[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.54,0:00:02.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I wanted to tell a story
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.57,0:00:05.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that really obsessed me when I was writing my new book,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.29,0:00:08.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's a story of something that happened
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.13,0:00:10.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,3,000 years ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.41,0:00:13.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when the Kingdom of Israel was in its infancy.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.07,0:00:15.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it takes place in area called the Shefala
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.94,0:00:18.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in what is now Israel.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.70,0:00:20.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the reason the story obsessed me is that
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.95,0:00:24.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought I understood and then I went back over it
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.99,0:00:27.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I realized that I didn't understand it at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.16,0:00:32.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ancient Palestine had, along its eastern border,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.65,0:00:34.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's a mountain range.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.61,0:00:36.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Still same is true of Israel today.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.72,0:00:38.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in the mountain range are all of the ancient cities
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.80,0:00:42.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of that region, so Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.92,0:00:45.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then there's a coastal plain
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.75,0:00:49.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,along the Mediterranean, where Tel Aviv is now.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.27,0:00:52.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And connecting the mountain range with the coastal plain
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.18,0:00:54.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is an area called the Shefala,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.44,0:00:58.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is a series of valleys and ridges that run east to west,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.53,0:01:02.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you can follow the Shefala, go through the Shefala
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.40,0:01:04.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get from the coastal plain to the mountains.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.79,0:01:06.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the Shefala, if you've been to Israel, you'll know
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.90,0:01:09.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's just about the most beautiful part of Israel.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.05,0:01:11.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's gorgeous, with forests of oak
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.76,0:01:13.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and wheat fields and vineyards.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.96,0:01:17.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But more importantly, though, in the history of that region,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.40,0:01:21.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's served, it's had a real strategic function,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.09,0:01:23.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that is, it is the means by which hostile armies
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.85,0:01:26.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the coastal plain find their way,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.42,0:01:30.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,get up into the mountains and threaten those living in the mountains.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.25,0:01:33.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And 3,000 years ago, that's exactly what happens.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.02,0:01:37.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Philistines, who are the biggest of enemies
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.46,0:01:39.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the Kingdom of Israel,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.74,0:01:42.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are living in the coastal plain.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.45,0:01:44.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're originally from Crete. They're a seafaring people.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.53,0:01:46.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they may start to make their way
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.72,0:01:48.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through one of the valleys of the Shefala
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.96,0:01:50.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up into the mountains,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.99,0:01:52.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because what they want to do is occupy the highland area
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.97,0:01:56.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,right by Bethlehem and split the Kingdom of Israel in two.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.38,0:01:59.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the Kingdom of Israel, which is headed by King Saul,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.06,0:02:01.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,obviously catches wind of this,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.14,0:02:03.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Saul brings his army down from the mountains
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.90,0:02:07.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he confronts the Philistines in the Valley of Elah,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.91,0:02:10.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one of the most beautiful of the valleys of the Shefala.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.17,0:02:13.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the Israelites dig in along the northern ridge,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.23,0:02:17.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the Philistines dig in along the southern ridge,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.34,0:02:20.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the two armies just sit there for weeks
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.22,0:02:22.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and stare at each other, because they're deadlocked.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.62,0:02:25.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Neither can attack the other, because to attack the other side
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.08,0:02:27.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you've got to come down the mountain into the valley
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.98,0:02:30.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then up to the other side, and you're completely exposed.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.19,0:02:33.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So finally, to break the deadlock,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.22,0:02:35.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Philistines send their mightiest warrior
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.78,0:02:37.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,down into the valley floor, and he calls out
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.82,0:02:40.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he says to the Israelites,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.02,0:02:42.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Send your mightiest warrior down,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.06,0:02:44.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we'll have this out, just the two of us."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.57,0:02:48.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was a tradition in ancient warfare called single combat.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.07,0:02:50.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was a way of settling disputes
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.20,0:02:53.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without incurring the bloodshed of a major battle.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.77,0:02:57.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the Philistine who is sent down,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.27,0:02:59.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their mighty warrior, is a giant.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.45,0:03:01.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He's 6 foot 9.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.59,0:03:05.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He's outfitted head to toe in this glittering bronze armor,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.94,0:03:08.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he's got a sword and he's got a javelin
