snowcelt wrote on May 12
th, 2011 at 2:36am:
Indeed. I'd like to see some references for these claims too. It's not enough to say they are in the Bible and we should all accept that. I'd like to see the Biblical reference matched with a modern scientific/archaeological one.
Anyone care to set me right?
Mods, is this is too touchy a subject?
No, it's not too touchy, provided people are willing to accept that it is very speculative. The Bible itself is very light on detail; no descrition of the throw, nor of the distance, is given. Goliath's height is stated as being six cubits and a span but some ancient texts say only four cubits and a span. Ignoring or overlooking evidence which doesn't fit into the prevailing viewpoint is a trap we all can fall into.
Similarly, any speculation that the five stones represent Goliath's five brothers is just that, speculation. There is NO definite Biblical reference to confirm that. As is the notion that Goliath was really struck on the kneecap. This idea is based on tha similarity of the words for forehead and kneecap. It is surmised that Goliath's forehead would have been covered by his helmet and he would not have fallen forward if struck on the forehead. Perhaps he was wearing a short helmet and tripped?
We have to accept that we can never really know some of these finer details.