David Chose Five Stones

"Is that why David took five stones from the brook? One was enough for Goliath."

-David C. Brown (Commenting to Goliath had a Brother?)

This is one things that the bible doesn't give any answer to, but by looking at a few verses, I can make a few guesses as to why he might have chosen to collect five stones instead of one using the info that I have been given.

Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:40

While it is a popular belief that the remaining four stones were used for Goliath's brothers, there are a few problems with this idea.

1. Goliaths brother were killed  later on in David's lifetime, and it makes no since to keep those stones, waiting for killing the older brothers.
2. There are a total of 6 brothers mentioned in the two passages. (Ishbibenob, Sippai, Lahmi, Saph, the 12 fingered man, and Goliath) That would be a total of 6 stones if they were to represent Goliaths brothers.
3. David didn't kill ANY of Goliath's brothers. (David was only battle  were Ishbibenob died (2 Samuel 21:15-17). That means he didn't even see four of the giants die.)

Here are a few reasons that are more likely.

• Just in case...

I am sure David was scared before be killed Goliath. Yes, he was full of faith, but he could have a few extra rocks with him in case he missed. Even if he didn't have any doubt, he would still know that sometimes you have to hard fight to win. David might have been anticipating a miss or two. Or he might have several in case the first rock hit Goliath, but didn't take him down.

• Afterwards
  

Even if David knew he would kill Goliath on the first strike, there's still what happens after. He didn't know how the Philistines would respond to the death of their hero, and he might have had a few rocks on him just in case they tried to attack him.

• Five different stones types

Another thing I've heard before is that David selected five different types of rocks (Hard ones, softer ones, shinier ones, ones made of different substances etc.) and then trusted God to have him grab the type of rock God wanted into his sling.

I can't answer your question with a simple yes or no because the scripture doesn't say. As long as you idea is within what the bible tells us, anything goes for this particular instance. 

Photo Credit:
http://baptistsermon.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/11/

Goliath had a brother?

I normally use the NIV translation of the bible on my blog, but in this post, I am using the KJV because it is the first translation into English and these passages are easiest in the KJV. 

• Giant #1: Ishbibenob

Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint. And Ishbibenob, which [was] of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear [weighed] three hundred [shekels] of brass in weight, he being girded with a new [sword], thought to have slain David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

2 Samuel 21:15-17

• Giant #2: Sippai

And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, [that was] of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.

1 Chronicles 20:4

• Giant #3: Lahmi

And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff [was] like a weaver's beam.

1 Chronicles 20:5

And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew [the brother of] Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear [was] like a weaver's beam.

2 Samuel 21:19

• Giant #4: Saph

And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which [was] of the sons of the giant.

2 Samuel 21:18

• Giant #5: The 12 Finger Man

And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of [great] stature, whose fingers and toes [were] four and twenty, six [on each hand], and six [on each foot]: and he also was the son of the giant. But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him.
1 Chronicles 20:6-7

And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of [great] stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.
2 Samuel 21:20-21

• Conclusion

These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

2 Samuel 21:22

These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

2 Samuel 21:22 NIV

These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

1 Chronicles 20:8

These were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

1 Chronicles 20:8 NIV

Here are a few things I got from these verses:

1. These 5 are brothers 
2. Lahmi (Giant #3) is the brother of Goliath the Gittite (a Gittite was one from Gath)
3. Goliath from 1 Samuel 17:4 (The "David and Goliath" giant) is from Gath

Therefore, these five giants are brothers of Goliath.

Have you ever wondered why David chose five stones?
Check out this post!

Photo Credit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goliath