The unheard story of David and Goliath | Malcolm Gladwell

It's a classic underdog tale: David, a young shepherd armed only with a sling, beats Goliath, the mighty warrior. The story has transcended its biblical origins to become a common shorthand for unlikely victory. But, asks Malcolm Gladwell, is that really what the David and Goliath story is about?
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[@cwarner2244]

The others thought Goliath was too big to beat while David thought he was too big to miss

[@ezgrills]

Lol

[@philsalcedo5076]

HAHA

[@NameCallingIsWeak]

It says in the Old Testament that various Jewish soldiers could "sling at a hair's breadth and not miss", so ...

[@JaysonT1]

I get it, you turned a negative into a positive.

[@marias7599]

@Eugene Elon you're right, no one cares

[@mamavee5568]

Goliath was 6.5 CUBITS...which means he was NINE feet and 7 inches. It says that his shield bearer went before him..the shield bearer was not leading him by the hand..he was carrying his shield. He made his defiance for 40 days...not at all a feeble man walking slow. And when he saw David it says, “He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him.” If he couldn’t see well then how would he know that David was glowing with health and was handsome? Also interesting to note that Goliath had a brother and three sons, also of gigantic proportions..they also had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. David did not pick up five stones for arbitrary reasons. He was prepared to kill Goliath as well as his brother and three sons, who may have been struck with desire for vengeance at seeing Goliath fall. Nice talk though...I especially like the acknowledgement of slingers as deadly accurate with the weapon. It is very true.

[@fridayvan-defoe6987]

yep, this dude straight up made up stuff out of thin air and speculated wildly. Goliath was clothed in armor impregnable to slingshots. David had no practical plans or strategies to kill Goliath except for his trust in God. He deliberately minimized this.

[@matthewtanner7511]

No look it up actually 6’9 is the most accurate cause it’s from the oldest text. The text that is in the Bible actually comes from the same story but 100’s of years after. You can look it up

[@RavenclawFtW3295]

Good points. Still, I don't think the nuanced view this guy has is completely bad. If Goliath really was as strong as he was believed to be, then David should have had a hard time fighting him. Instead, it took only one shot. He could have been both the underdog AND Goliath wasn't as strong as he seemed.

[@rainriderpnw6259]

@@fridayvan-defoe6987 That's right GOD gets the glory. David came against him in the name of the living God.

[@truthpilldotnet]

they dont want people looking into genesis 6, they dont want you to know about the fallen who mated with humans, thats why people like him are hired to tell stories

[@MrDeppness]

Very good presentation with some thoughtful points. But just for the record: 1. Goliath's height was noted as six cubits (18 inches x 6) and a span (9 inches) which calculates to 9'9", not 6'9". 2. David fought off lions and bears, not lions and wolves. 3. And sometimes David did strike said animals with his hands and kill them. So he did have hand-to-hand combat training in fields and saw Goliath as just another animal who mocks God.

[@walterdabrowski918]

Bravo, well said!

[@KRtheKUTTA]

Thank you for these corrections!

[@MrDeppness]

@@KRtheKUTTA Just wanted to reiterate that although it is said online that the sacred scrolls identify Goliath's height as 4 cubits and a span (6'9"), nearly all modern Bibles of the past 2000 years mention he was 6 cubits and a span (9'9"). But I'm glad people appreciated my comment. David saw weakness in Goliath where all other Jews felt only fear. And he knew what he has been prepared for when nobody else saw that as well.

[@qwikfist8]

Well said Mr D! Aey he did throw me wit tha 6'9 thang n I'm 🤔ing What David is 5'5 or 5'0 n under lil boy 😲🤣?? Anybody that looked n 2 tha Giants timeline and tha tha ancient home their 🛌's was @least 9'0 - 13ft long! Plus if this guy was looking @ tha ancient temples 🛕 or their front doors being super huge especially the bloodlines of Hi-Tites or Titans) etc (can't remem all tha Tites' name) but that wud hint that this poss Titan was a cannibal as well! As he said Goliath my hav had a pituitary issue that made him slow etc or being slow that day what happened 2 tha warriors who faced him (tha ones who lived) prior 2?? Did they mention that Goliath was slow cucumbersome n his movements and his mental sumwhat off? Dude's telling of tha story is good but think it's a lil skewed on sum his points. Do have accurate account of average heighth of tha ppl @ that time? Oh also throw in tha name David 😳 I not fixed on tha name as it wud pronounced different or even a total different from telling of tha David v Goliath story! These common names n Bible isn't their actual names. Nobody in those ancient times spoke or wrote plain names as tha alphabet (or even tha letter J') has been around ruffly abt 700yrs. As stories were taken from older text or scrolls 📜 and interpreted or translated by man...U kno WHO... hence: Tha KJ Version n so on! Anyway I get what u were saying thou. 🙏🏾👊🏾✌🏾

[@susanhudson4190]

Try again!! Do you really believe 5 brothers all had the exact same tumor? Why do you think David picked up FIVE smooth stones?? Goliath had four brothers!! David knew with Gods strength he couldn't miss any if them!! 9'9" Easy Peasy !!! Go David Go!! Where do you think the phrase the bigger they are the easier they fall was coined!! Get your facts right jack!!

[@maggienaidoo8059]

When I talk about David, I always talk about how he never ran into kingship the moment he was chosen. He lived his life and in doing so he was slowly prepared for what was to come. Unlike the average soldier, David faced lions and bears and killed them. He was courageous and fearless but mostly he was faithful in the covering he had. What you belief is very important because what you believe is what you give power to. He had no doubt and no fear! Lesson: Every difficult situation we face and overcome, seasons us, prepares us and strengthens us, if you learn the lessons it brings! Life is full of lessons! Hammered metal is the toughest! Be confident, brave and fearless! But mostly have FAITH IN GOD!

[@lurettagarner9670]

SUSTAINED MY FRIEND! I LOVE IT! THANKS LORD JESUS! GLORY TO GOD ALMIGHTY IN THE HIGHEST!

[@alivewell2920]

Don’t you mean the made up nonsense humans created.

[@michaelszczys8316]

David was totally devoted to his God. When he came into the camp and heard the Phi'- lis-tine saying all kind of bad things about his Lord it made him really pissed. David was a sharpshooter with a sling, and he wanted to blow Goliath's head off. To him danger - wise he was just another large bear like so many he had dealt with. PLUS he had faith in his God. No fear of Goliath whatsoever. He put a slug in his forehead and when he went down he cut his head off with his own huge sword.

[@samanthamartoccia]

@@lurettagarner9670 YES! AMEN! HE IS THE KING OF KINGS!!!!!♥️👑

[@michaelszczys8316]

I don't see a single reference in the King James Bible to Goliath having to be led like a blind cripple. I don't know what exotic version he gets it from.

[@lorrinbarth1969]

When I was a teen I was taken to the country to play with some boys who lived on a farm. A ten year old had a sling and asked if I wanted to see him hit a building in the distance. Off on the horizon I could see a galvanized grain storage building - a long rifle shot. The boy selected a chunk of concrete about the size of a fist, spun it, let go and then we waited and waited. Then - CLANG! At that moment the David and Goliath story changed in my mind.

[@pruephillip1338]

Though far slower than a bullet a sling stone has more mass.

[@UberTheRandom]

@@pruephillip1338 Depends on the stone. And often they didn't even use stone, they often used lead "bullets".

[@inthecrosshairs4480]

lol.

[@saspen3]

Impressive!

[@Job3162]

Hahaha

[@victormcleod8391]

Goliath had four brothers, all of whom were also Giants. It was also a standard practice for heavy infantry to be accompanied by an armor bearer, as recorded in the story of Jonathan and his armor bearer, single-handedly attacking a Philistine Garrison. When the Israelites first approached Canaan several hundred years earlier they were initially afraid to enter because it was a land full of giants. So while the story has an interesting spin to it, probably the giantism so, in the land was due to genetics, rather than pituitary malfunction.

[@sarasharp9323]

which is why he had four extra stones!

[@danielbond9755]

And how do you know this? Source please.

[@vaeshethblade931]

@@danielbond9755 A source for what? The account of David and Goliath is found in I Samuel 17 and David pulled five smooth stones from the brook on his way to the battle. Numbers 13 is the account of Israel spying out the land and being dis-swayed by a population of giants. Did you ask Malcolm Gladwell for his source that explained to him that Goliath was a 6' 9" cripple with bad eyesight? You probably should, because he doesn't have one, he made that stuff up. When someone says, this is what the Bible says, try picking one up and reading it. The source is... the Bible, so just read it. It's not that big or scarry, I knocked the whole thing out in a little over two weeks, so you should be able to verify an Old Testament claim in a couple days even by just starting in Genesis 1: 1 and going from there.

[@donnariley2831]

@@danielbond9755 Uh....the Bible???!!!!🙄👍

[@DL-tp2nr]

It wAs due to angelic dna polluting Gods creation by Satans angels. Read the first book of Enoch

[@thebookworm5048]

Amazing! I've heard the first part, about how powerful slingshots/slingers could be, talked about before (probably after this talk was originally given 9 years ago), but I'd never heard the second part, and that's what makes it powerful! Just hearing that David wasn't as helpless as people thought just gets rid of the underdog theme without replacing it with a new theme - you need the second piece, that a giant's greatest strength may actually be (or be caused by) his greatest weakness. Valuable lesson for all of us.

