GIANTS
Giants in the Bible
The Nephilim were the children of the sons of God and the daughters of men. There are many ideas as to whom the 'sons of God' were who had relations with human women and produced "mighty men who were of old, men of renown" (Gen 6:5).(1) Genesis also mentions that the Nephilim were also after The Flood. The 'sons of God' have been interpreted as the God-believing people of the genealogy of Seth and as other created non-human beings such as angels. Personally, I think the former is correct as there are family lines of Nephilim after the flood.
In Numbers 13:33 it is mentioned that Joshua and the other spies who went into the Promised Land (Canaan) observed: "There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak (Anakim) are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."(1) Flavius Josephus states "They told them also that they found at Hebron the posterity of the giants".(2)
It is interesting to note that the spies also brought back some fruit from the land which included a single bunch of grapes, which had to be carried by two men. This suggests environmental conditions conducive to gigantism.
Later Joshua & Israel fight against the Anakim: Joshua 11:21-22 "Then Joshuah came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab and from all the hill country of Judah and from all of the hill country of Israel. Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. There were no Anakim left in the land of the sons of Israel; only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod remained some."(1)
The Nephilim were the children of the sons of God and the daughters of men. There are many ideas as to whom the 'sons of God' were who had relations with human women and produced "mighty men who were of old, men of renown" (Gen 6:5).(1) Genesis also mentions that the Nephilim were also after The Flood. The 'sons of God' have been interpreted as the God-believing people of the genealogy of Seth and as other created non-human beings such as angels. Personally, I think the former is correct as there are family lines of Nephilim after the flood.
In Numbers 13:33 it is mentioned that Joshua and the other spies who went into the Promised Land (Canaan) observed: "There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak (Anakim) are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."(1) Flavius Josephus states "They told them also that they found at Hebron the posterity of the giants".(2)
It is interesting to note that the spies also brought back some fruit from the land which included a single bunch of grapes, which had to be carried by two men. This suggests environmental conditions conducive to gigantism.
Later Joshua & Israel fight against the Anakim: Joshua 11:21-22 "Then Joshuah came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab and from all the hill country of Judah and from all of the hill country of Israel. Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. There were no Anakim left in the land of the sons of Israel; only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod remained some."(1)
David & Goliath
It is noteworthy that the most famous giant in history "Goliath", whom David slew, was from Gath (1 Samuel 17:4)(1). Flavius Josephus provides some details as to the largeness of this giant person: "Now there came down a man out of the camp of the Philistines, whose name was Goliath, of the city of Gath, a man of vast bulk, for he was of four cubits and a span in tallness, and he had about him weapons suitable to the largeness of his body, for he had a breastplate on that weighed five thousand sheckels: he had also a helmet and greaves of brass, as large as you would naturally suppose might cover the limbs of such a vast body. His spear was also such as was not carried as a light thing in his right hand, but he carried it as lying on his shoulders. He had also a lance of six hundred sheckels; and many followed him to carry his armor."
Other giants were also killed who came from Gath - 1 Chronicles 20:4-7 "...war broke out in Gezer (Gob) with the Philistines; then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the giants, and they were subdued. And there was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. And again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and he also was descended from the giants. And when he taunted Israel, Johnathan the son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him. These were descended from the giants at Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants."(1)
This is also repeated in 2 Samuel 21:16-22 in more detail:
"Then Ishbi-benob, who was among the descendants of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, was girded with a new sword, and he intended to kill David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him. ... Now it came about after this that there was war again with the Philistines at Gob; then Sabbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was among the descendants of the giant. And there was war with the Philistines again at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weavers beam. And there was war at Gath again, there was a man of great stature who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also had been born to the giant. And when he defied Israel, Johnathon the son of Shimei, David's brother, struck him down. These four were born to the giant."(1)
Note there appears to be a genetic trait of gigantism passed in genealogy, as the giants appear to be descended from a few family groups. There is also a genetic trait of polydactyly among the giants with the "man of great stature who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and he also was descended from the giants", associated with gigantism.
