How much does a shekel weigh?
Here is the info from http://topics.info.com/How-much-does-the-Biblical-shekel-weigh-in-modern-units_3105
Biblical
Volume
omer = 4.188 quarts (modern) or 0.45 peck (modern) or 3.964 liters (modern)
9.4 omers = 1 bath
10 omers = 1 ephah
Weight
shekel = 0.497 ounces (modern) or 14.1 grams (modern)
Length
cubit = 21.8 inches (modern)
So that means that Goliath’s coat of armor weighing 5,000 shekels equals 155 pounds! Just the coat of armor! Also, he was reported to have been 9 feet tall. Was this an exaggeration? Possibly. But remember when Joshua and Caleb and the other spies were sent into the Promised Land by Moses? They reported a land of giants.
I tried to figure out what the average height of a 800 BCE man was. Lots of speculation, but here are some good figures. Alexander the Great (died 323 BCE)was approximately 5’5” and was considered ‘slightly shorter than normal’. The average height of a Roman soldier (based on armor that has been recovered at Pompeii and elsewhere was between 5’6”-5’11”. Julius Caesar (died 44 BCE) was ‘slight’ of stature according to some accounts. But a life-size bust recovered from the Mediterranean puts him squarely in the 5’6”-5’8” range.
If we consider the years between Alexander and Julius Caesar and the years between Alexander and David as typical, the average height in Palestine was probably in the 5’5”-5’10” range. At any rate, neither Julius nor Alexander could have possibly worn armor weighing 155 lbs for the coat.
Which brings me back to the question, how tall was Goliath? If he is carrying around approximately 200 pounds in armor before he even begins to fight, I think he has to be at least 7-8 feet tall. Yao Ming, the NBA star at 7’5” reportedly bench presses 300 pounds. So, while the 9 feet may be an exaggeration, whatever Goliath was, he must have been a TERRIFYING sight to the 5’11” David (tall for an Israelite, according to the scriptures). Yet, David, unlike the rest of Israelite army which included 3 of his brothers, had no fear. Only resolve that the Lord God would be with him and would enable him to overcome the giant. Of course, that is what happened and we have VBS stories to revel in.
A couple of curious things, however. Why, if Saul had given David his armor didn’t he know whose son was going out there to kill Goliath? And if David had been in and out of Saul’s home, doing his lyre thing, why didn’t Saul recognize him? Does being God’s servant change your appearance? Another question for heaven.
Psalm 111
After a long and totally unproductive day (and one that SHOULD have been!!), after an emotional hour and a half with a dear friend, after reading so much YUCK in Judges and 1st Samuel; today we have this beautiful psalm. Thank you God, for your unending blessings. 2800 years ago these words were written, 2100 years ago they were set in this order, 25 years ago The Bible in a Year was published with this as the psalm for May 15 for me to read this evening to be comforted that God has my heart, home, and body in his gracious, compassionate and wonderful hands.
The very first verse led me to Dictionary.com to the meaning of the word extol. “to praise highly, laud, eulogize”. Well, we aren’t eulogizing God. But I agree with the praise highly. I have so much to be thankful for that God has provided. A healthy family, an intact family. A job I love, people I care about to work with me. A good mind that I hope is still bendable and teachable. A nice home. Friends and animals who love me that I love.
In so many of these areas, His wonderful hand is present.
But that is personal. The psalm is corporate. He is gracious and wonderful to ALL his people. His word is steadfast and His promises are forever. As God’s people, we have so very, very, very much to be thankful to him.
I’ve written over the top of this psalm – for my blue days. And God, I give you thanks for those as well.
Grace and peace and God’s blessings to you all.
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