[@Jeremya74]

His greatest strength was being big and tall?

[@michaeljosephmouawad946]

Dear Malcolm, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your insight and perspective on this event. Your talk is a fine example of a commentary on Scripture grounded in sound research. As many of your commentators stated, your take may not be the full story about David, but it certainly is worthy of contemplation. As to the question that you started with: why do we call David the underdog, a Catholic answer might be that Scripture must always be interpreted in light of Scripture and the Living Tradition of the Magisterium. One can therefore fruitfully read Scripture with one of four meanings. For instance, Christ said, "destroy this Temple and I will rebuild it in three days." The literal meaning of the word "temple" is the third temple built by Herod. The typological meaning is Christ's own body. That is the meaning that seeks Christ in the Scripture. The allegorical meaning of the word "temple" is the Church, which was born out of Christ's side on the Cross and the moral meaning is each one of us since as Saint Paul stated, each of us and all of us collectively are to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit. These four senses: literal, typological, allegorical and moral are a very good way to apprehend Scripture. Typologically, therefore, the reason why David was called the underdog is that he is a forerunner of Christ: He alone goes down into the valley to meet Goliath. Likewise, Christ alone went down into the valley of the dead to defeat Satan. The perfect shot of David represents the perfection of Grace that put an end to the reign of Satan. Like David, Christ had no weapons and no allies when he carried the Cross. Like David, his own people did not believe in his victory. Like David, he faced death with the glory of God and like David, he was triumphant. In the final analysis: every hero is a reflection of the Son of Man, the one and only Savior of mankind.

[@shannw0129]

Wow cool. Are you a theology major? You're so smart. Are u Catholic?

[@justforyoutube3461]

To be fair, this only one of a few Methods in how to interpret the Old Testament. Seeing everything as a foresight on Jesus has much todo with speculations.

[@ethiopiaspower5339]

Thank you powerful insights

[@juliajohnson4080]

Very wise

[@patboyd1587]

I’m so glad to hear what those stones were made of because I picked some up from that valley and they ARE. Very heavy.

[@TomiAdewoleAdetom]

Romans 1:22: "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."

[@twodogs716]

You are right on. This guy has his facts all wrong and adds speculation.

[@TomiAdewoleAdetom]

@@twodogs716 Gladwell and his ilk are akin to modern-day Nimrods...except of the intellectual variety. Anything to shift the focus from the Most High to the abominable mother-goddess principle - whether they do it through sleight-of-hand, or direct heresy.

[@twodogs716]

@@TomiAdewoleAdetom Must surely be. Thought I might learn something. NOPE! Lisa Haven put out a video today, which discusses the ongoing deception.

[@markboyer6380]

Sounds like the democrats.

[@warriorforgod6044]

Tomi Adewole exactly right

[@BLFulle]

I really enjoyed this talk. I do have something to add. The Masoretic Text has "six cubits and a span" (9 feet 9 inches or 2.97 metres) as Goliath's height. Another thing you didn't mention was that David went and picked 5 smooth stones before his battle with Goliath. Why was that? Because Goliath had 4 brothers. I suppose he felt he might have to fight them out. I loved the end of your talk, what appears to be their greatest strength can also be a giants greatest weakness. With God all things are possible.

[@darthvader5532]

Six Egyptian cubits is almost identical to 9 Hebrew cubits. Its in the context.

[@dannoah1002]

King Soloman used a 20.5 cubit to build the Temple...therefore, six cubits of 20.5 inches = 10.3 oh, and a span, the width of the hand is 5 inches...so, Goliath was really 10.8 inches... Now, if the cubit were the same as the one that Noah used to build the ark, that was 25 inches...which would place Goliath in the 13 ft. range of say, King Og, of Basham. Goliath was not the weakling you bastardized the Bible to fit into nonsense version you were brainwashed by idiot prof's to disregard that King David fought a Nephilim GIANT... Gen.6:4 speaks of giants ...powerful hybrids, the result of fallen angels and human women... The Gd of A-I-J told the israelites SPECIFICALLY NOT TO FEAR KING OG! WHY? BECAUSE HE WAS A FEARSOME GIANT, AS WAS GOLIATH. When Joshua and Caleb came back with a report of the promised land filled with GIANTS, you think they were talking about stumbling bumbling A/C/M stiffs like Wadlow. You sir, have been brainwashed by biased prof's who ran with lies, to explain away the supernatural Gd of the Law and the Prophets...King Saul was 6'6, so you are really silly, now... Are you trying to say, that King Saul was the only tall man in Israel's army? The combatants were actually 100 yds away from each other...plus, the sun was in Goliath's eyes, not Davids... the sling, having the appearance of 2 sticks, as the sling was aprox. 18 inches, and the manner in which David carried same, the sling might very well appeared as 2 sticks....half your speech was B.S. IF GOLIATH SAW 2 STICKS HOW COULD SEE FACIAL FEATURES, IF HE WAS SEEING DOUBLE? THIS WHOLE SPEECH NEEDS A REWRITE...YOU PROBABLY DON'T BELIEVE THE RED SEA MIRACLE OF GOD, AS THE RED SEA CROSSING, HAD 900 FT. OF WATER HELD BACK ON BOTH SIDES BY GOD.

[@sandralawson5598]

I agree with you here. Sadly he in my belief misrepresented the Word in a very disgraceful way.

[@BLFulle]

@@dannoah1002 Are you speaking to me or to the person who gave the lecture. Believe me, I do agree with you. That doesn't mean he didn't have some interesting things to say.

[@Veins1]

David went and picked 5 smooth stones = 4:19

[@bernitacenteno1326]

An excellent talk. Thankyou very much. It is wonderful that we received a detailed explanation.

[@_SamUSA_]

I'm glad to revisit this well known story of David and Goliath. I do not agree that Goliath was blind and hobbled from disease. There is only two descriptions of Goliath in the Bible. 1. Goliath was a champion. 2. Goliath was a man of war since his youth. How did Goliath earn the title of "champion"? There is only one way. Goliath experienced many battles in which he proved himself to be champion. Goliath was a man of war. He was not a shepherd or a carpenter, he was a warrior of renowned reputation trained for battle since he was young. There are many NBA players that are seven feet tall. None of them suffer from gigantism. They are just healthy men that are also tall. David did not defeat a blind, diseased and hobbled man. David defeated an experienced champion man of war.

[@pcm7315]

Exactly. Had David missed with the first stone it might be a different story. But, further reading tells us why David did not miss.

[@KatieGray1]

Surely it depends on your translation of the bible as it's a book that's been translated into every language and in different time periods so perhaps he's referring to a different one than you. People assume the bible is identical and timeless, it's not. It's a collection of stories that evolved as oral stories that were eventually written down, likely during different time periods as well with many different authors.

[@the-Carpenter]

@@KatieGray1 True, but no translation indicates (or implies) that Goliath was not a champion. The Philistines would not have sent a man not proven in battle, especially considering that it was going to be decided between only the two men.

[@dlawlessloyd]

"Unwashed Philistine"... love David

[@krakoosh1]

@@KatieGray1 no that is not true. We have enough historical copies of the Bible to know what its translated to. It is possible for any individual to check all these supposed different interpretations. The only false interpretations are modern ones like the Message, the Passion, the Mirror and the Queen James or the Queen God, where they claim God is a female. All of these have come out in the last couple decades and have been thougherly denounced. The only difference is like between the KJV and more modern translations because words have changed meanings since the time of King James. Like the word replenish, used to mean to fill. Which now means to fill again. Which makes no sense. If replenish is to fill again then what does it mean to plenish? It’s not a word.

[@amechealle5918]

I never saw David as an underdog. When I grew up hearing the story and they told how he defended his flock and I knew he was no one to mess with. Maybe it’s because I was raised around animals and know their capabilities when hungry or stressed. They are very fast, agile and sneaky. In order for David to be able to kill an hungry animal he would have to have a skill compatible to a trained warrior. Yes he was young but back in those days children didn’t just sit around all day they too had responsibilities. It dismays me that from the start people don’t give David the credit he is due. Youth doesn’t mean incapable.

[@beattheman9290]

The biblical story has him get 5 stones, ( early clip) but needed JUST ONE !!!

[@tonygrowley5275]

Why do people pretend that the Judaeo-Christian religion isn't just a mythological tale? It is no more factual then Greek Mythology.

[@amechealle5918]

@@tonygrowley5275 we’re you there? Nope.

[@michaelboano7183]

tony growley university of Virginia has studied near death experiences for 4 decades and has concluded that there is strong proof of spiritual existence. There is a long utube on this subject matter. Moreover, A Roman historian specifically notes the existence of Jesus.

[@itoibo4208]

the lesson was: guns are better than swords

[@victorwong5000]

Love ❤️ this story.. ‘never judge a book by its cover’

[@adamspringer2442]

I know this, regardless of anything between David and Goliath, God always referred to David as "a man after his own heart". So take what you want from this biblical fact, but remember to strive to be a man or woman after God's own heart! ♥️

[@lhelms2850]

Personality traits: Let the “The attractiveness of Christ” ibe our goal.