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.80,0:03:11.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he's got his spear. He is absolutely terrifying.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.54,0:03:14.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he's so terrifying that none of the Israelite soldiers
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.78,0:03:17.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,want to fight him.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.03,0:03:20.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a death wish, right? There's no way they think they could take him.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.56,0:03:22.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And finally the only person who will come forward
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.96,0:03:25.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is this young shepherd boy,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.65,0:03:28.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he goes up to Saul and he says, "I'll fight him."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.70,0:03:31.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Saul says, "You can't fight him. That's ridiculous.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.16,0:03:33.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're this kid. This is this mighty warrior."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.49,0:03:35.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the shepherd is adamant. He says, "No, no, no,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.93,0:03:38.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you don't understand, I have been defending my flock
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.74,0:03:43.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,against lions and wolves for years. I think I can do it."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.14,0:03:46.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Saul has no choice. He's got no one else has come forward.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.11,0:03:48.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So he says, "All right."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.17,0:03:49.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then he turns to the kid, and he says,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.97,0:03:52.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"But you've got to wear this armor. You can't go as you are."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.57,0:03:54.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So he tries to give the shepherd his armor,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.34,0:03:56.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the shepherd says, "No."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.72,0:03:58.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He says, "I can't wear this stuff."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.88,0:04:02.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Biblical verse is, "I cannot wear this for I have not proved it,"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.96,0:04:05.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,meaning, "I've never worn armor before. You've got to be crazy."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.83,0:04:08.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So he reaches down instead on the ground
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.74,0:04:10.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and picks up five stones
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.80,0:04:13.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and puts them in his shepherd's bag
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.07,0:04:17.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and starts to walk down the mountainside to meet the giant.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.27,0:04:19.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the giant sees this figure approaching,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.68,0:04:22.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and calls out, "Come to me so I can feed your flesh
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.48,0:04:26.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.93,0:04:29.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right? He issues this kind of taunt towards this person
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.89,0:04:32.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,coming to fight him.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.02,0:04:34.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the shepherd draws closer and closer,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.83,0:04:38.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the giants sees that he's carrying a staff.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.34,0:04:40.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's all he's carrying. Right?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.32,0:04:42.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead of a weapon, just this shepherd's staff,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.18,0:04:44.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he says, he's insulted,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.20,0:04:47.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Am I a dog that you would come to me with sticks?"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.54,0:04:50.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the shepherd boy takes one of his stones
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.00,0:04:53.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,out of his pocket, puts it in his sling
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.06,0:04:55.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and rolls it around and lets it fly
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.86,0:04:58.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it hits the giant right between the eyes,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.39,0:05:00.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like, right here, in his most vulnerable spot,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.66,0:05:03.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he falls down either dead or unconscious,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.47,0:05:05.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the shepherd boy runs up and takes his sword
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.84,0:05:08.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and cuts off his head,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.06,0:05:12.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the Philistines see this and they turn and they just run.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.46,0:05:17.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And of course, the name of the giant is Goliath
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.39,0:05:20.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the name of the shepherd boy is David,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.31,0:05:22.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the reason that story has obsessed me
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.93,0:05:25.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over the course of writing my book
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.09,0:05:27.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that everything I thought I knew about that story
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.94,0:05:30.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,turned out to be wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.24,0:05:33.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So David, in that story, is supposed to be the underdog.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.94,0:05:36.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right? In fact, that term, "David and Goliath,"
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.50,0:05:38.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has entered our language a metaphor for
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.85,0:05:41.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,improbable victories
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.16,0:05:44.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by some weak party over someone far stronger.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.27,0:05:46.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now why do we call David an underdog?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.39,0:05:49.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, we call him an underdog because he's a kid,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.54,0:05:53.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a little kid, and Goliath is this big, strong giant.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.35,0:05:55.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We also call him an underdog
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.48,0:05:58.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because Goliath is an experienced warrior,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.65,0:06:00.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and David is just a shepherd. Right?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.99,0:06:03.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But most importantly, we call him an underdog
