others are the offspring of the fallen angels if they died in the flood? What do you think about it?
While Mr Gladwell tells a good story and brings out very interesting data regarding the role in battle of slingers, he removes the miraculous element (which was so important for Biblical writers) and debases what was seen as an astounding feat (which was so important for David's myth). Additionally, would Israelite soldiers have been scared of a man who could barely see and could only move slowly? Would the Philistines have entrusted their military campaign to a man as crippled as Robert Wadlow?
I believe that is the whole plan. To remove the miraculous aspect, to remove any role attributable to God, to suggest unsubstantiated details about Goliath's health, to suddenly make David's victory seemingly commonsensical.
It doesn't matter what little spin Mr Gladwell puts on the story, however, the Biblical account remains accurate. I wonder what he'll say about Jesus walking on water or Elijah outrunning a King's chariot.
Nothing miraculous about someone being good with a sling, in your pursuit to glorifying your God you miss the point of the story.
@@dionysusnow bro the point of the story was to glorify God as mentioned multiple times in the Bible.
Exactly. If Goliath couldn't see well, it would have been clearly evident to the Israelites. And there's the aspect of the divine help.
Your reasoning is sound.
I just love how Malcolm tells stories.
Same! He is such a fabulous storyteller
Goliath had a reputation as a fierce warrior which is why the Israelite were afraid of him. He was not a slow ungainly oaf that needed a guide. Shield bearers for such warriors were common and could appropriately be more properly be viewed as squires. This guy who led him down the hill probably was a servant that probably cleaned and serviced his kit. Goliath was a late remnant of the Nephilim referenced in Genesis 6. If Goliath was slow and ungainly with poor eyesight he would have been easy pickings for another warrior that could have easily outmaneuvered him. I think that his slow movement was more about arrogance and confidence from many battles. He knew he could take anyone so what was his hurry.
I agree that David had an advantage over Goliath with a sling. Goliath was heavy infantry for sure but one of the tenants of combat is never fight within your enemies strength, make him fight your battle to your strength. IE: This may be the reason we couldn't achieve victory in Vietnam. Goliath had probably seen slingers before but anticipated a battle of man to man combat-his way. I think that Goliath's arrogance made him put his guard down some and David suprisings him with a sling put him at a disadvantage.
How can Goliath be a remnant of the Nephilim if everyone on Earth died in the flood save Noah’s family?
We couldn't achieve victory in Vietnam because we refused to invade North Vietnam. How can you expect to win a war when taking the battle to the enemy's home turf is off limits? It can't be done.
Living Chivalry
I believe the DNA came through the flood with the wives of Noah's 3 sons. I understand that they were picked as wives right about the time of Methuselah's funeral. 7 days before the flood.
Genesis 6:4 And there giants in the earth in those days, and also after that. ALSO AFTER THAT...
I don't think Malcolm read the whole story. The account said Goliath taunted the Israelites daily. He wasn't a bumbling fool! The Philistines expected to win mightily!
Gladwell is right about the value of a sling in the hands of a well-trained skillful slinger. One weakness in Gladwell's argument is that he thinks he knows something the people at the time didn't, that a sling is a great longer-range weapon. Another thing is that the Philistines would not know if Goliath was inept.
Yeah, I think he's perpetuating a silly modern myth that ancient people were stupid.
I think you need to listen to him again. A few times. That is not what he implied
@@krakoosh1 Implied, no, straight up said, yes. He was so feeble, he needed someone to lead him by the hand... and none of the Philistines noticed. Biblical giants are so different from acromegaly patients, you just can't fit a man who should be dead (modern-medicine speaking) into the account of David and Goliath.
@@vaeshethblade931 he said Goliath was 6 feet 4 inches. That is not a giant. There are thousands of people over 7 feet that don’t have gigantism. The scripture does not say, his servant took him by the hand and led him onto the field. It says, the Philistine came closer and closer to David, with the shield bearer in front of him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a youth, healthy and handsome. So Goliath’s sight was not bad like this guy said. Anytime someone says the Bible says, you should look it up. Also, Goliath told David to come closer to him after he was able to see he was young, healthy and handsome. So Goliath was able to see him clearly from a distance.
I read once that the Singers in the Roman army used lead projectials that looked like deflated footballs that would penatrate your flesh just like a bullet. Forgive the spelling. I'm enjoying beer-thirty right know.
Many tests have attempted to replicate the accuracy of the slinged projectile for a three inch opening in the helmet. It still at best a 50% success rate given an actual battle encounter, as responded by Goliath. Finally it loses thby he meaning of interpretation of David and his brothers. An attempt to ignore the point of the story, as explained by the storyteller and witnesses is real pure speculative trivia. Evil usually wins unless good is extremely careful, and is it possible for athletes and warriors to be so possessed as to predict outcomes?
