GIANT-SLAYING WARRIORS BEGET
GIANT-SLAYING WARRIORS

In 1 Samuel 17, we read of the famous story of David and Goliath. It tells how the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, opposing Israel who stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. We read how a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

The rest is history of how David took five stones and slew the giant. Now, let us fast forward to 2 Samuel 21 where we read, “15 When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint. 16 Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.” 18 Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the sons of the giant. 19 Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21 So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. 22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.”

Let us understand that in the time of Saul, not one man in the army was willing to stand against Goliath. They were all fearful and were left paralysed. In it the same fear displayed by those when they went to spy out the Promised Land (Numbers 13). In 1 Samuel 17, we read of a lack of warriors in Saul’s army. For 40 days no one dared to challenge Goliath! Compare this to what happened under the reign of David as the king in 2 Samuel 21. Here we find a story of battles involving many giants, some family of Goliath, yet not only David slew them, but also those who fought by his side! How things shifted from the days of Saul to David. All of a sudden under David we find men who stood up against the giants and slew them! Indeed, David as a giant-slaying warrior begat an army of giant slayers!

In 2 Samuel 23:8-39, we read of David’s mighty men. It says for example the following: “20 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion amid a pit on a snowy day. 21 And he killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men.”

Read the entire chapter and be filled with awe at the mighty deeds of these warriors. It may sound like fantasy, but these men were filled with incredible courage and strength. In the strength and might of God, they did the impossible. They showed no fear, reminiscent of the army of Gideon. They were bold and courageous like Joshua and Samson.

So who is the common denominator when we look at the exploits of these mighty men and the slaying of the giants? David. This young man was the first to stand up against a giant. It is clear that under his reign men of great valour rose to defy the odds. You can say David as a warrior begat warriors! The exploits of David’s mighty men are also legendary. 

In Acts 13 we read, “6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) [b]withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”

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