Who Killed Goliath?
A fellow named James sent me an email challenging the use of Scripture; later, he clarified that it was not the bible he rejected, just the Catholic version.
He asked a question that he considered a stumper. I commended him for his bible studies, but the question he asked was hardly original with him. It was a set up. A number of critics who hope to ridicule the Catholic bible and confuse poorly educated Catholics are quick to ask, "Who Killed Goliath?"
While remarking that Protestant fundamental literalism and Catholic biblical scholarship represents entirely different hermeneutics, I tried to make an answer.
Most Protestant and Catholic translations of the bible today, as well as all the foreign language texts about which I am aware (original translations) would make his question mute as the same problem with 2 Samuel 22:19 is true of all of them, ". . . and Elhanan the son of Jaareorgim, the Bethlehemite, slew Goliath the Gittite . . ." (RSV). This version was corrected from the earlier rendition from the KJV that edited the translated text in light of 1 Samuel 17 and 1 Chronicles 20:5. It read, " . . . where Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath, the Gittite . . . ." 1 Chronicles 20:5 attributes the killing of Lahmi, Goliath's brother, to Elhanan. While 2 Samuel renders Elhanan's father as Jaareorigim, 1 Chronicles gives a different name, Jair. A copying or dittographical error has been made in the ancient text where the word "oregim" has been duplicated and inserted after the name. (The word, "oregim," refers to the shaft of a spear compared to a WEAVER's beam). Since the naming of Elhanan's father is corrupted, some scholars, Catholic and Protestant, have argued that 1 Chronicles is the superior text where the Lord slays Goliath through his servant, David. Other scholars make still more arguments about the texts. Some say that David originally killed an anonymous Phillistine who is later confused with Elhanan's victim. The Jewish authorities using the Targums and Midrash contend that Elhanan and David was the same person. Thus, David becomes a second name, acquired later. Weight is given this view since the word, "dawidum" was used at Mari and they conclude that David was a title received at his coronation. Arguing a corruption in the consonants, they further claim the name Jair was originally Jesse. However, this seems dubious at best.
While the biblical traditions are not entirely clear, unless we force harmony into the texts as was done for Protestant England in 1611; Catholic authority and tradition has merely favored David as the human slayer of Goliath. Indeed, it was largely this residual Catholicism that led the English Protestant translators to offer what they saw as a correction to 2 Samuel. However, true Catholic translators opted not to take it upon themselves to change the sacred text but to footnote and instruct about what they saw as a corruption of it.
Thus, the Catholic answer to the question is found in these two texts:
1 Chronicles 20:5 - "Once again there was war with the Philistines, and Elhanan, the son of Jair, slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath of Gath, whose spear shaft was like a weaver's heddle-bar."
1 Samuel 17:49-51 - "David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone, hurled it with the sling, and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone embedded itself in his brow, and he fell prostrate on the ground. [Thus David overcame the Philistine with sling and stone; he struck the Philistine mortally, and did it without a sword.] Then David ran and stood over him; with the Philistine's own sword [which he drew from its sheath] he dispatched him and cut off his head."
I finished by saying, "There you have it. I suspect already that it will not satisfy you, but I thought I would make the effort anyway. I will pray that the good Lord will soften your heart to greater charity and open your mind for deeper insight, particularly into his holy mysteries. I trust that you will pray the same for me."
There was no response.
He asked a question that he considered a stumper. I commended him for his bible studies, but the question he asked was hardly original with him. It was a set up. A number of critics who hope to ridicule the Catholic bible and confuse poorly educated Catholics are quick to ask, "Who Killed Goliath?"
While remarking that Protestant fundamental literalism and Catholic biblical scholarship represents entirely different hermeneutics, I tried to make an answer.
Most Protestant and Catholic translations of the bible today, as well as all the foreign language texts about which I am aware (original translations) would make his question mute as the same problem with 2 Samuel 22:19 is true of all of them, ". . . and Elhanan the son of Jaareorgim, the Bethlehemite, slew Goliath the Gittite . . ." (RSV). This version was corrected from the earlier rendition from the KJV that edited the translated text in light of 1 Samuel 17 and 1 Chronicles 20:5. It read, " . . . where Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath, the Gittite . . . ." 1 Chronicles 20:5 attributes the killing of Lahmi, Goliath's brother, to Elhanan. While 2 Samuel renders Elhanan's father as Jaareorigim, 1 Chronicles gives a different name, Jair. A copying or dittographical error has been made in the ancient text where the word "oregim" has been duplicated and inserted after the name. (The word, "oregim," refers to the shaft of a spear compared to a WEAVER's beam). Since the naming of Elhanan's father is corrupted, some scholars, Catholic and Protestant, have argued that 1 Chronicles is the superior text where the Lord slays Goliath through his servant, David. Other scholars make still more arguments about the texts. Some say that David originally killed an anonymous Phillistine who is later confused with Elhanan's victim. The Jewish authorities using the Targums and Midrash contend that Elhanan and David was the same person. Thus, David becomes a second name, acquired later. Weight is given this view since the word, "dawidum" was used at Mari and they conclude that David was a title received at his coronation. Arguing a corruption in the consonants, they further claim the name Jair was originally Jesse. However, this seems dubious at best.
While the biblical traditions are not entirely clear, unless we force harmony into the texts as was done for Protestant England in 1611; Catholic authority and tradition has merely favored David as the human slayer of Goliath. Indeed, it was largely this residual Catholicism that led the English Protestant translators to offer what they saw as a correction to 2 Samuel. However, true Catholic translators opted not to take it upon themselves to change the sacred text but to footnote and instruct about what they saw as a corruption of it.
Thus, the Catholic answer to the question is found in these two texts:
1 Chronicles 20:5 - "Once again there was war with the Philistines, and Elhanan, the son of Jair, slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath of Gath, whose spear shaft was like a weaver's heddle-bar."
1 Samuel 17:49-51 - "David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone, hurled it with the sling, and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone embedded itself in his brow, and he fell prostrate on the ground. [Thus David overcame the Philistine with sling and stone; he struck the Philistine mortally, and did it without a sword.] Then David ran and stood over him; with the Philistine's own sword [which he drew from its sheath] he dispatched him and cut off his head."
I finished by saying, "There you have it. I suspect already that it will not satisfy you, but I thought I would make the effort anyway. I will pray that the good Lord will soften your heart to greater charity and open your mind for deeper insight, particularly into his holy mysteries. I trust that you will pray the same for me."
There was no response.
posted by Father Joe Jenkins at 3:41 PM
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