Why choose five smooth stones?

[visionary]

David choose five, why not just one.. or seven.. is there a significance behind choosing five? Smooth I can understand..

 

[Thousandyear Stare]

I have thought at times that when the number 5 appears it may be referring to the 5 senses.

 

[TanteBelle]

David choose five, why not just one.. or seven.. is there a significance behind choosing five? Smooth I can understand..

I have heard one reasoning that when David heard about Goliath, he took one but when he heard that Goliath had 4 relatives who were also giants (this is scriptural), he took up the extra 4 stones. I don't know, but a possibility!

 

[visionary]

or... If David had just selected a single stone, he would have been putting God to a test.

 

[earagun]

I have heard one reasoning that when David heard about Goliath, he took one but when he heard that Goliath had 4 relatives who were also giants (this is scriptural), he took up the extra 4 stones. I don't know, but a possibility!

more than possibility, this is the reason for the five smooth stones, to put an end to Goliaths family, David and his famous figthting men killed alot of the giants

 

[visionary]

I agree.. Goliath had brothers--four of them (2 Samuel 21.19-22). David knew there could well be the possibility that when he killed Goliath that his four brothers might try to extract revenge. So David prepared himself: he picked up five stones, one for each of the Philistian brothers.

 

[TanteBelle]

or... If David had just selected a single stone, he would have been putting God to a test.

I'm curious, ma'am; how do you see that?

I agree.. Goliath had brothers--four of them (2 Samuel 21.19-22). David knew there could well be the possibility that when he killed Goliath that his four brothers might try to extract revenge. So David prepared himself: he picked up five stones, one for each of the Philistian brothers.

Yeah, that's more what I have in mind!

 

[visionary]

Think of it this way.... David comes to take up the challenge in the name of God. He takes one stone in the Lord's name... if that stone doesn't hit the target, then it all rests on God's shoulders.

1 Samuel 17:45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

What happened if that is not what God told him to do... like get the other four stones for his brothers. We will never know this side of heaven the details as to why David chose the five stones. Like was it a directive of God or was this a backup plan?

 

[JRSut1000]

Okay, time for some non-Scriptural and creative thinking time! You know how guns usually have a round of so many shots? Maybe 5 was the typical amount (couldn't pick up much more than that at a time maybe?) for a 'round of shots'.

 

[visionary]

Okay, time for some non-Scriptural and creative thinking time! You know how guns usually have a round of so many shots? Maybe 5 was the typical amount (couldn't pick up much more than that at a time maybe?) for a 'round of shots'.

So "Habit" could be the answer.

 

[branchofthevine]

I don't know if I'm allowed to post here, but the 5 stones could be symbolic of the 5 cities of the city state of the Philistine and how not just Goliath, but the entire Philistines will be destroyed, or killed.

 

[visionary]

On anther website that was talking about the five stones of David, said that they fused together to make one big stone to kill Goliath.

Rabbi Ginsburgh

 

[TanteBelle]

LOL! I am enjoying the creativity here, folks!

I don't know if I'm allowed to post here, but the 5 stones could be symbolic of the 5 cities of the city state of the Philistine and how not just Goliath, but the entire Philistines will be destroyed, or killed.

I reckon that we allow all folks here!

 

[razeontherock]

I don't know if I'm allowed to post here, but the 5 stones could be symbolic of the 5 cities of the city state of the Philistine and how not just Goliath, but the entire Philistines will be destroyed, or killed.

I think there's a lot of depth to this. Is Jesus not our Rock? 5 refers to Grace and Truth. Jesus was completely filled with both. How do we defeat the giants of our flesh, if not by the fullness of Christ?

 

[TanteBelle]

I think there's a lot of depth to this. Is Jesus not our Rock? 5 refers to Grace and Truth. Jesus was completely filled with both. How do we defeat the giants of our flesh, if not by the fullness of Christ?

Interesting idea, sir. Whether or not 5 scripturally relates to that, I can't tell; I'm not someone who's really delved into that area. But I tend to think that David's reasons might have been more 'physically needing' than that, but that is a personal opinion.

 

[pat34lee]

Maybe he just wanted his pouch filled before he started, in case other Philistines wanted to fight after Goliath. I doubt he used very small stones, so he wouldn't have been able to carry many.

 

[TanteBelle]

Maybe he had 5 slings and shot all five at once! Only one hit dead center though! LOL! I am joking, obviously! My apologies folks; keep 'em rolling!

 

[razeontherock]

But I tend to think that David's reasons might have been more 'physically needing' than that, but that is a personal opinion.

Of course. His own reasons, whether Goliath's brothers, or the cities, can be symbolic of his will, can they not? I think that's the point in the story; no one else in Israel was even willing to fight. And yet we always see another side to inclusion in Scripture, that of Divine intent.

 

[earagun]

Think of it this way.... David comes to take up the challenge in the name of God. He takes one stone in the Lord's name... if that stone doesn't hit the target, then it all rests on God's shoulders.What happened if that is not what God told him to do... like get the other four stones for his brothers. We will never know this side of heaven the details as to why David chose the five stones. Like was it a directive of God or was this a backup plan?

Let me get this straight!......a small shepard boy in a battle to the death with a Giant, whose spear, practically weighs more than his opponent, and your under the impression that this fight WASN'T COMPLETELY RESTING IN THE LORDS HANDS!.......like all bible stories, numbers mean things, and are in themselves a story, that is why God chose to record them, if the number of stones was irrelevent, we would not even had a record of it.

 

[JRSut1000]

I have to disagree earagun, I think we can place TOO much importance in numbers. Not every number in the Bible is symbolic. When we place too much emphasis on numbers and finding meaning behind every little thing, we can actually take away from the simplicity and straightforwardness of the Scriptures.

Can numbers be significant? Yes, many times! But not always.