GIANT KILLER Larry W Peebles February 5, 2021 21.05
Almost everyone has heard of David and Goliath. Outside of the realm of Bible stories and the Christian faith, the world at large refers to David and Goliath when facing a monumental task, or anytime the underdog faces overwhelming opposition. David, of course, was a young shepherd who volunteered to face a literal giant of a man trained for war. The entire army of Israel feared Goliath. What chance did a youth have against him? The Philistine giant insulted the God of Israel. David had to respond. He went to King Saul to ask permission to fight the giant. Too small to wear armor and carry a sword, David’s best opportunity seemed to be found in wearing his normal attire, and using his familiar slingshot. He rushed into battle with the giant. His divinely guided stone struck the giant in the most vulnerable spot on the forehead, and he fell face-down to the ground. David then used the giant’s own sword to cut off his head. Israel routed the Philistine army, and God once again gave a clear demonstration that He will fight for those who trust in Him. The entire story can be found in 1 Samuel, Chapter 17.
David, of the tribe of Judah, was not the only giant killer. 2 Samuel 21:18-22 says that three other giants were killed by different servants of David (including his own nephew). One giant was the brother of Goliath, and the other two are identified as “son of the giant”, or “born to the giant”. It is possible they were all brothers, “sons of the giant.” They may have been father/son, all descendants of “the giant”, possibly Anak, mentioned in Numbers 13:22. 2 Samuel 21:22 says- “These four
[including Goliath]were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.” David may have been the most famous to kill a giant, but he raised and trained up other giant killers along the way. Great leaders do that. Great followers observe and take inspiration from their leaders, learning to do what they have been shown.
Another giant killer who preceded David but is perhaps less known is Caleb. He is first mentioned in the Bible as one of the twelve spies sent out by Moses to scout the land where God was leading the Israelites following their release from Egyptian captivity. This was the land God had promised to Abraham’s descendants some 400 years earlier. In Numbers 13:6, he is identified as “Caleb, son of Jephunneh”. In Numbers 32:12, he is “Caleb, son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite.” The Kenizzites were descendants of Kenaz, the grandson of Esau. (Genesis 36:11).
Esau and Jacob were sons of Isaac, and grandsons of Abraham. Although Esau was first-born, he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew, and Isaac’s blessing eventually passed to Jacob. The nation of Israel, birthed in Egypt, came from the twelve sons of Jacob. The Kenizzites became idol worshippers in the land of Canaan. Somewhere along the way, Caleb or his ancestors converted to faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and he was welcomed into the nation of Israel. Despite their ancestry, Caleb and his younger brother Othniel were counted among the tribe of Judah in Numbers 13:6. This is consistent with a theme demonstrated throughout the Old and New Testament. Salvation may have come to mankind through the Jewish blood line, but God intended salvation to also come to the Gentiles (non-Jews). We are all adopted into the family of God by faith.
Moses gave instructions to the spies when he sent them out. They were to see what the land was like (rich or poor, bare or forested), observe the people (few or many, strong or weak), and see if they lived in fortified cities or camps. They were to bring back some fruit from the land. (Numbers 13:17-20). The spies were gone 40 days. When they came back, ten of the 12 spies reported they could not take the land God had promised because the cities were large and fortified, the people were strong, and they saw the descendants of Anak (giants) there. The ten spies felt “small like grasshoppers”. (Numbers 13:28-29, 32-33)
Caleb was of a “different spirit”. (Numbers 14:24) He may have had an advantage; from his ancestors he knew what to expect when the Israelites came into the promised land of Canaan. He had heard the stories of the giants. Caleb and Joshua gave a different report from the same venture into the land. Numbers 13:30 says- “Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said ‘Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” He went on to explain “the Lord our God is with us. Do not fear them [the giants].” (Numbers 14:9) For all the details, please read the entirety of Numbers Chapters 13 and 14. The twelve spies all saw the same thing, but Caleb and Joshua viewed with eyes of faith. No opposition, mountains, or giants would stand in their way.
Caleb and Joshua’s giant killer attitude was fueled by knowing their God intimately. This produced a bold overcoming faith that God was for them, and the giants would be defeated. David’s proclamation before Goliath expressed a similar attitude. “I come to you [Goliath] in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the army of Israel….the Lord will deliver you into my hand….I will take your head….the earth will know there is a God in Israel….the battle is the Lord’s”. 1 Samuel 17:45-47.
The report of the ten spies caused a rebellion among their people. Caleb and Joshua’s report almost caused them to be stoned. God was not pleased with the lack of faith in the majority report, and told the nation of Israel they would wander in the wilderness 40 years until the generation of adults 20 or older had died off. They would wander one year for each of the 40 days they spied. God was pleased with the giant killer faith of Caleb and Joshua, and they would be the only survivors of their generation to actually go into the Promised Land.
In the Book of Joshua, we pick up the story of an older Caleb. He was forty when he was sent to spy in the land. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, and five years of fighting in the military campaign to possess the land, he had reached the age of 85. In Joshua 14:9-12, Caleb said to Joshua- “So Moses swore on that day [we gave our report] saying ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ And now behold the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim [giants-descendants of Anak] were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.”
At age 85 Caleb asked, as his allotment of land, that he have the mountain where the giants dwelled. If the Lord would help him, his faith was such that he would yet prove that he was not merely boasting when he gave his report. He volunteered to run into battle against the giants to conquer this mountain where the city of Hebron was located. At the time, it was called Kirjath Arba (the city of Arba, the greatest of the giants, and father of Anak). Caleb intended to defeat the giants and change the name back to Hebron.
Mt. Hebron has a rich history. Located 32 kilometers south of Jerusalem, it stands as Israel’s highest peak (3366’). Since biblical times it has been known for its vineyards. It contains the Cave of Machpelah, purchased by Abraham as a burial site for Sarah, his wife. (Genesis Chapter 23) Eventually Abraham, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah were all buried there. According to Jewish tradition, Adam and Eve are buried there. Hebron means “friend”, as Abraham was known as a friend of God. When David became King of Judah, his royal city was Hebron for seven years. Later, when he became king over all of Israel, he moved the royal city to Jerusalem. Those who face giants, trusting and relying upon the Lord to give them the victory, are lifted to the high places.
Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak from Hebron. (Joshua 15:14) Caleb’s nephew, Othniel Ben Kenaz, captured the city of Debir. This was a Canaanite royal city also occupied by descendants of Anak (Joshua 11:21). In the process, he won the hand of Caleb’s daughter, and became his son-in-law. Like David, Caleb raised and trained up another giant killer. All the giants were destroyed in the land of the children of Israel. Giants remained in a few cities outside their land, including Gaza, where Goliath came from. (Joshua 11:22).
Finally, no discussion of Biblical giant killers would be complete without including the greatest of them all-Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah. Like Caleb and David, He was of the tribe of Judah. David may have killed the bear and the lion, but Jesus is the Lion of Judah. He volunteered to face the greatest giant of all–death and hell. He did not run from his own crucifixion, but gladly carried his cross to it. He defeated death, rose from His grave, took the keys to hell, and made a mockery of Satan. When His work was finished, He ascended to the highest places of Heaven, and sat down beside His Father. He left us with the authority to move mountains and defeat giants who stand in opposition, and left behind the Holy Spirit to raise and train up future giant-killers. Jesus said we would do greater things than He did. (John 14:12) May we rise up in faith, and take our position as mature sons of the Father doing the works of Jesus. There are spiritual giants before us that must be overcome and defeated.
