Bible lost the plot !

How tall was Goliath ?? (bible loses the plot) !

And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. (1 Samuel 17:4 Masoretic)

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The Above verse from the masoretic text tells us Goliath was six cubits and a span? In other words Goliath was about nine feet, six inches. However the Septuagint  completely contradicts the Masoretic let's read below:

And there went forth a mighty man out of the army of the Philistines, Goliath, by name, out of Geth, his height was four cubits and a span. (1 Samuel 17:4 Septuagint )

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So now we have a big problem the Septuagint tells us Goliath was four cubits and a span that's about six feet, six inches. And what's worse the Jewish historian Josephus describes Goliath as, “a man of vast bulk, for he was of four cubits and a span in tallness ???

We have another problem to deal with if we agree the Septuagint is correct and Goliath was 6 feet six inches tall how does one accept a six footer wearing a coat that weighs 125 pounds?

He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds.

(1 Samuel 17:5)

In short  was Goliath 9 foot+ according to the Masoretic or was he 6 foot+ according to the Septuagint or just under 6 feet according to Josephus... You decide!!

Another blow SHAME SHAME!!


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How tall was Goliath?

A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span “9 feet, 6 inches”. (1 Samuel 17:4 Masoretic text)

Interestingly a damaged Dead Sea scroll can be read as saying ’’four cubits and a span,‘’ a mere six and a half feet (2 meters), same as what the Septuagint says

And there went forth a mighty man out of the army of the Philistines, Goliath, by name, out of Geth, his height was four cubits and a span. (1 Samuel 17:4 Septuagint text)

Josephus also tell us he was four cubits tall “Now there came down a man out of the camp of the Philistines, whose name was Goliath, of the city of Gath; a man of vast bulk, for he was of four⁸ cubits and a span in tallness” (Antiquities of the Jews — Book VI chapter 9)

We know the Masoretic text dates from around the 9^th century, whereas the Septuagint dates roughly 200 BCE. The question is which text is correct? If you say the Septuagint is correct since it pre-dates the time of Jesus and most notably copied from the Hebrew manuscripts which we no longer have in our possession, then the Masoretic must be dismissed. Bear in mind the DSS also agrees with the Septuagint alongside Josephus. This goes to show alterations have been made by the scribes. Think about it, if the scribes felt ok change the height of Goliath what else have they changed?

Christians boast the Dead Sea scroll proves the Bible has not been corrupted, yet the Masoretic Bible is a perfect example to prove them wrong