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.11,0:06:07.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because all he has is, it's that Goliath is outfitted with
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.76,0:06:10.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of this modern weaponry, right,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.49,0:06:12.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this glittering coat of armor
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.68,0:06:15.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a sword and a javelin and a spear,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.78,0:06:19.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all David has is this sling.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.05,0:06:21.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, let's start there with the phrase
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.49,0:06:24.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"All David has is this sling,"
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.02,0:06:26.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because that's the first mistake that we make.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.59,0:06:30.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In ancient warfare, there are three kinds of warriors.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.47,0:06:33.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's cavalry, men on horseback and with chariots.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.28,0:06:35.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's heavy infantry, which are foot soldiers,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.96,0:06:39.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,armed foot soldiers with swords and shields
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.65,0:06:41.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and some kind of armor.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.69,0:06:44.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there's artillery, and artillery are archers,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.27,0:06:46.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but, more importantly, slingers.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.52,0:06:49.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And a slinger is someone who has a leather pouch
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.27,0:06:52.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with two long cords attached to it,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.39,0:06:55.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they put a projectile, either a rock or a lead ball,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.49,0:06:58.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,inside the pouch, and they whirl it around like this
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.58,0:07:01.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they let one of the cords go,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.53,0:07:04.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the effect is to send the projectile forward
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.63,0:07:08.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,towards its target.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.41,0:07:11.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's what David has, and it's important to understand
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.18,0:07:14.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that that sling is not a slingshot.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.04,0:07:17.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not this, right? It's not a child's toy.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.29,0:07:20.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's in fact an incredibly devastating weapon.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.73,0:07:23.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When David rolls it around like this,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.71,0:07:27.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he's turning the sling around probably
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.07,0:07:29.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at six or seven revolutions per second,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.92,0:07:33.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that means that when the rock is released,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.13,0:07:35.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's going forward really fast,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.50,0:07:37.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,probably 35 meters per second.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.42,0:07:40.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's substantially faster than a baseball
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.73,0:07:44.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thrown by even the finest of baseball pitchers.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.19,0:07:48.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,More than that, the stones in the Valley of Elah
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.14,0:07:50.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were not normal rocks. They were barium sulphate,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.79,0:07:54.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which are rocks twice the density of normal stones.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.48,0:07:56.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you do the calculations on the ballistic,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.92,0:08:00.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the stopping power of the rock fired from David's sling,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.65,0:08:02.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's roughly equal to the stopping power
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.98,0:08:07.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of a 45 mm handgun. Right.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.36,0:08:09.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is an incredibly devastating weapon.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.87,0:08:13.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Accuracy, we know from historical records
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.93,0:08:18.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that slingers, experienced slingers could hit
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.10,0:08:24.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and maim or even kill a target at distances of up to 200 yards.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.61,0:08:27.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From medieval tapestries, we know that slingers
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.40,0:08:30.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were capable of hitting birds in flight.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.32,0:08:32.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were incredibly accurate.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.45,0:08:36.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When David lines up, and he's not 200 yards away from Goliath,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.31,0:08:38.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he's quite close to Goliath,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.32,0:08:40.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when he lines up and fires that thing at Goliath,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.92,0:08:44.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he has every intention and every expectation
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.14,0:08:46.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of being able to hit Goliath at his most vulnerable spot
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.82,0:08:48.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between his eyes.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.95,0:08:50.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you go back over the history of ancient warfare,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.95,0:08:53.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you will find time and time again
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.26,0:08:57.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that slingers were the decisive factor against infantry
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.06,0:09:01.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in one kind of battle or another.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.09,0:09:06.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what's Goliath? He's heavy infantry,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.05,0:09:11.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and his expectation when he challenges the Israelites to a duel
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.18,0:09:15.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that he's going to be fighting another heavy infantryman.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.06,0:09:17.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right? When he says, "Come to me that I might
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.41,0:09:20.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feed your flesh to the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field,"
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.14,0:09:22.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the key phrase is "Come to me."
