Those who feel knowledgeable about the bible, a question about David and Goliath...?

Question

I'm not nit-picking or causing trouble, this was a question brought up at a woman's study group through the church.

The bible is very specific about David picking up 5 smooth stones, but he only needs one. Why specifically 5? Why not say instead a few or several?

Supposedly everything in the bible has significance and meaning, so what is significant about 5 stones?

Answer 1

there are 5 points on a pentagram....maybe David wanted to be a pagan! Cool...

Answer 2

There are many things in the Bible that we may not ever have a definitive answer to.
What did Jesus write in the sand, when telling those who had not sinned to cast the first stone? (John 8)
What did the seven thunders really say that John was ordered not to write down? (Rev. 10)

Without a reason, to choose five stones would show lack of trust and choosing just one would have been possibly testing God.

The actual answer may in fact be quite simple, Goliath had four brothers.

The four brothers of Goliath (2S. 21:22) included Ishi-Benob (2S. 21:16), Saph or Sippai (2S. 21:18; 1Chr. 20:4), Lahmi (2S. 21:19; 2Chr. 20:5) and an unnamed brother (2S. 21:20-21; 1Chr. 20:6-7). Along with Goliath, who was killed by David (1S. 17:4, 49-50), there were five brothers (1S. 17:40) of the same father, a giant from Gath (2S. 21:22; 1Chr. 20:8).

Hope this helps,
Feel free to ask me at any time,
God Bless You,
Jeff

Answer 3

I've wondered the same thing, but have not found any information about it. Once could argue that it shows he was well prepared, because probably 2 or 3 would have sufficed. One could argue that he was uncertain because he brought so many stones.

Numerology was very big in the Bible and according to one source the number 5 represented grace and that source specifically points to David's stones as one example.

Answer 4

Some say the Bible has a secret numerological code in it.
I don't know if I believe that--- But in numerology the number five relates to change, adjustments, and being able to adapt to changes.
There may not be any significance at all- it could just be a number of stones that he picked up in his hand.

If this seems significant to you....ask yourself- What does the number 5 mean to me?

Answer 5

Don't know about any numerology in the bible, but 5 stones sounds like "a few or several" to me. And of course, maybe could've used those five if David missed with the first one.

Answer 6

i don't know. i would think that some form of Hebrew numerology might have been in play. five was probably a significant number. it could also have been a standard number. in warfare, perhaps all sling throwers picked up five stones. there is probably alot of cultural significance.

perhaps you could look up doctoral thesis papers through different divinity schools. undoubtedly, someone somewhere has researched this and put it in a paper. finding the paper may be the big challenge.

have fun!!

Answer 7

Others may know some special significance, but I believe, this is what a shepherd would do. David was a shepherd. He was acting as he normally would, but following Gods prompting to defend the Hebrew peoples and Gods reputation.

Answer 8

1 Samuel17:49 And David put his hand in his bag,and took thence a stone, and slang it,and smote the Philistine in his forehead,that the stone sunk into his forehead;and he fell upon his face to the earth.....don't get numerology into this don't make to much of numbers the verse means...This was a type of what Jesus would ultimately do to Satan. it had been predicted by the Lord immediately after the fall of man when he said to Satan through the serpent,"and i will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed; it[He] shall bruise your head,and you shall bruise His heel"[Gen. 3:15].

Answer 9

Being of the flesh,David used 5 stones David held "great" faith but what he didn't know is that the first stone would kill the giant.It's "my thought" that "God" increased David's faith that day. It's a learning process for us all.*God Bless*

Answer 10

David had a plan A,B,C,D,E,F or 1-5. If it didnt work the first time he tried again and again and again. If he missed all 5 times he'd get out and run for his life! Very symbolic to the way life should be perceived with tackling goals.

Answer 11

If I was going up against a giant,I would have taken a whole bucket full.
I personally don't believe in numerology or
bible codes.What the bible says is what it
means.