[@justforyoutube3461]

@@lhelms2850 thats not the Word which is used in the Greek scriptures ^^

[@preacherdave1259]

The true moral of the story: "the battle belongs to the Lord" -- quoted by David in the story.

[@preacherdave1259]

+Dave Graham www.academia.edu/3068947/Did_David_Bring_a_Gun_to_a_Knife_Fight_Literary_and_Historical_Considerations_in_Interpreting_Davids_Victory_over_Goliath

[@dullboy8152]

+Dave Graham I am a muslim and our book "Quran" says the same thing.

[@TorianTammas]

+Dave Graham The moral of the story is that ill prepared and under equipped people win only in stories and not in reality.

[@mmcallister6317]

+TorianTammas Your conclusion is completely off base due to your ignorance of ancient warfare. Ancient armies used both archers and slingers (soldiers who used sling-shots) as a first-wave attack on their enemies. These archers and slingers needed to wear light armor in order to have the range of motion necessary to use their precision weapons. Once they strafed the enemy, the heavy infantry would rush in and conduct hand-to-hand combat to overcome the enemy and then hold the position. When King Saul offered his armor to David, he was offering heavy infantry armor to a slinger. It would have made no sense whatsoever for a slinger to wear that type of armor, and so David opted for no armor at all. He was a shepherd who was used to using his sling without armor and knew the heavy weight of the ill-fitting armor would make it more difficult for him to shoot accurately. Trained slingers could hit targets with deadly force up to about 100 meters. So it's perfectly reasonable that a shepherd who had killed lions and other predators with a sling could also deliver a very serious shot to a man who was just a short distance away. In other words, every thing about this story is consistent with what we know about ancient weaponry. Goliath was armed and ready for hand-to-hand combat, but David had the longer reach of a deadly accurate sling. He didn't need armor because he never got close enough to sustain damage until he had already rendered Goliath incapacitated.

[@TorianTammas]

M McAllister You claim: A shepherd who killed lions? I would like to see the evidence that the character in the story ever did kill a lion. What evidence do you have that in that time the story plays any lion lived in the area we call today Israel?

[@BrassyTack]

Interesting interpretation, well told. However, it contains unsupported suppositions regarding Goliath's condition and alleged handicaps. Goliath wasn't a handicapped show freak. The Philistines recognized Goliath as a "champion" (1 Samuel 17:4, 23, 51) because he'd whooped some butt. He was accompanied by a shield bearer, not some kind of caregiver. There are many races of giants in the Bible and the spies sent to scout out Canaan reported such in this very region; no need to speculate Goliath was a one-off mutant with some pituitary condition. The Bible explains the basis of David's victory in 1 Samuel 17:46-47: "Then David said to the Philistine, “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. ... For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.”

[@gregfoster9049]

Marten Dekker Good point. Helps suspension of belief if it matches known things. Bottom line, you know this is a story, right?

[@kbernstar]

Except your bible quotes (1 Samuel 17:4, 23, 51) say nothing about Goliath's ability. Champion is only defined as someone who fights for someone else when in the context of the military definition (Oxford English Dictionary) and says nothing about ability. The Philistines selected Goliath as their champion and it makes sense. He's the largest one. No where in those 3 verses does it say Goliath has ever whooped butt. Samuel 17:4 only described Goliath's height. Samuel 17:23 merely repeated again Goliath was the champion and that he came forward. And Samuel 17:51 merely said the Philistines saw their selected champion was killed and fled. Further, Samuel 17:46-47 only supports the obvious that which is overlooked. That David was not the underdog. You interpreted these two passages as some proof that God delivered the victory as if some unseen being guided David's hand which is absurd and illogical. If the bible wanted to deliver this story, then perhaps it should have presented David as some random guy who had never before used a sling and was a blind invalid that somehow turned into a sniper for this battle, but it did not. He was a veteran slinger.

[@Louigi36]

They recognised him as a champion because he was probably extremely skilled in hand to hand combat. You seem to be assuming that being handicapped at some specific aspect would automatically make you completely incompetent in every other regard as well, which is not only not true but very often even the other way round. All Mr. Gladwell is saying is that, even if Goliath was an extraordinarily strong fighter, David was the one favoured in their particular matchup, and if you were to repeat it a 100 times, David would prove victorious in the majority of the cases. Think of it less with a "everyone has a strength value and the one with the higher value wins", but more with a rock-paper-scissors like approach. Scissors is not generally stronger than paper in an absolute sense, but when fighting each other, the scissors will always win. I'm not saying he's necessarily right, some of it seems like a streched overinterpretation to me, like the part about "sticks" being plural, but it's a viable and very interesting interpretation that gets you thinking (which is ultimately the primary purpose of these stories).

[@kbernstar]

Louigi36 In the context of the bible verses, there is nothing that says they chose Goliath as a champion for any reason other than he was big. In a historical context this makes sense because it isn't until really until the Spartans of Greece or Philip of Macedon that history tells us of truly great disciplined infantry. So contextually and based on what is evidenced in text it makes sense that all that makes Goliath a champion is that he is large, the biggest guy and that is what makes him a champion. In that time frame with poor training, if you give your biggest guy your best armor in hand to hand combat, it would make sense that he would be your best warrior in a frenzied, chaotic melee. If you choose to interpret "sticks" as an overinterpretation by Gladwell, then in the same vein, you also have to accept that you are overinterpreting "champion" because there is no textual evidence that Goliath has ever been proven in combat. The bible verses only present to us that Goliath was the biggest warrior they had and they chose him. That's it. There is no mention of his skill or experience or his conquests. The word champion also does not reflect skill in combat. It only reflects skill in the modern definition in the context of sport. If the bible wished to portray Goliath as a skilled warrior, why did it not instead choose to use a more fitting word like say the Philistines chose their "hero" since the word hero in no uncertain terms is defined as a person recognized and admired for his courage and achievements and conquests? But no, the bible used "champion" which in the context of battle only means "one who is chosen to fight". I could choose you to be my champion. Does this make you the most skilled warrior I know simply because I called you my champion? Not at all, it simply means I chose you to fight in my place or die in my place. Champion indeed.

[@eweevision]

Praise GOD Great reply Amen and Amen

[@schizoinparadise3224]

that was so nice to hear - i always just heard David agains Goliath and this is so very well researched . it's a treat

[@danielleclarke8950]

I heard the story so many times but this one is a win.

[@TorrenOglethorpe]

times like this is why i like read the comments before getting invested in a long video

[@debbiesimmons4593]

That's smart!

[@francosceusa7431]

There are plenty of scholarly folks commenting, but more nincompoops, go with the credentialed and peer reviewed expert, then due your due diligence and cross-reference even that if there's no skin in the game doesn't matter do what you need to do with the information but if it's something of importance with life-altering consequences then apply some scrutiny

[@francosceusa7431]

@@debbiesimmons4593 the internet is amazing but still we still need to put effort in to maximize gains and minimize tragedy

[@quierodesign3958]

Three errors: 1. Goliath was 9'6 not 6'9 2. Saul was mentioned as being head and shoulders above all in the land, not Goliath 3. This story is about faith not human power.

[@silpink]

Goliath's stature as described in various ancient manuscripts varies: the oldest manuscripts, the Dead Sea Scrolls text of Samuel, the 1st-century historian Josephus, and the 4th-century Septuagint manuscripts, all give his height as "four cubits and a span" (6 feet 9 inches or 2.06 metres), whereas the Masoretic Text gives this as "six cubits and a span" (9 feet 9 inches or 2.97 meters). Large numbers of scholars believe that the "taller" reading is based on an exaggeration and that the "shorter" reading is original, although some disagree.

[@quierodesign3958]

@@silpink Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately the Seputagint is not reliable compared to the Antiochan text, and although men were certainly shorter in those times, the Biblical giants are clearly described as being massive e.g. Og king of Bashan. I lead a Bible tour of the British Museum, and Goliath does get a mention :-)

[@wdbland0820]

@@quierodesign3958 why would this conclusion be adopted when the Seputagint is the earliest Greek translation of the Hebrew text? You are saying that a later version is more accurate? What text was it taken from?

[@quierodesign3958]

@@wdbland0820 See Gail Riplinger's 'In Awe of Thy Word' book. We have tens of thousands of manuscripts supporting the Antiochan line, but comparatively few supporting the corrupted Alexandrian text represented by the three codexes that make up the Septuagint (I have seen two of them in person).

[@quierodesign3958]

@@wdbland0820 Also see kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmarimVof6eterc

[@Freezo85]

I just love how Malcolm tells stories.

[@beldonhuang]

Same! He is such a fabulous storyteller

[@forgiven7mkh]

Oh wow! So Goliath of Gath was a champion. A killer! The person who “led” Goliath down to the valley floor was not a seeing eye dog, he was an armor bearer for a champion which was common practice for great warriors and kings. He said Goliath was only armed with weapons for close quarters combat, yet last I checked a spear and a javelin can be devastating at a pretty extreme distance. Also the Philistines would have been out of their minds to send a blind man with such a handicap to represent them against the nation of Israel.

