Changes

== Origin and Description ==

== Origin and Description ==

The [[Bible]] says that Goliath came from the city of [[Gath]], one of a handful of Philistine city-states.

The [[Bible]] says that Goliath came from the city of [[Gath]], one of a handful of Philistine city-states.  He stood "six cubits and a span" according to the Biblical text.

He stood "six cubits and a span." A [[cubit]] is the length of a man's arm (generally measured as 18 inches), and a [[span]] is the widest extent that a man can spread the palm and fingers of his hand (generally measured as 1/2 of a cubit, or 9 inches). Therefore, "six cubits and a span" make about nine and 3/4 [[US Customary System of Units|US Customary]] [[Foot (length)|feet]], or 3 [[meter]]s.

A [[cubit]] is the length of a man's arm (generally measured conservatively as 18 inches (1.5 [[Foot (length)|feet]]) using [[US Customary System of Units|US units]], or just under 0.5 meters using [[metric system]] units), and a [[span]] is the widest extent that a man can spread the palm and fingers of his hand (generally measured as one-half of a cubit, or 9 inches/0.75 feet or just under 0.25 meters). Therefore, "six cubits and a span" equals roughly 117 inches, or about nine and 3/4 feet, or just under 3.25 [[meter]]s using the metric system.

Further clues to his tremendous size and strength come from the catalog of his armor that the Bible offers. He wore a [[coat of mail]] that weighed 5000 brass [[shekel]]s and carried a spear whose head weighed 600 iron shekels and whose shaft "was like a weaver's beam." He even had his own shield bearer, normally a perquisite of kings and captains.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Samuel|chap=17|verses=4-7|version=KJV}}</ref>

Further clues to his tremendous size and strength come from the catalog of his armor that the Bible offers. He wore a [[coat of mail]] that weighed 5000 brass [[shekel]]s and carried a spear whose head weighed 600 iron shekels and whose shaft "was like a weaver's beam". He even had his own shield bearer, normally a perquisite of kings and captains.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Samuel|chap=17|verses=4-7|version=KJV}}</ref>

In addition {{Bible ref|book=II_Samuel|chap=21|verses=18-22|version=KJV}} mentions that there were other giants in Gath, possibly related to Goliath (likely why David picked up five stones, figuring that he might have to face more than just Goliath).

In addition {{Bible ref|book=II_Samuel|chap=21|verses=18-22|version=KJV}} mentions that there were other giants in Gath, possibly related to Goliath (likely why David picked up five stones, figuring that he might have to face more than just Goliath).