Goliath's Forty-Day Taunt and His Challenge Against the Man of War

Midrash Shmuel 20:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"And he stood and called to the ranks of Israel, etc." (1 Samuel 17:8). Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish [interpreted this]. Rabbi Yochanan said: He said to them, "Do you not say that the fetus is formed in forty days? Behold, I am waiting for you forty days." "Choose for yourselves a man and let him come down to me" (ibid.). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: So shall it be regarding his reward. Rather, he said: That One of whom it is written, "The LORD is a man of war" (Exodus 15) — "Give me a man and let us fight together" (1 Samuel ibid. 10).

Themes

WarDavidWarriorFloodWisdom

Biblical References

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