MAKING GOD'S WORD
Part 3
The story of David and Goliath is a favorite among many Christians, and it's easy to see why. In it we see David, a young shepherd boy, fearlessly take on a warrior renowned for his giant stature, and emerge victorious, bringing glory to his people and his god. As a kid, this story was important to me; it reminded me that if God was with me, I didn't have to be afraid of even the biggest of bullies.
As I began to study the Bible academically, I realized that some of the details I found most inspiring in the story of David and Goliath weren't necessarily well grounded in history. Was David really a mere shepherd boy? Was Goliath really 9.5 feet tall? Was David really the one who killed him? It is this story that I now turn to as my second example of biblical editing, addressing these questions and their corresponding layers of editing along the way.
