In this article, Hays responds to Clyde Billington who gave a proposal regarding the textual variant problem in 1 Samuel 17:4 concerning the height of Goliath. He responds to a number of aspects, including the difficulty of defining a cubit, the unexplained Dead Sea Scrolls evidence, the fear of Saul and its narrative context, Goliath’s armour and weapons, etc.

What was the size of Goliath and the giants we read of in Joshua? In this paper the author argues that both the six-cubits reading and the four-cubits reading of 1 Samuel 17:4 give the same basic height for Goliath. In addition, this paper will argue that both readings are saying that Goliath was about eight feet tall. It also seeks to answer related questions about the size of the exodus giants.

What was the height of Goliath as we meet him in 1 Samuel 17:4? Hays wants to demonstrate that the text-critical evidence, both external and internal, demands a reconsideration of the height of Goliath. Hays argues that the narrative is not about David and Goliath, but rather about David and Saul.

David's victory over Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 gives some indication on how to engage in spiritual warfare. Unbelief kills the church, while faith which is dependant upon God and His power gives Christians courage to fight.