[@seyesanmi7452]

Youstill didnt get the talk, Quwstion is why didn't Goliath react when he saw David with no sword or armor or spear? i mean if he hauled his javelin at David then your point will be valid. Hand to Hand combat was not only fought by the use of swords, spears are use for hand to hand combat too. Thus said, he was expecting his challenger to 'COME TO HIM' if david or anyone else had gone closer he would have ended him, which is how i assume he became the champion of the philistines. David took the Hand to Hand combat out of the equation, and he became a big target,

[@pepplejohnfriday8009]

I stand with you on this. It was a very beautiful presentation by Malcom. but I can't just get to agree that an army general will want to send a visually impaired soldier to represent them. it is not logically correct. a good soldier is trained in all art of combat whether one on one or whatever. I will just say Goliath underrated the boy David and his ability to use the sling.

[@RustyKnorr]

A spear is a hand to hand, close quarters weapon, not thrown. A javelin is thrown. So the “last time you checked” was wrong.

[@bigbuck6313]

Yeah what he said!!

[@davidvonjohnston]

Yee. I feel its a moot point to say "you bring sticks" in a literal sense. Im sure it was an idiom at the time.

[@shafd6722]

Goliath is described as a champion not an acromegalic cripple...he was not being led down, it was his armour bearer.. Goliath could tell that David was good looking with clear skin glowing with health, meaning he had great vision...why would an army have a champion with poor vision???..As for sticks., that is simply euphemism.. and if you doubt my analysis, fact check, the biblical story is from the 1st book of Samuel chapter 17, and the battle sequence is in verse 41-48.

[@Smitty-op4ld]

This guy knows how to make up stuff that's sounds true to people who don't know. Goliath had an armour bearer not an attendant. Which means that like King Saul he used arrows swords whatever and the armor bearer would hands him his requested weaponry. If he was a front the entire philistine army wouldn't have fled but they were depending on goliath to win the war and king Saul already had heard of goliath. Like Jordan getting schooled or Berry Sanders getting sacked by the smallest guy on the team the rest gave up knowing they relied on him. Stones don't go through bronze as thick as his helmet was as David figured he needed multiple stones but GOD ALMIGHTY (who this undercover satanist is trying to delete from this story obviously) pulled the 1 st stone through hardened metal and into goliaths brain killing him. David beheaded him because he kept his promise to goliath to behead him with his own sword which he kept in future battles as a sign to armys' goliath defeated that he's the one who beat the one who beat them.

[@commandante6709]

He is interpreting a translation of a translation of a translation. It may go back even further according to some evidence and is especially evident with the Flood Myth. Your analysis is ALSO an interpretation of that same text translated multiple times. The Aramaic written in the Old Testament clearly names God to be "Elohim", which is a PLURAL word, but Judo-Christian religions are ultra mono-theistic now. The words we read are so far removed from the original intentions of the author. Sorry, but there are no "facts" in a document translated so many times in the last 2000 years that clearly plagiarizes what's written from other older cultures like the Sumerians.

[@Smitty-op4ld]

@@commandante6709 actually we have copies of the actual originals sir guessalot. They're not myths but have plenty of archaeological and historical findings to support the history.

[@Smitty-op4ld]

@Sirius Magus where's your proof?

[@esmeraldagreen1992]

@@commandante6709 Wrong it is the Sumerians who plagiarized .

[@conor-909]

I feel like the argument about the sling being equivalent to a gun is pretty solid, but I feel like Goliath was for sure a better warrior than he made him out to be.

[@pazzodi3]

Andrew the giant could probably kill people with a beating of his bare hands, doesn't mean someone with a sling couldn't take him out instantly

[@conor-909]

I agree

[@JaysonT1]

@@pazzodi3 "Andre"

[@C0deH0wler]

"The giants are not as strong as they seem" does not mean he is not incredible strong.

[@troygardner1610]

Against his own or comparables..princess bride movie covers a similar iesparity

[@charlesmoen2433]

wonderful talk you brought the story to life

[@timothytaylor2221]

This is a very good take on that event 👏. I heard a preacher say years ago that David had the courage to face him because of all the wild animals he had to fight off to protect his sheep. Defending his sheep established his faith and made him believe that he could take on Goliath.

[@lhelms2850]

Our “trials and tribulations” are meant to make us stronger. Little did we know the trial that brought us to our knees made us stand tall one day against our biggest challenge. ❤️

[@melvynobrien6193]

Event? It never fucking happened.

[@kitkat88pen71]

Possible......but It was the practice of Warriors to have a Shield Bearer accompany them into battle. Also, if he was not a threat, why was the entire army except David, itimidated by him?

[@johndevilbiss6607]

KIT KAT 88 Pen The author is a quack - alleged that Goliath was half blind but that the Israelis did not know that. Actually, the Israelis of the time had a spy and messenger runners system (nowadays called "intelligence"). This author is clueless, but writes a book with an interesting title, and then proceeds to state that only he knows the true story. Pretentious! But people eat it up, so it's not entirely his fault. The materialistic motto is: " if there's a profit, it must be good. " Want to make money? Criticize the Old Testament (Thorah). Look how many comments here correcting him, unpaid, but he's the one that makes a profit... That's the real story here.

[@wayneboswell7957]

Correct and DAVID was a shield bearer before becoming the best marksman in SOLS army.

[@hydrolito]

Other Philistines were with him some of them were big also.

[@lorettamckey4481]

@@johndevilbiss6607 SO true! Good for you! He just blindly read it and then assumed he was intelligent enough to teach the rest of us his stupidity!

[@fridayvan-defoe6987]

@@johndevilbiss6607 Yep!

[@Marc-mo3pe]

He forgot to say the most inmportant part were david tells him he comes in the name of the lord etc

[@eirikmurito]

Woa there i think you have had a little much to think. We don't use the L-word here at Ted..

[@Marc-mo3pe]

@@eirikmurito what you talking bout

[@eirikmurito]

@@Marc-mo3pe this is an anti Christian channel

[@lukeschultz6886]

@@eirikmurito apparently not..

[@jamiewhitefield2074]

This is pure speculation on this guy's part!

[@bridgetmcgiggles4528]

I just finished reading this book. An excellent read.

[@safiesekgwa1933]

Smart and compelling analysis that is also inspirational and applicable everywhere.

[@effyleven]

I specially liked the geography lesson. It really set the scene.

[@martinphilip8998]

Great storytelling. I’d go to church if it was like this.

[@WestPat23]

That was well done. It enhanced a story that I have known since childhood.

[@chrisparrish6229]

Sounds like he had a squire to assist him with holding his weapons and getting him in and out of heavy armor like medieval knights, not that Goliath was disabled and needed an attendant.

[@johndevilbiss6607]

Chris Parrish , yes, but the shield carrier was also traditional at the time so that the champion's left arm wouldn't be tired from carrying the bronze shield before the duel even began.

[@bobv8374]

@@johndevilbiss6607 unless he was left handed then it would be his right hand. Ask Gladwell he knows Goliath's full medical history, I bet he even knows the wind speed and temperature that day. I mean he knows he had a spear and a javelin.

[@conor-909]

That’s a good point

[@lungilesz5481]

Awesome presentation. Inspiring. Thank you.

[@shannw0129]

That was a brilliant explanation. Makes so much more sense now.

[@inthecrosshairs4480]

lol

[@mulemule]

It's strangely comforting knowing that "TED Talks" occur in my parents' converted-basement family room.

[@bobparry2321]

Goliath didn't have an attendant; he has a "shield bearer". David got the rocks from a brook not the ground. David had already killed a bear and a lion defending the flock.which means he defeated the layers of protective thick matted hair which protects those animals with his sling. David knew exactly what he was facing and how to defeat the problem because he saw Goliath for what he was. The soldiers were in panic mode at the sight of him. The soldiers had lost their cognitive reasoning because the brain had moved to survival mode and shut down the creative thinking part of the brain. David was not being threatened because he wasn't a soldier. He was just bringing his brother's lunch! so in David's relaxed, unthreatened brain, David could see the solution. When we panic we lose perspective and the agency to chose the best. Sin makes us panic. And that, for me, is the moral to the story.

[@JohnDavis_90]

More like lack of faith.

[@Owen2108]

So fighting for a military is sin? Also David cheated in a fight of honour, so...

[@bobparry2321]

@@Owen2108 I'm confused by your brief post. Are you saying soldiers are sinners for fighting for their freedom and their lives? Perhaps you could take a moment to explain how David cheated. I'm not aware of the reference you are using to state this fight was a fight of honour. Would you care to share that reference too?

[@GORILLABREATH1]

He's a great storyteller !

[@freddurst4420]

not really. messed up lots of facts and it was too scripted.

[@biinniit]

I have to say, I have speculated about Goliath's probable impairments because some references did raise some flags for me (never seriously pondered on them though), but I never realized how potent a weapon a sling could be.