Other giants were also killed who came from Gath - 1 Chronicles 20:4-7 "...war broke out in Gezer (Gob) with the Philistines; then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the giants, and they were subdued. And there was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. And again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and he also was descended from the giants. And when he taunted Israel, Johnathan the son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him. These were descended from the giants at Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants."(1)
This is also repeated in 2 Samuel 21:16-22 in more detail:
"Then Ishbi-benob, who was among the descendants of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, was girded with a new sword, and he intended to kill David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him. ... Now it came about after this that there was war again with the Philistines at Gob; then Sabbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was among the descendants of the giant. And there was war with the Philistines again at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weavers beam. And there was war at Gath again, there was a man of great stature who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also had been born to the giant. And when he defied Israel, Johnathon the son of Shimei, David's brother, struck him down. These four were born to the giant."(1)
Note there appears to be a genetic trait of gigantism passed in genealogy, as the giants appear to be descended from a few family groups. There is also a genetic trait of polydactyly among the giants with the "man of great stature who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and he also was descended from the giants", associated with gigantism.
In Deuteronomy 3:11 it speaks about the large bed of Og King of Bashan, the last of the Rephaim (a tribe of Cannan): "(For only Og king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold his bedshead was an iron bedstead; it is in Rabbah of the sons of Ammon. Its length was nine cubits and its width four cubits by ordinary cubit)." Deuteronomy 2:10-11 "(The Emim lived there formerly, a people as great, numerous, and tall as the Anakim. Like the Anakim, they are also regarded as Rephaim, but the Moabites call them Emim." Also, Deuteronomy 2:20-21 describes the Rephaim: "(It is also regarded as the land of Rephaim, for Rephaim formerly lived in it, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummin, a people as great, numerous and tall as the Anakim, but the Lord destroyed them before them. And they dispossessed them and settled in their place."(1)
Giants reported in South America
The 1621 globe by William Jansz Blaeu portrays a giant man, appearing twice the size of a normal man, located in the land of Patagonia, South America. Many reports of giants, often red headed giants, have been recorded between the 1500's and 1700's in this region.(3)
In the 1520's Ferdinand Magellan reported Patagonian giants 15 feet tall (4.5m). The crew recall that they came up to the giant's waists in height.(3)
In 1577 Francis Fletcher sailing on the Golden Hind ship also reported these giants of Patagonia. Another report appears in 1591 when Anthony Knivet sailed around South America, reported giants 12 feet tall (4m). Again in 1766 John Byron aboard HMS Dolphin reported a tribe averaging 9 feet tall (2.7m).(3)
In the 1520's Ferdinand Magellan reported Patagonian giants 15 feet tall (4.5m). The crew recall that they came up to the giant's waists in height.(3)
In 1577 Francis Fletcher sailing on the Golden Hind ship also reported these giants of Patagonia. Another report appears in 1591 when Anthony Knivet sailed around South America, reported giants 12 feet tall (4m). Again in 1766 John Byron aboard HMS Dolphin reported a tribe averaging 9 feet tall (2.7m).(3)
References
1. New American Standard Bible (1993), Chain Reference, compiled and edited by F.C. Thompson, B.B Kirkbridge Bible Co. Inc., USA.
2. Flavius Josephus - The Complete Works, (1998) Nelson's Super Value Series, Translated by William Whiston, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville USA. Antiquities of the Jews, Flavius Josephus, (Circa 94 AD), 1.3.5-6. Note: Underlined words are supplied.
3. The Atlas of Legendary Lands, Judith A. McLeod, Pier 9 Publishers, Part 2, pp246-247.
I. Image: The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments books collection published in 1885, Stuttgart-Germany. Drawings by Gustave Dore.
1. New American Standard Bible (1993), Chain Reference, compiled and edited by F.C. Thompson, B.B Kirkbridge Bible Co. Inc., USA.
2. Flavius Josephus - The Complete Works, (1998) Nelson's Super Value Series, Translated by William Whiston, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville USA. Antiquities of the Jews, Flavius Josephus, (Circa 94 AD), 1.3.5-6. Note: Underlined words are supplied.
3. The Atlas of Legendary Lands, Judith A. McLeod, Pier 9 Publishers, Part 2, pp246-247.
I. Image: The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments books collection published in 1885, Stuttgart-Germany. Drawings by Gustave Dore.