Valley of Elah
Mortal Combat in the Valley of Elah
David vs Goliath
Philistine and Israelite armies line up on opposite sides of the Valley of Elah, along the border of both nations. Goliath, champion warrior of the Philistines, steps up to challenge any willing Israelite to a fight to the death, winner take all. He protected his head with a bronze helmet. And he wore a coat of small bronze plates linked like fish scales. It weighed 125 pounds (57 kg). He wore bronze leg guards, and he carried a bronze javelin slung over his back. He also carried a spear with a shaft that looked as thick as a weaver’s beam. The iron spearhead alone weighed at least 15 pounds (6.8 kg). A soldier walked ahead of him, protecting him by carrying a tall shield. Goliath shouted across the narrow valley at Israel’s army, “Let’s be reasonable. We don’t need our armies to fight each other. I’m one Philistine. Why don’t you pick one of Saul’s men to fight me? If he kills me, we lose. Philistines will serve your people. If I kill him, you lose. Israel serves us. 10I challenge your army to mortal combat. Send me a man willing to fight.” The only willing Israelite was David, a shepherd armed with just a slingshot and some rocks. David drops Goliath with a rock to the head. Then David cuts off the soldier's head. Philistines run away, with suddenly-brave Israelites chasing them and killing them all day. That's as long as it takes them to reach safety in their walled cities of Gath and Ekron. The story is in 1 Samuel 17. For other Bible versions of the story, see Bible Gateway.Valley of Elah where David killed Goliath
Battle of Elah
Battle of Elah
In the Battle of Elah, David and Goliath fought to settle the dispute between Philistines and Israelites. It didn't stop the war. The idea was for just one man to die. That way, the Philistine and Israelite armies wouldn't have to continue their war. More likely, though, the Philistines just wanted to put the fear of Dagon into the Israelites. They did it by introducing them to someone no one would want to meet on the battlefield. Goliath.
David killed Goliath with one stone fired from a sling, the ancient version of mobile artillery.
Philistines were supposed to surrender to Israel and live under the thumb of their king.
Instead, they ran away. Israelite soldiers chased them all day long. They ran them to the gates of their walled cities of Gath and Ekron. Those were the two Philistine cities closest to the battlefield.
David's story comes to life—bigger than life—in 1 Samuel 17.
David and Goliath at Elah Valley
David and Goliath at Elah Valley
Mortal combat
David and Goliath at Elah Valley: David and Goliath fight to the death in a battle of mortal combat at the Valley of Elah. The idea is for one man to die so the Philistine and Israelite armies don't have to fight. In theory, at least. More likely, the Philistines just wanted to put the fear of Dagon into the Israelites by introducing them to someone no one would want to meet on the battlefield.Excerpt
4One day a Philistine soldier started walking toward the Israelites. He was the Philistine champion warrior, Goliath. He came from the Philistine city of Gath. Goliath stood six feet, nine inches (2 meters) tall. 5He protected his head with a bronze helmet. And he wore a coat of small bronze plates linked like fish scales. It weighed 125 pounds (57 kg). 6He wore bronze leg guards, and he carried a bronze javelin slung over his back. 7He also carried a spear with a shaft that looked as thick as a weaver’s beam. The iron spearhead alone weighed at least 15 pounds (6.8 kg). A soldier walked ahead of him, protecting him by carrying a tall shield. 8Goliath shouted across the narrow valley at Israel’s army, “Let’s be reasonable. We don’t need our armies to fight each other. I’m one Philistine. Why don’t you pick one of Saul’s men to fight me? 9If he kills me, we lose. Philistines will serve your people. If I kill him, you lose. Israel serves us. 10I challenge your army to mortal combat. Send me a man willing to fight.” 11Goliath’s words shocked and terrified Saul and his men.Losers
It didn't go the Philistine way. Their champion warrior fell stone-cold dead to David's sling. Philistines should have surrendered. But they ran home instead. Israelite soldiers chased and killed them along the way, up to the gates of the towns of Gath and Ekron. From Elah to Ekron would have been about a day's walk. But it probably didn't take the Philistines as long to get home from the battle as it did to get there. The story is in 1 Samuel 17.Valley of Elah, David v. Goliath