[@sleepyheadz]

What we can learn from this story is that David was assured and secured in who he was (Identity), and what he can and cannot do (Ability). Most of us would be easily overawed by the occasion of needing to properly represent the King and thus putting on Saul's royal armor. How many of us could say no, and be fully assured of our own personal skills and experiences that we do not need to look like someone else to be more instagram worthy? David knew who he belong to, and what he can and cannot bring with him. He knew he was not representing Saul the king, but the God who made Saul king. He knew his abilities with his shepherd sling and his lack of ability with sword and shield. If only we can apply the same philosophy to every part of life, most of our insecurity and imposter syndromes would not cripple us. What would our world look like if we are assured in who we are, and confident in offering our honed skills and abilities instead of conforming to what is politically correct trying to fit square pegs in round holes?

[@Tobia7]

Better yet if everyone had the revelation of David's God. If everyone drew close to the Creator. Satan would be really upset. But He put before us life and death and said, "choose".

[@louiscampos3753]

No, what we learn most is that the speaker has no idea how great God is. His best attempt to write off the plan of God to luck and a feeble giant fall very short in honoring God.

[@razorbeard6970]

The story is about faith in God and where that can take you in battle. It's a story of purely spiritual significance and that's why it was captured in the Bible. The reason why popular non-faith scholars speak on this story is because of the non-faith based inspirational aspects to the story if taken as completely historically accurate. It's absolutely an underdog story but, in spiritual terms the mismatch is caused by the faithful man against an enemy of God's people.

[@juliettejohnson3510]

@@razorbeard6970 i concur

[@margaloosboy257]

beautiful words ❤

[@JinandJuice90]

I have to disagree with the exegesis here; Gladwell has some agreeable points here and there, but I don’t think the overall conclusion is sound. Gladwell here argues for the lethality and efficiency of the slinger. This is true to a certain degree. Slingers certainly could kill from a distance; we have tested that sling bullets can penetrate shields and armor to varying degrees. However, I think Gladwell overestimates the effectiveness of slingers on the battlefield, stating that they’re the primary inflictor of casualties, and the bane of heavy infantryman and whatnot, so much so to the impression that the slinger was in most respects superior to the heavy infantryman on most occasions. From a military history perspective, this simply is not true. For the sake of brevity, I won’t cite an exhaustive list of historical examples, but will only argue from the logical perspective: If slingers were so much more effective and feared on the battlefield, why was heavy infantry the numerically predominant soldier in almost all of pre-gunpowder era, instead of being phased out at the introduction of the sling (which was VERY early in human history)? Why were slingers’ role eventually completely replaced by the bow in the early middle ages? This point alone should sufficiently shake Gladwell’s entire argument about David’s superiority in combat. However, if we see how slingers consistently took a supportive role in field battles and sieges in history, we could then appropriately conclude that slingers had situational uses, but probably did not supersede the heavy infantryman in combat effectiveness, thus invalidating Gladwell’s argument of David not actually being disadvantaged against Goliath. Gladwell’s other conclusion that Goliath was not actually combat effective is on shaky ground; specifically, the interpretation that Goliath was not very mobile or was visually impaired are vaguely drawn from the passages. The fact that Goliath was accompanied by a squire is a very common concept in history, and does not necessarily indicate that the fighter was physically impaired in any way. And the fact that Goliath used the plural form of the word “sticks” does not necessarily imply that he saw multiple; it’s very possible that he just used it as a rhetorical figure (e.g. “Was I born to argue with a mob of idiots on KZbin?” when there may be only one person engaging in argument with me). I submit that it is overreaching to take that passage as good evidence that Goliath was indeed visually impaired. In fact, the author explicitly states that Goliath was an experienced warrior and was feared by many. If he were physically lame, as Gladwell suggests, I don’t think he would have such a respectable reputation, nor would the Philistine army have had that much confidence in him to rely on him in single combat. Thus, I do not find Gladwell’s argument very convincing. I can understand the moral he’s trying to make, but I don’t think the passage fits his narrative.

[@djsullivan4445]

JinandJuice so nice to see intelligent assertions on a KZbin comment section.

[@djsullivan4445]

JinandJuice so nice to see intelligent assertions on a KZbin comment section.

[@onixtheone]

JinandJuice slingshots were replaced by bows because bows in the right place would kill and a sling could only maim, or knockout, and sometimes maybe kill

[@abstractfacts]

he said that slingers were the "most decisive factor" "time and time again" "time and time again" does not necessarily mean 'every time', or even 'majority of the time', he could just as well meant "often enough". "most decisive factor" does not mean most essential. they could be the most dispensable unit in your army and still be the greatest deciding factor should you utilize them.

[@daledadolphin]

you're right but youtube is definitely the wrong place for you bro

[@marcbiz11]

I love this. I watch this every few months.

[@austinroberson8]

Thank you for you picking up on stuff I never would have, and retelling the story of David and Goliath. You made it make sense.

[@freddurst4420]

he added medical speculation to the story, and we have no more knowledge of the story than before he told it. in fact his version just belittles David, which was a great Warrior!

[@ShahidAshraf78]

With all that technological and medical advancement we can today measure Goliath’s weaknesses but I’m sure nobody 3,000 years ago had such knowledge. It was all David’s courage, self believe and probably observation that led him to win against Goliath.

[@beattheman9290]

He BELIEVED BRAVELY ....

[@SuperIliad]

Self belief no. The point is that he trusted God

[@beattheman9290]

@@SuperIliad YES !!

[@beattheman9290]

@@SuperIliad Got that !!!

[@louiscyfer6944]

shahid, you dear moron, people understood that someone with acromegaly would not make a good warrior. also, it is a story in a book, who knows what happened.

[@PapaGDazzle]

1. Some people may call an attendant a squire in certain cases. Not unlike knights of old. 2. Some armor is heavy. Slows a person down. 3. "Come to me!" Commanding behavior isn't uncommon in those that are full of themselves.

[@castleofcostamesa8291]

What a good story! Thank you!

[@Prayerbanners]

I think this was very interesting RPMs, stone density ete.. To think that David was still relying on the Lord for this Battle. "today the Lord will give you into my hands" pretty sure David did not know all this info about Goliath before the fight! His courage was amazing.

[@clinchleatherwood1012]

A 45mm handgun doesn't exist.

[@Lonewanderer6666]

The true moral of the story: Bring a Gun to a knife fight.

[@boota8954]

The true true moral of the story: Bring a knife to a gun fight Now how will you win?

[@jamesedison5651]

Palestine seems to be the contemporary David

[@Kingko1234]

Sami Haque wrong.... Palestine is still the true enemy of Isreal.

[@jamesedison5651]

Kingko1234 yeah like the morally superior David was to the materially superior Goliath because of Goliath's egregious oppression Our Realities are not just any name we claim But what we do with our intentions and actions How we treat others Palestine has been oppressed now for decades with impunity But in the full light of history so prosperity will know what horrors took place And who David was and who Goliath was

[@Kingko1234]

Equality isn't the standard here. The Jews are God's chosen people and despite their continued failings God made a covenant with them and consistently delivered them from those who were not the chosen people. Palestine is still in opposition to the Jews despite Christ opening the "chosen" status to all people.

[@loveunlimited777]

Most athletes in the NBA are giants, and they all seem to display great vision and physical prowess.

[@Auxillia]

Giant is not the disease. You have it backward. It’s like saying how come I see smoke in the morning but there was no fire.

[@historyiwitness5915]

What?

[@kofeaclarrinfea9877]

Interesting ! 🤔 There are many layers to this story. That's why it is a great story !!Thank you !😘

[@islewait6107]

Loved the book!!! Stellar! 🔊📚

[@wilfredvanvalkenburgh2874]

An important fact, often overlooked, is that David used Goliath's own weapon to deliver the killing blow (coup de grace}. The lesson is, if your opponent is armed, then you are too.

[@rogergeyer9851]

wilfred vanvalkenburgh: Good luck disarming a gunman from across the room with your hands.

[@reginaldklewis]

Deep and so dark its bone chilling to read 🤣🤣🤣🤷🏾‍♂️

[@gequitaroper1531]

I like that saying “if your opponent is armed…then you are too!”

[@beattheman9290]

GOOD ONE - 2 remember !!!!

[@FMFInnovations]

@@rogergeyer9851 Can be done, look up 15:17 to Paris

[@holyfool3012]

Amazing writer read all his books in while quarantine..amazing

[@murtazahassan1465]

I've only read Outliers so far. What other book of his would you recommend for a young adult?

[@holyfool3012]

@@murtazahassan1465 Tipping point, David Vs Goliath.

[@murtazahassan1465]

Thanks

[@sekekeretsu4172]

congratulation you just read a lot of BS by the white Jussie Smollett

[@booksintamil]

that;s awesome!

[@rynes.rai7er993]

"Let him who hath understanding..." what a brilliant fellow.

[@volpeverde6441]

except a fighting 'champion' could not be a disabled weakling....

[@jr.rasentertainment4074]

It's literally more clearer when you explain it like that 😀😁👍🔥🔥🇻🇺🇻🇺🇻🇺

[@kimberlymartinez8824]

He's right about one thing. David was not the underdog. It didn't matter who David fought, he was going to win because he was YHVH's sling. No one can stand against YHVH and win.

