As a devout theologian, I have always been intrigued by stories in the Bible whereby the characters demonstrated great faith. One of these stories is that of David and Goliath. It deeply fascinates me how a young shepherd boy killed a massive giant. Some years back, I took a trip to Jerusalem and visited the site where the battle between David and Goliath took place. The experienced theologians who doubled as our tour guides even explained what may have happened after Goliath’s death. In my theology class, one of my students was curious to know the fate of Goliath’s soul after he was killed. She wondered if he had made it to heaven. Having extensive knowledge of the subject, I had all the answers. So, did Goliath go to heaven?
There is no solid evidence to indicate if Goliath went to heaven. Biblical scholars believe he probably did not go to heaven since he constantly dishonored God. According to scripture in 1 Samuel 17:10, Goliath defied the Israelite armies. Since Israel was God’s chosen nation, defiling them was a great offense against God.
In this article, join me in delving deeper into discovering more about the intriguing character that was Goliath. Get to know whether he was one of the Nephilim, what happened to his head, and if religious scholars believe he went to heaven. Read on to find out about these and more.
Was Goliath one of the Nephilim?
No, he was not. There is no specific scripture that mentions Goliath being a Nephilim. However, in 1 Samuel 17:4-7, Goliath is described to be about six cubits tall, he wore a bronze armor that weighed five thousand shekels, and he carried an iron spear that weighed six hundred shekels. According to modern measurements, his height would be about three meters, his bronze armor would weigh fifty-eight kilograms, and his iron spear would weigh six kilograms.
Considering this, even though Goliath was not a Nephilim, he was gigantic.
Why did David slay Goliath?
David slayed Goliath because Goliath had defied the armies of Israel. According to 1 Samuel 17:10, Goliath, a Philistine, appeared before the Israelites and asked that a man be chosen to fight against him. He constantly taunted the Israelites and went on to defy God’s name and the Israelite army.
David had taken offense to that, and driven by his faith in God, he chose to fight against Goliath. Scripture in 1 Samuel 17:45 states that David told Goliath that even though he came against him with a javelin, sword, and spear, David came against him in the name of the Lord, whom Goliath had defied.
What happened to Goliath’s head?
After David had killed Goliath, he cut off his head. Scripture does not exclusively mention what David did with Goliath’s head.
According to 1 Samuel 17:51-54, after David had killed Goliath, he cut off his head and brought it to Jerusalem. Scripture does not reveal what happened to it thereafter.
Regardless, Biblical scholars believe that Goliath’s head was buried on the outskirts of Jerusalem, the same place where Jesus was crucified. This place is known as Golgotha, and Biblical scholars believe that this name is similar to Goliath. Therefore, his head may have been buried there.
Do religious scholars believe that Goliath went to heaven?
No, they do not. Goliath constantly defied God. In the book of 1 Samuel 17:8-10, Goliath constantly taunted the Israelites and defied God. Israel was God’s chosen nation; therefore, anybody who went against it was going against God.
Since the events of David and Goliath happened in the Old Testament times, which was before the coming of Christ, people could not receive salvation through Christ. According to John 14:6, Jesus referred to as the truth, way, and life, and the only way to get to heaven.
In the Old Testament, one’s righteousness was determined by their devotion and faith in God, as well as how much they followed the laws God had given them.
When Goliath’s words and actions are measured against these standards, scholars assume that he probably did not go to heaven since he constantly dishonored God.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
