Goliath Had Brothers

The historical record of David triumphing over Goliath the giant with a sling and stone is well known.  Goliath wasn't the only son of a giant in Gath, for the Bible tells us of four others.  I expect you would have trouble if asked to name them, since they only appear in 2 Samuel 21 and 1 Chronicles 20.  This would be a trick question as well, because one of them is unnamed.  His distinguishing mark (besides being a giant!) was he had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot.

The children of Israel rejoiced when David slew Goliath and his blasphemous boasting against the living God and His people was silenced forever.  But even after this notable victory conflicts with the Philistines--and giants of Gath--continued after David was unfit to go to battle.  2 Samuel 21:15-17 says, "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."  Victory over Goliath by the power of God did not mean David was assured victory over Ishi-Benob alone.  David would have been presumptuous to say, "I defeated Goliath last time, so I'm the one to fight his brother." It was God who gave David the victory over Goliath, and he needed help from Abishai on this occasion.

Each of the giants of Gath had different preferences in battle:  Goliath used a sword and javelin, Ishi-Benob had a spear and new sword, and Lahmi used a spear that resembled a weaver's beam due to its great thickness.  We are not told what weapons Saph (Sippai in 1 Chron. 20:4) or the giant with superfluous digits used, only that they were defeated by various men of Israel.  A lesson from this is when a "giant" is defeated, another different one can rise up to oppose God's people.  A Christian has rejoiced in the victory over a particular sin like lust of the eyes only to have the pride of life impose itself upon his soul.  The faith in God required to face and vanquish Goliath was required for new giants who defied Israel, and each was a new test to face and endure by faith.  Each time a giant came up against Israel God raised up one to slay them, and God renews our minds and strengthens our hearts to endure.

The God who helped David defeat lion, bear and Philistine is our Good Shepherd who empowers us to face overwhelming foes more powerful than we.  As we make our pilgrimage there will be a never ending parade of challenges and obstacles to our walk with God, yet all can be overcome as we trust in Jesus Christ for wisdom, strength and courage to continue.  In a spiritual war there are many battles, and let us not imagine any conflict in our flesh is "one and done."  Though David was strengthened to fell Goliath with one shot and Jesus delivered the death blow to sin and death for Christians, we need God as much today as ever to follow Jesus in unwavering faith.  When we are weak and faint, God remains strong.