[@syndrome1965]

Who, really, is YHVH? The God of LOVE? But, also of Anger and Retribution? And, let's not forget VENGEANCE! Which, is, His! Right? "VENGEANCE, is, MINE, Sayeth, The LORD." The One True God? But, He admits that, He, is a jealous God...if He is, the ONE, TRUE GOD, who then, does He have, to make Him feel jealousy??? One of the many lesser false gods? That one confuses me. But, they ALL contradict themselves. If God is a God of LOVE, if God IS Love. If God is pure love, then the only things we could ever expect from Him, would be Love, and, more love,(forgiveness, grace, acceptance, unconditionally), or indifference. Vengeance, punishment, retribution, and, restitution do not figure into, nor equate to Love. The entire institution of organized religion, is, about control of the sheople, that, the Sheopherds lead to their fleecing and slaughter, in association with their Gov issued tax exempt status...

[@frankmaxfield7025]

Amen

[@lindakachur4862]

@@syndrome1965 God is slow to anger and quick to forgive. However, some of 'God's children' really tested His patience and understanding enough is enough. Imagine the jeers and scoffs if God had remained inappropriately unresponsive in the face of outright injustices and sacrilege. People would/will have then created their own revenging god.

[@joecoolioness6399]

@@lindakachur4862 "People would have then created their own revenging god" - agreed, just like they created YHVH or whatever they call the xian god. Imagine creating a world with millions of humans on it then destroying the world except for a few favored humans, all while knowing that would happen, yet you created them anyway? This god is a moron.

[@lindakachur4862]

@@joecoolioness6399 Agreed. The Children of Israel fashioned a golden calf in the desert of Sanai.

[@jeffreynfrazier33]

Funny. He gives all of Goliaths quotes but none of Davids replys. Also Saul said that Goliath had been a " warrior from his Youth" He was also Referred to as a "Champion" so he obviously had a fearsome reputation and the only way you Lived Long in the WARRIOR profession or as a CHAMPION in that time period was to be Good. Being lucky was not an option, Because Luck doesn't last that long in "hack and slash" combat. Because someone else will be luckier than you sooner than later. I would further submit that David was highly skilled with the sling and not lucky.. As a shepherd he had plenty of time to practice while watching the sheep.

[@theewtgy]

He would have been they guy saying "it'll never work!"!!!

[@jimbowman8306]

This same King Saul was sore afraid and he himself was a mighty warrior that stood a head taller than any other Israelite. Also the Hebrew or Masoretic text describes Goliath a 6 cubits and a span or right at 10' tall. Goliath had armor and an extra warrior with a shield. No this guys telling makes no sense honestly.

[@testsignupagain7449]

he didn't claim that goliath sucked or was not a good fighter. he assumed enough intelligence in the audience that they'd realise a huge guy would make an excellent fighter.

[@tinopacino9400]

Jeffrey N Frazier the Point of the sling as a shepherd is to fend off wolves!!

[@r.mchunt7536]

Jeffrey N Frazier. You said "Goliath was a champion from youth" . So what !!!! When Goliath was younger he probably wasn't as big and therefore not as disabled by his size. With untreated Pituitary gland gigantism the individual keeps on growing until they are too big and heavy to walk and then they die usually from heart failure. Malcolm Gladwell gives a very reasonable medical explanation for the demise of Goliath which only religious blind faith could deny.

[@RahRah-mn7sl]

Idk what made me come across this video but damn .. this was a great listen.

[@hugobanzini7430]

I really love reading and now listening more to Prof Gladwell...very educative

[@imperiald3864]

Interesting theory. But Goliath was a champion. He would have most likely fought many of battles. He'd be a veteran solider. David wasn't. Snipers miss shots with scopes. David's victory was not assured.

[@Avestruzjr]

I agree 100x

[@justathought4276]

I totally agree with you. How can Malcolm describe an ancient warrior practice of one on one battle {your best versus our best} and then describe Goliath as a man who was lame- visually, physically and genetically. Did not the Philistines initiate the request? Therefore, it would be wise of the Army, when making such a daring request, to send their very best especially when their livelihoods are at stake. Malcolm said it himself that Israel felt as though they had no choice and that is why King Saul allowed David to fight. The Philistine's were under no obligation and sent the person who they thought was the very best.

[@jreddoch1]

Because Gladwell is trying to tell a "cool" story by flipping the script.

[@imperiald3864]

Revan i dont think life was so superficial like it is now. If u were a warrior. u were a warrior. U weren't Dwayne Johnstone, or Sly Stallone. You were the real deal

[@imperiald3864]

Revan well if u look at the story of the walls of jericho. U can assume the israeli's would have spies. if they have spies they would have found out that goliath wasn't strong. Just like a spy founf out about sampson's hair. I just dont really grasp the idea that its so hard to believe that a giant is strong.it seems to be the most likely situtation. occam's razor

[@theewtgy]

youre confusing goliath with king saul, who was head and sholders above his peers. goliath had 4 giant brothers, so it was not a disease, but a genetic trait. he was mocking david.

[@gilbertwest8245]

Yeah... now-a-days, Goliath could have been a power forward, a center, or maybe a line-backer.

[@jetlag747400]

Hence the need for 5 stones for 5 brothers?

[@vincentdesiano4861]

Samuel Reed Good point.

[@theewtgy]

@@gilbertwest8245 he was more like 9 feet tall

[@TexMex421]

Goliath was 5'4" and queer. I knew him in High School. It's a story...

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing. Please, continue success.

[@kridler112]

Fantastic perspective!

[@imbrod]

This is not accurate on many levels: 1) David wasn't practicing slinging back then on the lions and bears as Mr. Gladwell claims, he was fighting them close range, more like wrestling, striking with something, grabbing their jaw etc. 2) Goliath was not "lead" because he was blind (or poor sighted), he had a shield bearer walking in front of him. That was a common practice (look up Jonathan, son of Saul, in the same book). 3) If Goliath was blind or poor sighted, how would he see that David is young, that he had some "sticks" (meaning carrying something that is not sword) etc. This video has no basis in the Bible story (that Mr. Gladwell claims that is based on), but I do agree with his last statement "Giants are not as strong and powerful as they seem", I would add if we conquer our fear and put our trust in God.

[@Rikalonius]

Malcom doesn't look like he gets out into the wild much, but as you said, Lions are not something you casually hurl rocks at. They are dangerous apex predators that will murder you in short order. No shepherd would take them lightly. I agree also that the idea that Goliath was some lame giant like Sloth is ridiculous. He was more like Tigris the Gaul from Gladiator. He was a champion with a retinue of servants. He yelled for 40 days for someone to come out and fight him. He immediately recognized David as a boy and was insulted.

[@AbaMiguel]

I think you're confusing David with Samson if you really believe a man can fight a lion with his bare hands. No offense intended but we're talking about an animal that could rip your arm off with little effort.

[@imbrod]

No offense taken :) The point is that the author here is misinterpretating the original, and in the original David claims to king Saul that he fought the lions and bears with his own hands (OK maybe he was lying or exaggerating, but still...) Please read 1 Samuel 17, especially verses 34-37

[@aussieginger1960]

I have profoundly poor eyesight (without my glasses) I can still see someone moving towards me and if they are carrying something, the basic shape of what their carrying and prime colours such as red, black etc. I may be able to guess the thing they are carrying using probability eg someone is walking towards me with a straight, dark object taller than themselves that their using to help them walk I may assume walking stick or stick. Pale and cream usually mean crutches or a cane (movement is different as well). Assuming Goliath is my age and no one taught me to do this he (like myself) could have learned to compensate for issues he was experiencing.

[@RealMadridBot]

Goliath disdained David because he saw that he was a youth, ruddy and pretty. And yes, David wrestled with Lions and bears.

[@davidwomack5982]

While history can be analyzed for accuracy, we will never capture that moment in time. According to scripture, and secular notes, we can draw on the probabilities of what might have transpired. Nevertheless, it is a great story, with both the power of the flesh vs the power of the Spirit. “ Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit, “ sayeth the Lord. David had the anointing of God on him, and that stone was going to make its mark, no matter what. Five stones were picked, because David heard, Goliath had other brothers like himself. Yes, the job was not complete until the head of the snake was cut off. Most of all, this story is a lesson in absolutes. David absolutely trusted in his God to deliver him out of the hands of this uncircumcised heathen. After all, his faith was tempered through his victory over the bear, and the lion. This story is for all, who can identify with the sovereignty & Power of God to change the course of time. For David, this was pivotal. From boy to a man, from a man to a King, his life changed,..forever….

[@danatowne5498]

Well said - that is what I always got out of it too. On a side note, it has always bemused me why. given this. AND the Israeli victory in 1967, they felt the need for nuclear weapons. Not a political comment it just always has. Faith is hard, I guess.

[@tonygrowley5275]

The story is a myth, like all of the magical stories in the buybull.

[@jackperkins5138]

@@tonygrowley5275 tell all the little kids you see there is no Santa. You're probably a hoot at Christmas. Maybe knowone wants you around. God wants you though. Keep looking.

[@lindadee34]

David had been practicing with his slingshot get-up, for many years. That was his strength, as Gladwell says. His victory was not because, as you stated, " that stone was going to make its mark, no matter what."

[@davidwomack5982]

@@lindadee34 …. OK Linda. Whatever you say….