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.36,0:09:24.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Come up to me because we're going to fight,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.36,0:09:26.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hand to hand, like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.44,0:09:28.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Saul has the same expectation.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.55,0:09:30.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,David says, "I want to fight Goliath,"
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.69,0:09:32.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Saul tries to give him his armor,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.85,0:09:35.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because Saul is thinking, "Oh, when you say 'fight Goliath'
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.17,0:09:38.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you mean 'fight him in hand-to-hand combat,'
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.25,0:09:40.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,infantry on infantry."
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.48,0:09:43.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But David has absolutely no expectation.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.49,0:09:46.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He's not going to fight him that way. Why would he?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.22,0:09:49.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He's a shepherd. He's spent his entire career
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.23,0:09:53.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,using a sling to defend his flock against lions and wolves.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.43,0:09:55.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's where his strength lies.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.64,0:09:58.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here is, this shepherd, experienced
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.30,0:10:00.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the use of a devastating weapon,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.33,0:10:02.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up against this lumbering giant
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.36,0:10:05.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,weighed down by a hundred pounds of armor
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.15,0:10:07.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and these incredibly heavy weapons
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.39,0:10:09.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are useful only in short range combat.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.90,0:10:14.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Goliath is a sitting duck. He doesn't have a chance. Right?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.87,0:10:17.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So why do we keep calling David an underdog,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.42,0:10:23.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and why do we keep referring to his victory as improbable?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.42,0:10:26.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a second piece of this that's important.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.34,0:10:29.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not just that we misunderstand David
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.37,0:10:31.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and his choice of weaponry.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.57,0:10:34.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's also that we profoundly misunderstand Goliath.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.90,0:10:37.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Goliath is not what he seems to be.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.72,0:10:40.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's all kinds of hints of this in the Biblical text,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.80,0:10:44.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,things that are in retrospect quite puzzling
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.92,0:10:48.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and don't square with his image as this mighty warrior.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.51,0:10:51.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So to begin with, the Bible says that Goliath
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.06,0:10:55.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is led onto the valley floor by an attendant.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.80,0:10:58.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now that is weird, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.26,0:11:00.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here is this mighty warrior
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.28,0:11:03.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,challenging the Israelites to one-on-one combat.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.20,0:11:06.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why is he being led by the hand
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.12,0:11:08.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by some, you know, young boy, presumably,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.82,0:11:11.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the point of combat?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.42,0:11:15.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Secondly, the Bible story makes special note
Dialogue: 0,0:11:15.64,0:11:18.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of how slowly Goliath moves,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.86,0:11:21.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,another odd thing to say when you're describing
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.07,0:11:24.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the mightiest warrior known to man at that point. Right?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.72,0:11:26.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then there's this whole weird thing
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.89,0:11:30.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about how long it takes Goliath to react
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.21,0:11:32.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the sight of David.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.72,0:11:35.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So David's coming down the mountain,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:35.12,0:11:39.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he's clearly not preparing for hand-to-hand combat.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.29,0:11:41.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right? There is nothing about him that says,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.44,0:11:43.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I am about to fight you like this."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.58,0:11:45.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He's not even carrying a sword.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.57,0:11:47.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why does Goliath not react to that?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:47.90,0:11:51.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's as if he's oblivious to what's going on that day.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.93,0:11:55.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then there's that strange comment he makes to David:
Dialogue: 0,0:11:55.65,0:11:59.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Am I a dog that you should come to me with sticks?"
