Deuteronomy 3:11 gives the size of Ogâs iron bedstead as nine cubits in length by four cubits in width (i.e. 18.75 feet long by 8.33 feet wide). The above figure compares Ogâs bed to a standard-size single bed.
Almost all these monstrous people were defeated by the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, at this time. But a remnant remained, as recorded in the Book of Joshua:
And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir . . .
There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel; only in Gath, Gaza and in Ashdod [they] there remained.
Book of Joshua 11:21:22
We began this chapter showing that, at the time Abraham travelled through Canaan, these races of giants already inhabited the region. This was circa 1912 BC, about 436 years after the Flood of Noah. Because their number was already great, we may assume that they had begun to multiply sometime during these 400 years. So there was a second irruption of âfallenâ spirit beings who had procreated with women during this period to produce these tribes of giants. By the time Moses and Joshua arrived on the scene and defeated these huge people, another 461 years had elapsed, taking us to 1451 BC. So these superhuman beings had all this time to multiply and grow in number.
We had the Emim , a race of gigantic stature dwelling to the east of the Salt Sea. In ancient times, the whole of the land of Canaan was held by this race of giants. The Rephaim inhabited the north. Next the Zuzim , then the Emim , with the Horim in the south. Afterwards, the kingdom of Bashan embraced the territories of the Rephaim; the Amonites that of the Zuzim ; the Moabites that of the Emim ; while Edom embraced the mountains of the Horim . The Emim were related to the Anakim and generally called by the same name, but the Moabites referred to them as the â giants â or â terrible ones â 27 (see Figure 4 ).
Now we come to the year 974 BC and a boy of 16 years named David. Another 477 years have elapsed since Joshua entered the Promised Land and destroyed all the giants. All, that is, except for a remnant at Gaza, Gath and Ashdod. We pick up the story in 1 Samuel 17:
2. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.
4. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
5. And he had a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
6. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
7. And the staff of his spear was like a weaverâs beam; and his spearâs head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and one bearing a shield went before him.
8. And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them: âWhy are ye come out to set your battle in array? Am not I a Philistine and ye servants to Saul? Choose you a man for you and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants. But if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.â
11. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
12. Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem-Judah whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons;
16. And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
26. And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying: âWhat shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?â
32. And David said to Saul: âLet no manâs heart fail because of him. Thy servant