According to Ginzberg's recounting, Judah found himself smack-dab in the middle of the allied kings' infantry. His immediate target? Jashub, the king of Tappuah.
Now, Jashub wasn't just any king. We're talking full iron and brass getup, head to toe. He was mounted on horseback, a master of the spear, able to hurl javelins accurately with either hand, both in front and behind him. A real force to be reckoned with. He sounds a little like Goliath. But Judah? He wasn't intimidated. He charged straight at Jashub.
And here’s where the story gets really interesting. Judah grabs a stone, a massive one weighing sixty sela'im (a unit of weight and currency in ancient times), and hurls it. We're told Jashub was one hundred and seventy-seven and one-third ells away – a considerable distance! Protected by his armor and raining down spears, he advanced on Judah. But Judah's aim was true. The stone struck Jashub's shield, unhorsing him.
You’d think that would be enough. Wrong. Jashub was quick. He scrambled to his feet, ready to fight, shield to shield, drawing his sword, aiming for Judah's head. Judah raised his own shield to parry, but it shattered under the king's powerful blow.
So, what do you do when your shield breaks against a fully armored king in the middle of a battlefield?
This is where Judah’s brilliance shines. He didn't panic. Instead, he wrested Jashub's own shield away from him and, with a swift move, swung his sword, severing Jashub's feet above the ankles. The king falls, his sword clattering to the ground, and Judah finishes the job, severing Jashub's head from his body.
Talk about a David and Goliath moment! It's a classic underdog story, a testament to courage, quick thinking, and the ability to adapt in the face of overwhelming odds.
What can we take away from this? Is it just a cool battle story? Or does it hint at something deeper? Perhaps it reminds us that even when we feel outmatched, when our defenses crumble, we still possess the capacity for ingenuity and strength. Even when facing giants.