[@perryberens618]

Very interesting insights and research by speaker and author Malcolm Gladwell. Some very good comment below by others who read the Bible as inspiring to study and understand the relationship between the history and the present. Gladwell insight does exactly what it should. Inspire others to read the "Living word" and question it's relevancy in their own walk. It seems to me that only when one questions with the right motives. A right answer for that person (author) appears, for others to question in the telling. That's what good books do. Good insights I am going to re read the story. I like some of the comments below for fact check, and further study.

[@donfarmer4020]

This man had a lot of facts wrong. Read the account for yourself. And as far as the other comment this was not a story about punishment of the Jews. Read the Bible. Don’t trust what a man says. My Pastor and any good Pastor would tell you to read and follow along during church and if you have any questions come to him. But guess what happens? If he his a good Pastor and teaching what the Bible says you won’t have any questions. But if you get the Bible out and read the account of what this man is teaching you will see he is wrong on alot of what he is saying.

[@perryberens618]

@@donfarmer4020 a person should always have questions. The Holy spirit has answers. I didn't find anything wrong with his facts. I learned a few more facts, and enjoyed the observation medically of, possibly why Goliath (9'6") was a giant. True it was common to have armor bearers but Goliath was already suited up. My question was; why would he need an armor bearer? Goliath went down to the same spot for 40 days.

[@donfarmer4020]

@@perryberens618 well the speaker didn’t say 9 foot 6 he said 6 foot 9. He had an Armor bearer because that was customary for the times. His armor bearer would have carried his shield and spear. And if you didn’t have any problems with his facts, well his facts change the story and is not what is written in the historical text of the Bible. You just can’t change the facts to suit what you want to believe. if you change facts to suit what you want to believe well that my friend is just lieing to yourself. And that is the problem people make up their own facts (lies) and it’s causing all kinds of confusion. And satin is the father of confusion. Read your Bible and you will see where this man is trying to change ,or at least down playing the story. And as far as a child going to battle a trained giant in hand to hand combat well that would be stupid. That’s why he used a sling. Oh and another fact is that David picked up 5 smooth stones. Why 5? Probably because Goliath had 4 brothers. My belief was he was preparing to kill them all if need be. Let me ask another question when you were a Boy would you have the courage and faith to go fight a giant? And if it wasn’t that big Of a deal then why did the philistines run from the Jews? Because they had just seen a BOY take down their CHAMPION. And they feared the God of the Jews. This story should never be down played

[@patrickfinnegan2747]

This brings up a point that gets me riled on so many TV shows. Why would someone with a gun close to within an arms length of someone who is unarmed or armed with a knife? Sometimes they even put the gun in the person's stomach or back! How many TV scenes turn the story around because the guy with the gun gets disarmed by someone who is faster? If you have a gun or other distance weapon, it seems only logical to keep your distance far enough that you can get a shot off before the other person can reach you.

[@leorehnberg6210]

It's also interesting how the story reflects on the socities themselves - do you send your disabled soldiers as cannonfodder or your very best to a duel? Are soldiers, and by extension your people, expendable or is each life worth preserving? Sending out Goliath, however intimidating, seems like an incredibly cruel gamble..

[@NancyStClair-cr2mi]

Yea

[@CDdogg303]

Yeah, I really dont think they would send someone that is heavily handicapped into such an important battle, that truly doesn't add up

[@evannunsince9357]

Its complete nonsense bro. He literally made up the part about goliath moving slow and having a child lead him,onto the battlefield.

[@CDdogg303]

@@evannunsince9357 Yeah, I need to reread the story. I can't remember it well enough. But then again, he never says where he may have gotten that info from so it might be a wild goose chase, if it even exists

[@CDdogg303]

@@jaquesstrappe7664 It was a one on one though

[@CringeWatching]

The Philistines fled because David put the fear of God in them. If the Philistines believed Goliath was not a capable warrior, they wouldn't have run away. If the Philistines believed David got a cheap shot off on their main man, they wouldn't have run away. As it stands, they turned tail and ran. It was a moment of clarity for the Philistines - "God is on their side."

[@dearyoungleader9782]

You're blessed.

[@cyranodeluk]

Eyes to see and ears to hear... PRAISE!

[@Thrusce]

Go back and read the original story. Read it and think, "Kayfabe." The Philistines turned and ran because the anointed king of Israel had just killed their champion, and there were ten thousand screaming Israelis pumped up to a frenzy and frothing at the mouth, running down the hill at them. They had lost parity. Read about those ancient battles and see how many of them turned on morale or surprise.

[@blissfulmale]

Nathan Zavitz yes, and in addition, if the sling was a superior weapon, then why would the commander panic sending David in? The speaker misses the mythological value of the story. His main premise: Goliath is a victim because he has a disability.

[@delnayo9474]

Thank you. 😀 well said!!

[@antoniosilva-iq5jc]

Glad to listen sources of inspiration like this story.

[@jonahbitman7576]

man i could listen to this guy talk for hours. it’s what i’ve been doing for hours

[@dennisdatu6464]

The scriptures do not say Goliath was led by the hand by a boy into the field of combat. What it says was that Goliath’s armor bearer (shield carrier) walked in front of him. An armor bearer was customary to be with a champion who was going to combat. David too became an armor bearer of King Saul during David’s youth.

[@blakestockman88]

Agreed. This guy's scriptural twisting reminds me of Rob Bell.

[@v9473d]

"And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him". 2 Samuel 17:41. I do not get a sense of Goliath being led by a boy or that he was not able to get to the valley without help. Mr. Gladwell is an interesting storyteller but he changes the Bible's account of this for his purposes.

[@mandyloftis]

I was listening to this and thinking the same thing and by the way Goliath was taunting david thats why he said come to me so I can feed you to the birds. Not because he can't see him.

[@fgbowen]

Valerie Wise - yes. Yes. And double, triple yes.

[@fgbowen]

Mandy Loftis - exactly. And I could go on and on All Day with this. Both you, and Valerie are correct.

[@josiahhirsh185]

definitely agree. it was incredibly common for high ranking military members to have attendants or "squires". his analysis seems pretty flawed.

[@Poe397]

So,..according to you folks Goliath just stood there unprotected and for some unknown reason allowed David to just take him out with a sling and stone.....yeah that makes so much more sense. Jesus Christ no wonder theists are so gullible.

[@kapendesakuwaha857]

Wow, analysis loved, thank you

[@roysmallian2046]

Oh Malcolm, you do know how to cast new light on a story that hundreds of generations could not see. Thanks for your brilliance.

[@denisperez8031]

6 foot 9 yeah that’s brilliant…dream on

[@AsaMenchaca]

Why would an army, who’s victory hinges on one person, choose the blind, freakishly tall guy who can’t walk straight to fight their battle for them??

[@zvxcvxcz]

Obviously because he's still a giant and super intimidating. He's not totally blind and they thought it would be close combat.

[@lucychristine7454]

Roll for intimidation

[@tawanacalamari5712]

scare tactic

[@oldschool3484]

Asa Menchaca You are EXACTLY RIGHT ! He was of the Nephilim, a Giant ! In the earliest Egyptian Cubit over 11 ft tall. These egghead academia types hate anything that interferes with their Darwin belief. They are idiots !

[@jayao9758]

"45mm handgun". That's like five 9mm's. Dude knoweth not gun speak.

[@TheTheospringer]

No mention of the fact that the almighty being with David that day and giving him courage and the victory!!!🤔

[@gregsharp8601]

You nailed it Theo! It wasn't David vs. Goliath. It was the Lord Almighty through David vs. Goliath.

[@questioneverything8301]

never heard anything so dumb in my whole life. it's so easy to see the holes in his story. why on earth would a army send down a warrior that couldnt see? if he had double vison he would have seen twice the number of people in davids troops. if he had double vision and saw 2 sticks then why did he not see 2 davids? he says goliath was only 6 foot something tall he was at least 10 foot. he mentions modern day giantism, which after the fall things got worse, but in biblical times giants had no defects. i could go on but malcolm will be weell glad lol that i dont. how can a so called intelligiant man be so dumb.

[@TheTheospringer]

@@questioneverything8301 I also agree that there was nothing wrong with goliath too, he's trying to make it look like the story is a fairy tale even though they found goliaths brothers bed in Iraq.👍

[@questioneverything8301]

@@TheTheospringer all the people there are listening intently. thats the sad thing. it is a very true story, and yet hes making out it was a fairytale, then why bother to explain something he doesnt believe to be true.

[@TheTheospringer]

@@questioneverything8301 seems like he's just trying to discredit the bible or the fact that David along with the almighty beat goliath, I'm sure the bible would of said if goliath was like what he said but, it doesn't, the bible and the words of the almighty doesn't lie, man does though, I know who I'd believe and it's not him.👍

[@ajskyyyyyy1237]

This telling of David & Goliath makes me more faithful. So many said the spiritual is taken from it. But no it’s still there. God show up in the miraculous yes but even in the basic and practical

[@leighterry943]

Brilliance is not about how much you know, but rather, how deeply you look into how much you know, to find out what you don’t know! This was brilliant! Thank you sir; I hope you dissect more of the Biblical cannon, especially the book of Ezekiel, and the noncanonical book of Enoch! I am a great admirer of your work! Blessings!