"I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel." This doesn't sound like target practice against a nearly blind handicapped weakened warrior suffering from giantism.
Big Fish
Well put
Well might be why David hand picked Five Smooth stones... He knew Goliath weakness. And Exploited it to his advantage...
And running at your opponent. While yelling at him. Not only increases the velocity of the projectile. While also getting closer. So that your opponent looks down at you. To see where you are. As David was an Expert with it. He had taken on much larger and dangerous beast then Goliath. Why he yelled. He wanted to get Goliath attention. That is how he killed Goliath. He got him to look at him...Thus exposed his forehead...This made Goliath's weapon useless as well. He could not get close enough to use it.
The amazing part was. David took Goliath own Sword and chopped his head off with it. The opposing army ran in fear at the sight of it... As the idea of this little weak boy defeating their mighty combatant. Made them think what could the other men do...
Just to add. There is nothing that says the Stone Killed Goliath.. But that sword sure did. As he laid there unconscious..
No one has any idea what helmet he wore.
Was given a sling by the Tibetan monks and amazed at how accurate they are at even great distances 😛
The battle belongs to God. Amen
Add a note to the fact he picked up five smooth stones. Goliath had four brothers. David was getting ready for them as well. Let that sink in.
They were rough stones buddy
@@vjhvcjhcv6816 Nope they were smooth stones. Smooth stones are much more aerodynamic.
@@dwh5512 fair enough .
@@vjhvcjhcv6816 they were smooth
This has to be the most civil disagreement in RUclips comments history. Good form!
Goliath was a champion of the Philistines, so he had expertise in taking out people.
yep...,😆😆😆
He did not take them out , he buried them.
Clearly not tho
In close combat, due to size, perhaps.
Resurrect the strongest mightiest and best swordsman in history equipped with the best sword ever created and let him go against a trained sniper at 500 meter distance or even a commando at 40 meter distance with an Ak-47. Every one knows the swordsman has absolutely no chance. Just like you can't expect an aircraft carrier to destroy a submarine, you can't expect a melee fighter to kill a ranged fighter.
Amazing writer read all his books in while quarantine..amazing
I've only read Outliers so far. What other book of his would you recommend for a young adult?
@@murtazahassan1465 Tipping point, David Vs Goliath.
Thanks
congratulation you just read a lot of BS by the white Jussie Smollett
that;s awesome!
David certainly was the underdog and overlooked. We know this due to four references:
1) in 1 Samuel 16:10 when god sent the prophet Samuel to David’s house to find the next king of Israel, David’s father presented 7 of his 8 sons to Samuel, David’s father thought so little of David he didn’t even have David come to see the most famous man in Israel who was choosing the next king (using God’s direction) 2) when David came to the battle line to give food to his brothers, David’s brother trashed him in 1 Samual 17:28 saying
“I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”
3) when David met King Saul in 1 Samuel 17:33, the king said of David…”You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man” 4) when Goliath saw David in 1 Samuel 17:42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome”
Goliath was described as a champion and a hero 1 Samuel 17:4
The real take away from the story is the power of faith in god, just prior to fighting Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:37 David said “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Always amazed at how people with really high IQ can come to really stupid conclusions. If G was so weak and slow and blind, why would no one from Israel go and fight. No doubt G had a reputation at that time for being fierce and merciless in battle. That’s why the story has been told for 3000 years. It’s an extraordinary story of bravery and courage and God helping mankind overcoming giants and fear.
Think again Malcom.
The speculation about him being feeble was only supplementary. Whatever version of the story you believe, using a ranged weapon that is guaranteed to have sufficient accuracy to hit someone's forehead from outside their reach and sufficient force from that blow to make them fall over vulnerable, is hardly inspirational.
malcom is selling his humanistic worldview, though; he won't acknowledge God's power.
@@nameforcomments4092 lol, David had a slingshot, not a sniper's rifle, and Goliath was covered in armor and a helmet. The area where david's stone hit was about a square inch. Do you know any slinger who can hit that target from about 200 yards out?
@@fridayvan-defoe6987 Where did you get 200 yards?? There's no reason he wouldn't make the shot from a comfortable range. And hitting Goliath anywhere in the face would be a guaranteed victory. Anyone proficient in the use of the sling would've had good odds; the point here is it was a rock beats scissors situation, so even if it did happen, it makes for a supremely unimpressive miracle. Why couldn't David just kill him by pointing and yelling "pew"? Wouldn't that have been vastly more brave and a better show of his god's power? Edit: Fair warning, please know that "no one would have believed it" is a very poor answer.
