The Tale of the Tape (Part 1)

The Tale of the Tape

There is a term in the sports world called “The Tale of the Tape.” This is a term commonly used in boxing and MMA style fights but used in other sports under a different name. In boxing, it is the prefight measurements of each competitor while in other sports it is essentially statistics given to compare two competitors or entities. The purpose of the comparison is to give the audience an idea of who has the greatest advantage during the fight. It should be noted that “The Tale of the Tape” is not the factor which decides the victor. The battle must still be fought. Throughout history there have more than a few times that the underdog has overcome the odds. One such occurrence is found in 1 Samuel.

THE VENUE

The setting for this battle is found in 1 Samuel 17. At the beginning of the chapter one would notice two opposing forced ready to do battle. “Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.” (1 Samuel 17:1-3). While this would seem like any number of normal battles which would be fought in the course of history, this battle stood apart for a number of reasons. Most battles are fought by two or more opposing armies. Instead this battle was to be decided by two men. This battle of strength was initiated by a Philistine soldier whom we will refer to as “The Challenger.”

THE CHALLENGER

“And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span…And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” (1 Samuel 17:4, 8-10). The premise of this battle was very simple. Goliath, the challenger, would battle with one man from the army of Israel. The winner of said battle would reign victorious over an entire nation. What was the reaction to said challenge? “When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid…And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.” (1 Samuel 17:11, 16). There was only one who was willing to accept the challenge.

THE CHAMPION

There was one person willing to accept the challenge made by Goliath. Was it Saul, the king of Israel? No. Jonathan? No. The only person willing to accept the challenge was a son of Jesse. Eliab? No. Abinadab? No. Shammah? No. In fact, it was not a member of Saul’s army who accepted the challenge but a young shepherd boy named David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons. David was sent by his father to run an errand. He was to deliver certain goods to his brothers and check on their well being. “And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.” (1 Samuel 17:23). Again, the army of Israel cowered as Goliath spoke. David, on the other hand, did not. After being told of the gifts to be given to the man who defeated Goliath David essentially asks, “Who does this Philistine think he is to challenge God’s army?” “And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:32).

Now that we know the two combatants, we will examine the Tale of the Tape next week.