Are there two Goliaths in the Bible?

Answer 1

No. There is only one biblical Goliath, a Philistine giant, but there are two different accounts as to how Goliath was killed. In 1 Samuel 17, it is the future King David who kills Goliath. In 2 Samuel 21:19, it is El-Hanan who slew Goliath.

In the face of this contradiction, the King James (KJV) translation of The Bible has added 'the brother of' [in italics to indicate that this was not an exact translation] to the second account, but most other English translations of the Book of Samuel seem to have continued with a literal translation of the original Hebrew version.

Answer:

There were "two Goliaths." The two "Samuel" accounts recording conflict with these Goliaths occurred at two different times in David's life.

The "I Samuel" account was the "young" David [the shepherd boy who went out alone to meet the first Goliath, with Saul and his frightened army looking on].

The "II Samuel" account took place toward the end of David's reign as king of Israel -- an older and wearier David... who had long led his own armies into battle.

The Philistine situation didn't go away with the death of the first Goliath. The town of Gath had produced a number of "giants" or "descendants of Rapha" [NIV].

"Once AGAIN there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down WITH HIS MEN [the young shepherd boy of I Samuel had no men of his own with him, and the ones hiding back out of sight were Saul's] to fight against the Philistines, and HE BECAME EXHAUSTED." (II Samuel 21:15 NIV)

This "older David" had little fight left in him... and might have been killed, had his men not stepped in to save him.

"...David's men swore to him, saying, 'Never again will you go out with us into battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.'" (verse 17)

All in all, according to the II Samuel 21 account -- "...in the course of time..." [verse 18]; these last times of David's reign in Israel -- other battles with "the descendants of Rapha" occurred in which FOUR DIFFERENT GIANTS were killed: "...at the hands of David and his men" (verse 22). And one of these was also named "Goliath."

"In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite KILLED GOLIATH the Gittite..." (verse 19).

It's not at all uncommon for "family members" to name children after other family members. And that goes for families of "giants," too.