how did David kill Goliath?

[.Mikha'el.]

1 Samuel 17:50-51

"So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it."

Verse 50 says that Goliath was struck by a stone and killed, but in verse 51, he is killed and decapitated. Both blows cannot have been fatal. So, was Goliath killed with a stone, or by his own sword?

 

[rocklife]

sometimes the bible describes the big picture, then goes into detail next. I believe that is what is happening in these verses.

Another example of this is Genesis, describing of creation week, it tells the big picture, then tells specifics about the day God created Adam and Eve in more detail a little later.

 

[CaiperLane]

1 Samuel 17:50-51

"So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it."

Verse 50 says that Goliath was struck by a stone and killed, but in verse 51, he is killed and decapitated. Both blows cannot have been fatal. So, was Goliath killed with a stone, or by his own sword?

I know it's confusing isn't it? In the Israelites view, there had to be proof of the death. So by drawing a sword and cutting off the head David could show proof of the slaying of the feared Goliath. And it was a way to make sure he was dead even though he appeared to be dead. That was also done with Christ on the cross. A sword was drawn and plunged into his side to assure his death. He had already died and they knew this. It was more like a stamp of approval or a recognition of the feath. Also the first "killed" may mean incapacitated permanently, (He was hit between his eyes above the bridge of the nose) but whichever view is correct the deed was done.

 

[daveleau]

sometimes the bible describes the big picture, then goes into detail next. I believe that is what is happening in these verses.

Yep, I agree. First, it says Goliath was struck and killed. Alone, one would think the stone killed him. The second verse tells us that it incapacitated him so David could kill him with the sword and then decapitate him.