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.92,0:12:03.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right? Sticks? David only has one stick.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.06,0:12:06.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, it turns out that there's been a great deal
Dialogue: 0,0:12:06.25,0:12:09.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of speculation within the medical community over the years
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.05,0:12:12.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about whether there is something wrong,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.09,0:12:14.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fundamentally wrong with Goliath,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.71,0:12:17.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an attempt to make sense of all of those apparent anomalies.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.95,0:12:19.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There have been many articles written.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:19.97,0:12:23.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first one was in 1960 in the Indiana Medical Journal,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.07,0:12:25.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it started a chain of speculation
Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.23,0:12:28.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that starts with an explanation for Goliath's height.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:28.100,0:12:31.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Goliath is head and shoulders above
Dialogue: 0,0:12:31.43,0:12:34.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of his peers in that era,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.00,0:12:37.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and usually when someone is that far out of the norm,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.59,0:12:39.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's an explanation for it.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.88,0:12:42.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the most common form of giantism
Dialogue: 0,0:12:42.20,0:12:45.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a condition called acromegaly,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.15,0:12:48.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and acromegaly is caused by a benign tumor
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.16,0:12:50.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on your pituitary gland
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.42,0:12:53.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that causes an overproduction of human growth hormone.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.28,0:12:56.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And throughout history, many of the most famous giants
Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.57,0:12:58.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have all had acromegaly.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.83,0:13:01.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the tallest person of all time
Dialogue: 0,0:13:01.02,0:13:02.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was a guy named Robert Wadlow
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.99,0:13:05.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who was still growing when he died at the age of 24
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.10,0:13:08.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he was 8 foot 11.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:08.40,0:13:10.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He had acromegaly.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:10.39,0:13:12.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do you remember the wrestler Andre the Giant?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:12.48,0:13:14.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Famous. He had acromegaly.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.45,0:13:18.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's even speculation that Abraham Lincoln had acromegaly.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.68,0:13:20.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right? Anyone who's unusually tall,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.90,0:13:23.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's the first explanation we come up with.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.00,0:13:25.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And acromegaly has a very distinct set of side effects
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.96,0:13:28.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,associated with it,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.03,0:13:31.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,principally having to do with vision.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:31.19,0:13:34.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The pituitary tumor, as it grows,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:34.48,0:13:38.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,often starts to compress the visual nerves in your brain,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:38.53,0:13:41.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the result that people with acromegaly
Dialogue: 0,0:13:41.05,0:13:45.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have either double vision or they are profoundly nearsighted.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:45.88,0:13:49.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when people have started to speculate
Dialogue: 0,0:13:49.10,0:13:52.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about what might have been wrong with Goliath,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:52.12,0:13:54.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they've said, "Wait a minute,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.07,0:13:56.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he looks and sounds an awful lot like someone
Dialogue: 0,0:13:56.43,0:13:58.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who has acromegaly."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.54,0:14:00.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that would also explain so much of what was strange
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.93,0:14:03.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about his behavior that day.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:03.12,0:14:05.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right? What does he move so slowly
Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.23,0:14:08.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and have to be escorted down into the valley floor
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.47,0:14:10.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by an attendant?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:10.46,0:14:12.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because he can't make his way on his own. Right?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.77,0:14:15.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why is he strangely oblivious to David
Dialogue: 0,0:14:15.03,0:14:18.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that he doesn't understand that David's not going to fight him
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.29,0:14:20.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until the very last moment?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:20.87,0:14:23.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because he can't see him. Right?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:23.38,0:14:26.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When he says, "Come to me that I might feed your flesh
Dialogue: 0,0:14:26.34,0:14:28.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field,"
Dialogue: 0,0:14:28.91,0:14:33.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the phrase "Come to me" is a hint also of his vulnerability.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:33.83,0:14:36.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Come to me because I can't see you. Right?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:36.28,0:14:41.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then there's, "Am I a dog that you should come to me with sticks?"
Dialogue: 0,0:14:41.15,0:14:46.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He sees two sticks when David has only one.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:46.44,0:14:49.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the Israelites up on the mountain ridge
Dialogue: 0,0:14:49.54,0:14:52.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,looking down on him thought he was
Dialogue: 0,0:14:52.21,0:14:55.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this extraordinarily powerful foe.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:55.57,0:14:57.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What they didn't understand was that
Dialogue: 0,0:14:57.68,0:15:00.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the very thing that was the source of his apparent strength
Dialogue: 0,0:15:00.61,0:15:04.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was also the sources of his greatest weakness.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:04.17,0:15:06.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there is, I think, in that,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:06.62,0:15:09.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a very important lesson for all of us.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:09.47,0:15:13.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Giants are not as strong as powerful as they seem.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:13.47,0:15:16.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And sometimes the shepherd boy has a sling in his pocket.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:16.97,0:15:19.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:19.34,0:15:23.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)