When
the contestants or protagonists are greatly disproportionate to one
another, in that one enjoys a great physical or other advantage over the
other, it is usually referred to as a fight between David and Goliath.
This has become a part of our lingua franca, and serves as a
constant reminder that the stronger and the bigger does not always win
the fight. Remember how America was humiliated by the Vietcong in the
Vietnam war?
When the North Vietnamese invaded the United
States-sponsored South Vietnamese, a new line in the sand had been
crossed. What would follow next would be years of deadly warfare in the
skies and on land. The Vietnam Conflict would see the rise of the
turbofan-powered jet fighter that could handle multiple roles at speeds
topping Mach 2. The Vietnam War saw heavy use of bigger, faster and more
potent aircraft than ever before. Carpet bombing was taken to all new
heights (literally) and Napalm was used on massive scales to weed out an
enemy that could not be seen in the thick dense jungles. The United
States would employ aircraft armed with the latest in air-to-air homing
technology on platforms such as the Vought F-8 Crusader and the
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom.
*****
In the end, however, the United States lost the war. David prevailed over Goliath.
*****
The account of the duel between David and the giant Goliath is given in 1 Samuel,
chapter 17. The Philistine army had gathered for war against Israel.
The two armies faced each other, camped for battle on opposite sides of a
steep valley. A Philistine giant measuring over nine feet tall and
wearing full armor came out each day for forty days, mocking and
challenging the Israelites to fight. His name was Goliath. The giant
champion of the Philistines comes out between the lines and challenges
the Israelites to send out a champion of their own to decide the outcome
in single combat. Everyone was afraid of Goliath. He seemed invincible.
Not even King Saul, the tallest man in Israel, had stepped out to
fight. Also, the sides of the valley were very steep. Whoever made the
first move would have a strong disadvantage and probably suffer great
loss. Both sides were waiting for the other to attack first.
*****
One day David, the youngest son of Jesse, was sent to
the battle lines by his father to bring back news of his brothers.
David was probably just a young teenager at the time. While there, David
heard Goliath shouting his daily defiance and he saw the great fear
stirred within the men of Israel. David responded, "Who is this
uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of God?"
*****
So David volunteered to fight Goliath. It took some
persuasion, but King Saul finally agreed to let David fight against the
giant. Dressed in his simple tunic, carrying his shepherd's staff,
slingshot and a pouch full of stones, David approached Goliath. David
chose not to wear the King's armor because it felt cumbersome and
unfamiliar. David was comfortable with his simple slingshot, a weapon he
was skilled at using. The giant cursed at him, hurling threats and
insults. David didn't stop or even waver. Everyone else cowered in fear,
but David ran to the battle. He knew that action needed to be taken.
*****
As Goliath moved in for the kill, David reached into
his bag and slung one of his stones at Goliath's head. Finding a hole in
the armor, the stone sank into the giant's forehead and he fell face
down on the ground. David then took Goliath's sword, killed him and then
cut off his head. 1 Samuel 17:49 describes how David "took out a stone,
and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead … and he fell
on his face to the ground"; 17:50 describes how "David prevailed over
the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine,
and killed him"; 1 Samuel 17:51 describes how David "took [Goliath’s]
sword and drew it out of its sheath, and killed him, and cut off his
head with it."
*****
The shocked Philistines flee and are pursued by the Israelites "as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron"
chasing and killing them and plundering their camp. Gath, the
traditional home of Goliath, was one of the largest of the Philistine
cities until destroyed in the ninth century B.C., an event from which it
never recovered. David puts the armor of Goliath in his own tent, and
takes the head to Jerusalem. Saul sends Abner to bring David to him. The king asks whose son he is. David answers, ‘I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.’ " 
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