Was Goliath Stricken with Acromegaly?

[Radrook]

Most people who read the Bible don't consider Goliath, the unusually tall man that David killed as a man who was suffering from any illness. However, some have conjectured that he was actually stricken by acromegaly, a condition involving a brain tumor on the pituitary gland which provokes an excess production of growth hormone. I recently suggested this possibility on another discussion after having provided a links to a list of unusually tall people, some of whom had reached 8 feet 8 inches in height and was told that such a thing in reference to Goliath is far more unlikely than the possibility of abiogenesis. That struck me as rather strange. What is your opinion?

1 Sam 17:
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 an 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 weaver's beam; and his spear's 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, Why 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.

9 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.

The following article examines the pros and cons in this interpretation.
Slaying a biblically bad idea

 

[Winken]

I was on vacation at the time. Didn't get a chance to talk to his medical specialists.

 

[Fish Catcher Jim]

Most people who read the Bible don't consider Goliath, the unusually tall man that David killed as a man who was suffering from any illness. However, some have conjectured that he was actually stricken by acromegaly, a condition involving a brain tumor on the pituitary gland which provokes an excess production of growth hormone. I recently suggested this possibility on another discussion after having provided a links to a list of unusually tall people, some of whom had reached 8 feet 8 inches in height and was told that such a thing in reference to Goliath is far more unlikely than the possibility of abiogenesis. That struck me as rather strange. What is your opinion?

The following article examines the pros and cons in this interpretation.
Slaying a biblically bad idea

Let's just stick to what the word says.
There were many giants and if a brain tumor would have been the cause then scripture would tell us
Blessings
FCJ

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Seems like a huge coincidence if it was a brain tumor that it killed him at exactly the same moment David's rock struck his big fat head

 

[Radrook]

I was on vacation at the time. Didn't get a chance to talk to his medical specialists.

Darn! I was hoping for an expert opinion! Maybe a few brain-scan results and post mortem autopsy results as well!

 

[JackRT]

Beyond 7 feet tall most giants are pathological. The largest non-pathological giant in recent times was Angus MacAskill (1825-'63) who stood 7'9" and 425 lbs. Past that height, co-ordination becomes a severe problem because of the time delay of neural impulses from brain to muscle. I would very much doubt that Goliath was as large as the claimed 6 cubit (9 ft) height.

 

[Winken]

Darn! I was hoping for an expert opinion! Maybe a few brain-scan results and post mortem autopsy results as well!

If only we all could have been in the grandstand!

 

[Radrook]

Let's just stick to what the word says.
There were many giants and if a brain tumor would have been the cause then scripture would tell us
Blessings
FCJ

I agree 100% so my effort isn't to in any way disprove the Biblical account. I just can't figure out why it should ne so hard for atheists to believe that this man could attain that height. One described his height as making him incapable of even walking around normally and being helplessly vulnerable to anyone who would chance to come along and brain him. In his view, even a healthy midget could have walked up to Goliath and killed him. This goes contrary to how this Chinese fellow was professional basketball player at the height of approx. eight feet.

This guy is seven feet nine and seems pretty athletic to me!
Height : 7 ft 9 in
Sun Ming Ming is a Chinese basketball player. It has been argued that he is the tallest player to ever play professional basketball, although Guinness World Records indicates Libyan Suleiman Ali Nashnush was taller. Mingming stands 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) and weighing 370 lb (168 kg). Sun wears size 20 sneakers. He also makes occasional appearances as an actor.
Top 10 Tallest Athletes of All Time | Tallest Athletes of All Time

 

[Radrook]

Beyond 7 feet tall most giants are pathological. The largest non-pathological giant in recent times was Angus MacAskill (1825-'63) who stood 7'9" and 425 lbs. Past that height, co-ordination becomes a severe problem because of the time delay of neural impulses from brain to muscle. I would very much doubt that Goliath was as large as the claimed 6 cubit (9 ft) height.

So man as a mammal experiences time delay problems in neural transmission while other bipedal creatures such as T Rex, and Terror Birds who dwarf them didn't. Very strange!