@@nameforcomments4092 essed the true advantage right from the start and the minute he took out his sling it was apparent to both sides who had the true advantage. Well, the scenario from the text would never have arisen if you hold Gladwell's assertion true, right? If both sides were aware that the Slingshot was Goliath's kryptonite, then the Israelite army would have sent someone who was a skilled slinger, and the Philistine army would have garbed Goliath in a better helmet..... Even in his attempt to revise history Gladwell was so sloppy it's ridiculous...
David said I come in the name of THE God of Israel's this day I will take your head .
yes, so right
Danny Works you were with him when he said that ?
@@kj.karuga It's called "reading an ancient historical document." When someone tries to rewrite what's written just to suit their attempt to give a fairy-tale speech, then he will be corrected.
Ight, and your point is?
7:26 I don’t think Malcolm’s ever been shot with a “child’s toy” slingshot, or seen someone use one with intent to harm. It can be pretty devastating, especially with hunting shot.
Also, i wonder if David was actually using a staff-sling, and the stick he was carrying wasn’t actually a shepherd’s staff. Because, why would he have a shepherd’s staff if he was at a battle, and wasn’t tending sheep?
Because a shepherd's staff makes a good walking stick.
Because he was a shepherd and a sling staff is literally a combination of a shepherd's staff with a shepherd's sling.
@@slipstreamxr3763 A staff sling was a specialized military weapon.
One end of the sling has to stay fastened to the end of the staff and the other release at exactly the same time mechanically. A staff sling is hard to make and harder to learn to use.
You used the term "shepherd's sling" If a shepherd already had a sling and a dangerous animal appeared he would use the sling not waste precious time enhancing it.
The Bible says sling not staff sling.
A slingshot is a toy compared with a sling. Yes,you could kill someone with a slingshot, but it's much easier with a sling.
@Ahmed Zuq ONLY YESHUA SAVES.
We grew up with it as a story of conquering giants. It's really about God's servants answering the call. I LOVE listening to Malcolm Gladwell. Such an interesting intellectual.
We tend to think of slings as being a weak weapon. I have seen first hand what a sling very much like David would have used can do to a human head and face. They can do major damage when used proper and placement is correct.
How?
@@jaecei9195 On deployment to Iraq in 2007 on multiple occasions had individuals use the same type of sling throwing rocks at us. Had a buddy hit in the face by one from about 25 ft away and shattered his eye socket. He almost lost the eye.
@@thomasdark9763 😱 Damn!
All Israeli soldiers know how to use a sling.
Blind or not both armies witnessed the awesome power or our Lord most high thru his servant David that day,
Amen
"Lord most high"?? Speak realistically - as if you live in the 21st century.
Using biblical phrases doesn't make you pious.
@@TMPreRaff how would you say that in 21st century terms Tim??and by pious do you mean pope pious??
@Tiny mod . I cant tell you why that happened to the Jews coz I dont know the will of God, but I have full confidence he had his reasons why all the worlds tradgic events took place and he didnt intercede,mebbe its like the bible says u know, we sinned so much he had no choice but to turn from us but he didnt have the heart to just leave us with nothing so he left his holy spirit to guide those searching for him !?!?.
Dave Koia that’s because they were the reencarnation of King David’s army, which tortured and killed thousands of people in the name of God Back them. King David wasn’t such a nice guy after all and his army was vicious and merciless. So karma just caught up but now it’s all balanced as they are all in peace and forgiven!
I've been big fan of Malcom Gladwell's books and his podcast "Revisionist History" but after watching this, I'm starting to think his research is suspect.
The vision abnormality caused by pituitary tumors tend to be loss of peripheral vision due to compression of optic chasm NOT double vision or nearsightedness. I think the "sticks" comment is likely more a joke/insult and not him actually seeing double. (Although if he were seeing double, he also would have likely saw two Davids as well and thought it a fairer fight.) Something he could have mentioned instead is that acromegaly can cause an enlarged head/forehead though which would have been an easier target for David.
I'm interested to see his source for how a sling can be as damaging as a handgun (I'm assuming he meant 0.45 caliber and not 45mm) or accurate at 200 yards. It's quite possible they are based from extrapolations from contemporary literature and art which tended towards hyperbole.
I'm not saying he needed to be 100% accurate to make his point, but if you're going to speak at at a TED Talk and challenge one of the most well known stories of all time, you should probably make sure the core facts for your points are accurate.
He didn't say "as damaging" he said "stopping power". A handgun bullet is obviously more damaging because it penetrates, but a sling stone is still sufficient to take someone out. So is a fastball.
His point is good about the sling. This story seems to be more a parable about the importance of artillery. The acromegaly though is a big stretch, and adding it into the story doesn't really add anything. If anything it would weaken the story.
Go listen to his Norden bombsight talk. It is so full of factual errors and his conclusions are suspect. I think his entire reasoning is very suspect, but then, what do I know?
