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Goliath was almost certainly a [[giant]]. The question arises as to how he came to be one. Did he suffer from a [[medicine|medical]] condition? Some modern [[doctor]]s have suggested that he probably had a [[pituitary adenoma]] that over-produced the [[human growth hormone]] during his [[adolescence|adolescent]] years. This would indeed produce the condition of [[giantism]]. Many such "pituitary giants" are known to medical science, and they generally have all their organs and bones, all in proper proportion to one another.  The tallest man on record was [[Robert Pershing Wadlow]] (1918-1940) of [[Alton]], [[Illinois]]. (See image at right.) Wadlow, who was still growing at his death from a foot infection, stood 8 [[Foot (length)|feet]] and 11.1 [[inch]]es tall and was otherwise healthy and even entertained as an occasional basketball player with local high school players.<ref>Authors unknown. [http://www.maniacworld.com/worlds_tallest_man.htm The World's Tallest Man]. Retrieved May 29, 2007.</ref> Had he been as muscular as he was tall, he would no doubt have been strong enough to carry Goliath's armor, even armor as heavy as the Bible describes.

Goliath was almost certainly a [[giant]]. The question arises as to how he came to be one. Did he suffer from a [[medicine|medical]] condition? Some modern [[doctor]]s have suggested that he probably had a [[pituitary adenoma]] that over-produced the [[human growth hormone]] during his [[adolescence|adolescent]] years. This would indeed produce the condition of [[giantism]]. Many such "pituitary giants" are known to medical science, and they generally have all their organs and bones, all in proper proportion to one another.  The tallest man on record was [[Robert Pershing Wadlow]] (1918-1940) of [[Alton]], [[Illinois]]. (See image at right.) Wadlow, who was still growing at his death from a foot infection, stood 8 [[Foot (length)|feet]] and 11.1 [[inch]]es tall and was otherwise healthy and even entertained as an occasional basketball player with local high school players.<ref>Authors unknown. [http://www.maniacworld.com/worlds_tallest_man.htm The World's Tallest Man]. Retrieved May 29, 2007.</ref> Had he been as muscular as he was tall, he would no doubt have been strong enough to carry Goliath's armor, even armor as heavy as the Bible describes.

But the speculation does not stop there. These same doctors speculate that the pituitary tumor grew to impinge upon the [[optic chiasm]] and cut off the signals that pass from each [[eye]] to the opposing [[occipital lobe]], which is the center for visual processing. Thus Goliath would have suffered [[bitemporal hemianopsia]], which produces "tunnel vision," and thus David would have been better able to approach him close enough to deliver a killing blow with his slingshot.<ref>Berginer, Vladimir M. [http://www.ima.org.il/imaj/ar00sep-15.pdf Neurological Aspects of the David-Goliath Battle: Restriction in the Giant's Visual Field]. ''IMAJ'' 2000;2:725-727 (requires a PDF reader or plug-in)</ref>

These same doctors even speculate that the pituitary tumor grew to impinge upon the [[optic chiasm]] and cut off the signals that pass from each [[eye]] to the opposing [[occipital lobe]], which is the center for visual processing. Thus Goliath would have suffered [[bitemporal hemianopsia]], which produces "tunnel vision," and thus David would have been better able to approach him close enough to deliver a killing blow with his slingshot.<ref>Berginer, Vladimir M. [http://www.ima.org.il/imaj/ar00sep-15.pdf Neurological Aspects of the David-Goliath Battle: Restriction in the Giant's Visual Field]. ''IMAJ'' 2000;2:725-727 (requires a PDF reader or plug-in)</ref>

Such speculation ignores three key facts. One is the utility of the ancient slingshot; indeed the Book of [[Judges (book)|Judges]] speaks of a cadre of slingers who each could reliably hit a target no broader than a human hair.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Judges|chap=20|verses=16|version=KJV}}</ref> Though that verse does not say from how far away the slingers could accomplish this feat, one must remember that the combat between David and Goliath was at very close range, with the two combatants never more than five or six cubits apart from one another. In all likelihood, David could have defeated a three-meter-tall man having full possession of his visual faculties--and equally likely, the Philistines would not have invested such effort to train and equip a man, no matter how tall he stood, if he had, in effect, two blind sides.

But such speculation ignores three key facts. One is the utility of the ancient slingshot; indeed the Book of [[Judges (book)|Judges]] speaks of a cadre of slingers who each could reliably hit a target no broader than a human hair.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Judges|chap=20|verses=16|version=KJV}}</ref> Though that verse does not say from how far away the slingers could accomplish this feat, one must remember that the combat between David and Goliath was at very close range, with the two combatants never more than five or six cubits apart from one another. In all likelihood, David could have defeated a three-meter-tall man having full possession of his visual faculties--and equally likely, the Philistines would not have invested such effort to train and equip a man, no matter how tall he stood, if he had, in effect, two blind sides.

Another fact is the nature of pituitary adenoma and the consequences of the continued secretion of growth hormone after the [[epiphyseal plate]]s of bones have fully formed. A patient so afflicted has outsized fingers and toes, a condition called [[acromegaly]]. The Bible does not describe the anatomical anomalies associated with acromegaly in Goliath.

Another fact is the nature of pituitary adenoma and the consequences of the continued secretion of growth hormone after the [[epiphyseal plate]]s of bones have fully formed. A patient so afflicted has outsized fingers and toes, a condition called [[acromegaly]]. The Bible does not describe the anatomical anomalies associated with acromegaly in Goliath.

[[Category:Biblical persons]]

[[Category:Biblical Persons]]