"GIANTS?"
FACT OR FICTION:
This is a visually stunning picture!
This is a picture that has found its way into a series of e-mails that are circulating around.
There are several others floating around with it:
In addition to the pictures, these e-mails have a couple of texts that accompany them, note:
Version 1:
"This is my first time
seeing this even hearing about it. A long time friend of mine sent it today.
The best I can tell is that it is the area of the Greek Hellenistic
influence around the time when Alexander The Great died in 323 BC. When
David slew Goliath of Gath, he was reported to be a Philistine. The Bible
isn't detailed except to say Goliath had 4 kinsmen and maybe these are some
of his kinsmen or countrymen as mentioned, rather than just a big
Philistines.
giants from the days of the bible..."
[This one also included a map of the area in where these archeological digs supposedly took place]
Version 2:
"I thought this was
really cool, how scientist keep finding proof of biblical stories!
Remember the old testament story of how the Israelites were afraid because
of the GIANTS in the land of Canaan .
Numbers 13:33 There we saw the GIANTS (the descendants of Anak came from the
GIANTS); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in
their sight."
Version 3:
" GIANT ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIND IN GREECE
These astounding photos are from a recent archaeological discovery in Greece ; This totally unexpected find furnishes proof of the existence of "Nephilim". Nephilim is the word used to describe the giants spoken of in biblical times by Enoch as well as the giant David fought against (Goliath). It is generally believed that most of these Giants came about when the fallen angels had union with earthly woman. Note the incredible size of the skull...
Gen 6:4
There were giants on earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons
of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bear children to
them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
Num 13:33
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the
giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in
their sight ." [This one also includes a map of an area in Greece , where
this archaeological site is located]
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The Truth
(according to truthorfiction.com):
The photos
are computer manipulated contest entries by a digital artist called
IronKite. The pictures were taken from a web site that hosts photo contest
submissions called Worth1000, according to a December 14, 2007 National
Geographic article.
The article said IronKite's photos came in third place in the 2002 "Archaeological Anomalies 2" competition.
Now, The Biblical Truth:
There are two Hebrew words used in the Old Testament that have been translated into the English, "Giants":
• 'Nephilim'. This word is used in Genesis 6:4; Numbers 13:33. This word actually means, 'fallen or mighty ones' and was used in the Hebrew to describe men of violence, those that roamed from place to place, a lawless people, robbers, and tyrants. The use of the word to describe a people as mighty and violent, was often strictly the perspective of the people using the word (this is the case in Numbers 13:33 - the spies sent into Canaan to consider the coming wars with these people in order to eradicate them from the land God was giving them; saw these people as fierce and were afraid, except Joshua and Caleb).
• 'Rephaim'. This word is used in Deuteronomy 2:11 (describing a people called the ' Anakim '); and Deuteronomy 3:11 (describing king Og of Bashan). This word means 'large' or 'powerful'. Again, the everyday use of this word was contingent on the perspective of the user.
Consider if you lived in 1940, and was walking down the street and witnessed this man:
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Tallest Man |
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The tallest man
in medical history for whom there is irrefutable evidence is Robert
Pershing Wadlow. He was born at Alton , Illinois , USA , on February
22, 1918, and when he was last measured on June 27, 1940, was found
to be 2.72 m (8 ft 11.1 in) tall. |
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The same could be said for Bao Xishun of China , at 7'9" tall; Leonid Stadnik, at 8'5" tall, or Sultan Kosen of Turkey, at 8'1" tall. To come across any of these individuals; it is safe to say that we would be using the term giant. In my lifetime, I am among many who marveled at Andre The Giant. At 7'4" tall and 500 lbs., he was an awe-inspiring site.
The terms in the Old Testament used, were purely the perspective of the people using them. We know for a certainty that height was admired among the people of the Bible, as we can read how king Saul was admired for his height (1 Samuel 9:2; 16:7). In addition, we can understand that some of the Canaanites were a people larger in frame and average size than the average man of Israel , thus the Anakim, Zamzummim (Deuteronomy 2:20), or any other large people would have been to the people of Israel; giants!
There were also individual anomalies such as king Og of Bashan (Deuteronomy 2:11). His bed was approx. 13 and a half feet long, and 6 feet wide (a real king size bed!). Goliath of the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:4), who was at least 9 feet tall.
With the perspective of the people as the standard for the use of the terms, we can see that the use of the words were well within the parameters of large people of our own day (NFL, NBA, WWF, WWE, etc...), including anomalies (like those listed above).
In addition, some times the first word was used to describe a general demeanor and behavior of the people as much as size.
These are the facts!