I read, back during Desert Storm, that there were still locals skilled in the use of slings who were formidable adversaries. A sling is a fair alternative for someone who can't afford or acquire a gun. Slings were used for hunting as much or more as for warfare.
Slings were common in battle and Goliath wouldn't be surprised to see one. The insult was that they sent a boy to fight the champion of the whole Philistine Army. Goliath must have been wealthy to be able to afford the brass armor and a very fine sword as David said later in 1Samuel 21:8 - 9. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+21%3A8-9&version=KJV I doubt Goliath got rich bumbling about on the battlefield.
The stone could very possibly have the stopping power of a bullet. The question is what would the mass of the stone be.
E = .5*mass*velocity^2
If the stone was 1kg, that would mean:
E=.5*1000*35^2=612 J
According to Wikipedia, a .45 bullet has 483 - 795 J.
So it's possible.
After listening to this great story/talk by Malcolm, I thought, the idea that others are “stronger or weaker” than us is solely an illusion, as the strength of the individual we are looking at may strongly depend on the person who is judging. Whilst, neither can we say that a person is “strong” or “weak” only based on our first impression of them, as I think people all have strengths and weaknesses, and it is merely a matter of how obvious these traits are. Therefore, I would argue, beyond not to exaggerate or underestimate people’s strengths and weaknesses, in a practical sense, we would have to logically examine people’s strengths and weaknesses, so that we can use this information to understand others and protect ourselves.
King of boggles my mind that he admitted to not understanding it initially, only to then speak confidently about the story while lacking understanding and asserting something that is wildly speculative just because it lends itself to a good story. Armor bearers and shield bearers were very common. Goliath was considered a champion, meaning he had fought successfully in wars previously. Armor bearers were also common for people of high status
Yeah. So tired of all these men on stages...me me me. God loves us, is there for us. Simple as that.
Exactly my thoughts as well...
A champion with a shield that apparently had no idea how the very popular and common sling artillery worked.
Don't know how this came up but I was intrigued then soon as he started speaking I realized the foolishness of it and the intent probably to deny v.46 of 1 Samuel 17. I was thinking exactly as you stated. Being led by the hand of an attendant- LOL. It doesn't say that. An armor bearer yes and well needed while dressed in heavy armor carring a heavy spear and sword going down a hillside into a valley. The part where Goliath mentions "staves" plural, David carried a staff but was also going down a hillside into a valley to do battle. I live in the hills of Tennessee and always carry a staff because nothing is flat, it's rocky and we have copperhead & timber rattlers. When I take my dogs for a walk up the other side of this valley I need 2 staffs for climbing up and 2 for going down.
The medical explanation is a nice try but they new battle back then and no army is going to send a weak link that is handicapped & can't see well to win a one on one battle match, defies common sense. But, they keep trying to disprove God's Word and it just ain't happening
@@timjohnson9325 did they know the technology? Did they expect someone to roll up with the counter to heavy infantry? cavalry beats slingers that beat heavy infantry that beat cavalry (or something to that effect). Who expects slingers when the fight is clearly meant to be a hand to hand combat demonstration? Even his own team thought it would be a melee
lmao you need staves? fake anecdote unless you're >78 and therefore not an applicable representation for this story
I played with such a sling as a youngster of 10 or 11. At that time I weighed maybe 65 or 70 lbs. With such a sling I could throw a 12 Oz can full of wet sand the length of a football field. I wasn't very accurate, but you can be sure that that 12 Oz can was a deadly projectile. I've know most of my life that Goliath never had a chance even if he had been a champion Gladiator.
Correct, the Bible says the stone sunk into Goliaths forehead. Bone crushing power.
@@sharpnr445 I'm Goliath Sack, & I approve this message
Same, l was pretty good with a slingshot. Easily take an eye out.
You knew that. Strange that Goliath and his people didn’t know that…
I made my 6 year old sling recently based on how we made them when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s. It worked great. We were poor so we had to use our imagination often.
Why would an army, who’s victory hinges on one person, choose the blind, freakishly tall guy who can’t walk straight to fight their battle for them??
Obviously because he's still a giant and super intimidating. He's not totally blind and they thought it would be close combat.
Roll for intimidation
scare tactic
Asa Menchaca You are EXACTLY RIGHT ! He was of the Nephilim, a Giant ! In the earliest Egyptian Cubit over 11 ft tall. These egghead academia types hate anything that interferes with their Darwin belief. They are idiots !
"45mm handgun". That's like five 9mm's. Dude knoweth not gun speak.
Have read a number of these comments and find almost everyone misses the point of the story. I like Mr. Gladwell and enjoy most of his talks. He seems an intelligent, thoughtful and smart man, but he misses it too. If one reads 1st Samuel 17 45-47 it gives you the reason David was victorious and why he knew he would be. " I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou has defied.''