This ape was 12 feet tall!
Gigantopithecus

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

I was on vacation at the time. Didn't get a chance to talk to his medical specialists.

You're not that old are you Winken?

 

[Ygrene Imref]

Most people who read the Bible don't consider Goliath, the unusually tall man that David killed as a man who was suffering from any illness. However, some have conjectured that he was actually stricken by acromegaly, a condition involving a brain tumor on the pituitary gland which provokes an excess production of growth hormone. I recently suggested this possibility on another discussion after having provided a links to a list of unusually tall people, some of whom had reached 8 feet 8 inches in height and was told that such a thing in reference to Goliath is far more unlikely than the possibility of abiogenesis. That struck me as rather strange. What is your opinion?



The following article examines the pros and cons in this interpretation.
Slaying a biblically bad idea

Golliath was a champion of the Philistine army. He was THE guy who could win wars if no one else could.

Acromegaly would not produce a champion of war. Persons with acromegaly suffer from neurosis, arthrosis, as well as impaired vision (because of the adenoma on the gland.) These are key handicaps that would not be heralded as profitable - especially as a champion fighter.

Golliath was a remnant of the Rephaim - one of several races of angel/human offspring (usually, one only hears about the nephilim.)

 

[Winken]

You're not that old are you Winken?

I ate grasshoppers between meals..........

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

I ate grasshoppers between meals..........

I just want to know if there is anyone in their eightees on here. The oldest I've seen is 74 so far. I'm thinking I'll be blind with dementia by then.

 

[Winken]

I just want to know if there is anyone in their eightees on here. The oldest I've seen is 74 so far. I'm thinking I'll be blind with dementia by then.

No, not if you have my genes. I'm up there, pardner.

 

[Ygrene Imref]

I agree 100% so my effort isn't to in any way disprove the Biblical account. I just can't figure out why it should ne so hard for atheists to believe that this man could attain that height. One described his height as making him incapable of even walking around normally and being helplessly vulnerable to anyone who would chance to come along and brain him. In his view, even a healthy midget could have walked up to Goliath and killed him. This goes contrary to how this Chinese fellow was professional basketball player at the height of approx. eight feet.

This guy is seven feet nine and seems pretty athletic to me!
Height : 7 ft 9 in
Sun Ming Ming is a Chinese basketball player. It has been argued that he is the tallest player to ever play professional basketball, although Guinness World Records indicates Libyan Suleiman Ali Nashnush was taller. Mingming stands 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) and weighing 370 lb (168 kg). Sun wears size 20 sneakers. He also makes occasional appearances as an actor.
Top 10 Tallest Athletes of All Time | Tallest Athletes of All Time

This person isn't a champion of war that was fought with breastplate, swords and clubs - in addition to long walking treks and arduous pressure on the joints. As you can see in the picture, ming has a knee brace on, because as a human, his size categorically qualifies him for arthrosis. The prominent brow is also a symptom of adenoma on the gland, and if he didn't developed it already he is on his way to other ailments. Their lifetime in the NBA is rarely more than a decade. And, although basketball is 48 minutes of running on hard floor, it still isn't arduous and gruelling battle on front lines.

 

[Radrook]

I just want to know if there is anyone in their eightees on here. The oldest I've seen is 74 so far. I'm thinking I'll be blind with dementia by then.

Maybe it's better to be blind with dementia by then.

 

[JackRT]

I just want to know if there is anyone in their eightees on here. The oldest I've seen is 74 so far. I'm thinking I'll be blind with dementia by then.

74, c'est moi.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

74, c'est moi.

I'll need to reread your posts. No signs of dementia detected yet.

 

[JackRT]

I'll need to reread your posts. No signs of dementia detected yet.

You are too kind. No need to reread my posts, just ask my wife. Mine is a very special time of life when your age and IQ pass each other moving in opposite directions.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

I ate grasshoppers between meals..........

I need to follow your example then. Instead of eating choc. biscuits.