[@JohnThomas-gw8ju]

Humanism at it’s finest, in your wisdom sir you plainly show your foolishness.

[@gunjfur8633]

How does this have anything to do with humanism??

[@davidhatchell6473]

Gunjα Fury overconfidence

[@gunjfur8633]

@@davidhatchell6473 How does "overconfidence" have anything to do with Humanism?

[@cvarieur4433]

@@gunjfur8633 humanism focuses on the sufficiency of humans... the superiority of human thinking and human power above the supernatural --- the fool says in his heart "there is no god"

[@gunjfur8633]

@@cvarieur4433 From my understanding humanism emphasizes the value and agency of human beings (both individually & collectively), & prefers critical thinking and evidence over acceptance of such things as dogma & superstition. Id like to add a quote of my own; "A man honest with himself accepts it when he doesnt know, & a man honest with others will tell them he doesnt know"

[@thomasdark9763]

We tend to think of slings as being a weak weapon. I have seen first hand what a sling very much like David would have used can do to a human head and face. They can do major damage when used proper and placement is correct.

[@jaecei9195]

How?

[@thomasdark9763]

@@jaecei9195 On deployment to Iraq in 2007 on multiple occasions had individuals use the same type of sling throwing rocks at us. Had a buddy hit in the face by one from about 25 ft away and shattered his eye socket. He almost lost the eye.

[@jaecei9195]

@@thomasdark9763 😱 Damn!

[@mermer58]

All Israeli soldiers know how to use a sling.

[@beldonhuang]

After listening to this great story/talk by Malcolm, I thought, the idea that others are “stronger or weaker” than us is solely an illusion, as the strength of the individual we are looking at may strongly depend on the person who is judging. Whilst, neither can we say that a person is “strong” or “weak” only based on our first impression of them, as I think people all have strengths and weaknesses, and it is merely a matter of how obvious these traits are. Therefore, I would argue, beyond not to exaggerate or underestimate people’s strengths and weaknesses, in a practical sense, we would have to logically examine people’s strengths and weaknesses, so that we can use this information to understand others and protect ourselves.

[@dimariewaxgoddess]

Watching this rn

[@tosinoyegunsen]

How could the Mightiest warrior have been blind? Really???? Plus, he is mixing Saul with Goliath, Saul is the one who was head and shoulders higher Goliath had 4 brothers and they were born of the Nephilim This man makes no sense, sorry

[@ilovejesusforever8369]

Wrong they were not from the nephalim - they were wiped out with the flood please read your Bible - all of them wiped out completely !!!! Gone gone gone with the flood !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@weavinghedonist]

i wager to bet that this Ted speaker is affiliated with Smithsonian museum/institute.

[@lindadivon8500]

👑🌍💍👠💄💅💋: TRUTH Saul hated David and was hopeing that his future son-in-law would get killed during the battle with this giant right 😎Saul's hateful heart didn't win right 😎Daivd being a skilled sheperd and NEVER LOST A SHEEP is SHOWING CHRIST FUTURE * Anyway Daivid took up 5 smooth stones one for each one of GOLIATH'S BROTHER REST IS HISTORY 😎💋 and Daivid aimed and PUT IS TRUST FAITH IN GOD AND WON HIS BATTLE " DAVIDS FAITH IN GOD WON HIS BATTLE😁🖤❤️👑#PEACE #SHALLA #SHALOM😎l

[@blademan6075]

Tosin Oyegunsen Dude is sounding more and more foolish as he speaks!

[@kennorthunder2428]

@@lindadivon8500 Your chronology is wrong. At this point Saul barely knew David.

[@oscarg8280]

king saul was over 7 feet tall and was a mighty warrior

[@ahillaeus]

And even King Saul was afraid of Goliath who was way more taller and stronger..

[@theewtgy]

David did his dirty work

[@kevinhaney7658]

I don't think Saul was over seven feet tall most of all the Jews were little people

[@timmychang1791]

Great story with amazing acumen.

[@benjaminshiels1824]

Very speculative talk.

[@yupengzhao219]

What an incredibly engaging storyteller! I bought his book "Talking to Strangers" on Audible and absolutely loved it.

[@19stacymoore]

you are being misled.

[@paulbedichek2679]

He didn't read the bible david is nowhere in the story.2 Samuel 21.19,who really killed Goliath.

[@CNialDemecha]

I (respectfully, of course) disagree with that our understanding of David and Goliath is wrong in that David wasn't the underdog. Sure, if we analyze the situation more, David does seem like the more likely victor, but that's generally the case with underdogs; "underdogs" exist as the result of on-the-surface analysis that doesn't take everything into consideration. As an example, if two sports teams play against each other and the underdogs win, analysis later on will reveal that actually, the "underdogs" got a new top tier player, or that the favored team wasn't in shape, etc. Underdogs aren't underdogs because they aren't meant to win; they are underdogs because, at a glance, we account for the wrong factors.

[@ryanalving3785]

CNialDemecha As God said to Samuel when he was looking for the next king of Israel, man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD pondereth the hearts. David was assured victory not because of what could be seen, but what was not surface obvious; which is why God chose him, because of what was below the surface.

[@Gottenhimfella]

CNialDemecha That's a much more nuanced view than Gladwell's, which I have to say (on this occasion) seems more like the intellectual / historical analog of clickbait. Gladwell loves explaining things, but he seems unwilling to limit his explanations to topics on which he combines depth with breadth of knowledge.

[@anonymike8280]

Or, sometimes it's just not your day.

[@MarcEverettProductions]

We grew up with it as a story of conquering giants. It's really about God's servants answering the call. I LOVE listening to Malcolm Gladwell. Such an interesting intellectual.

[@kevincruikshank9371]

This is the best

[@sheilaabrams3747]

How tall was Goliath from the Bible? The Masoretic Text gives his height as "six cubits and a span" (9 feet 9 inches or 2.97 metres).

[@Jawsjawsjawsrg]

And that is not even the tallest of giants, they have found bones of 12 ft. tall giants.

[@palewriter1856]

...and the LXX says what? I'm too lazy to go look that up right now, but will get it later. Masoretic doesn't ALWAYS get it right, I'm afraid.

[@writingonthewall3326]

Hi. please watch my vid on 666? It addresess that very subject.

[@somniumisdreaming]

Oldest sources have him at 6 9

[@WildPhotoShooter]

@@Jawsjawsjawsrg The bigger they were the more disabled they were .

[@writereducator]

Gladwell is right about the value of a sling in the hands of a well-trained skillful slinger. One weakness in Gladwell's argument is that he thinks he knows something the people at the time didn't, that a sling is a great longer-range weapon. Another thing is that the Philistines would not know if Goliath was inept.

[@j3ffn4v4rr0]

Yeah, I think he's perpetuating a silly modern myth that ancient people were stupid.

[@krakoosh1]

I think you need to listen to him again. A few times. That is not what he implied

[@vaeshethblade931]

@@krakoosh1 Implied, no, straight up said, yes. He was so feeble, he needed someone to lead him by the hand... and none of the Philistines noticed. Biblical giants are so different from acromegaly patients, you just can't fit a man who should be dead (modern-medicine speaking) into the account of David and Goliath.

[@krakoosh1]

@@vaeshethblade931 he said Goliath was 6 feet 4 inches. That is not a giant. There are thousands of people over 7 feet that don’t have gigantism. The scripture does not say, his servant took him by the hand and led him onto the field. It says, the Philistine came closer and closer to David, with the shield bearer in front of him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a youth, healthy and handsome. So Goliath’s sight was not bad like this guy said. Anytime someone says the Bible says, you should look it up. Also, Goliath told David to come closer to him after he was able to see he was young, healthy and handsome. So Goliath was able to see him clearly from a distance.

[@danutebahena179]

I read once that the Singers in the Roman army used lead projectials that looked like deflated footballs that would penatrate your flesh just like a bullet. Forgive the spelling. I'm enjoying beer-thirty right know.

[@bjw3243]

Very good information.

[@thebestofurekasgold3844]

I immediately thought he said sticks because David was little and the staff was the second stick. Very good talk.

[@gc2905]

The only story that I need about David & Goliath or David and anything is located in the Scriptures.

[@hrbricker]

I played with such a sling as a youngster of 10 or 11. At that time I weighed maybe 65 or 70 lbs. With such a sling I could throw a 12 Oz can full of wet sand the length of a football field. I wasn't very accurate, but you can be sure that that 12 Oz can was a deadly projectile. I've know most of my life that Goliath never had a chance even if he had been a champion Gladiator.

[@sharpnr445]

Correct, the Bible says the stone sunk into Goliaths forehead. Bone crushing power.

[@mangeload]

@@sharpnr445 I'm Goliath Sack, & I approve this message

[@stephencraig5938]

Same, l was pretty good with a slingshot. Easily take an eye out.

[@balajay8921]

You knew that. Strange that Goliath and his people didn’t know that…

[@boondocks8002]

I made my 6 year old sling recently based on how we made them when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s. It worked great. We were poor so we had to use our imagination often.

[@bogotanord]

When you are good at something, it will show!!!

[@ombasaabuya9137]

Awesome insight story