Biblical Hebrew Forum

[<david.kimbrough AT charter.net>]

The Hoplites were solders, not warriors.  Hoplites fought as a team, 
interlocking their shields, suppporting each other with their spears.  They 
did not engage in combat as individuals away from their lines.  The key 
element of hoplite tactics was sticking with the phalanx.

The opposite was true for warriors.  It was quite common in the undisiplined 
armies of warriors for a chamipion to advance ahead his fellows and challange 
the enemy to individual combat (e.g. Sun Tzu in the *Art of War* & Homer in 
the *Illiad* both record this activity).

This type of *manu a manu* fighting is also recorded in the Egyptian tale of 
Sinhue.


> 
> From: "Yigal Levin" <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il>
> Date: 2004/07/02 Fri AM 11:07:07 GMT
> To: "b-hebrew" <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Shield-bearer 1 Samuel 17:41
> 
> I have heard Finkelstein make that claim - that Goliath, armor and all, is
> modeled on Greek hoplite mercenaries that the 7th century (or later) that
> the writer might have been familiar with. Could be. On the other hand, what
> do we know of 10th century Philistine tactics?
> 
> Yigal
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <RGmyrken AT aol.com>
> To: <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Friday, July 02, 2004 4:38 AM
> Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Shield-bearer 1 Samuel 17:41
> 
> 
> > Dear Brian,
> >
> >    I Sam. 17:41 clearly reflects Hellenistic hoplight military tactics, in
> > which a shield-bearer was standard.  The description of Goliath's weaponry
> is
> > also consistent with such an interpretation.  Please see any standard work
> on
> > the Hellenistic armies.
> >
> > Best regards,
> > Russell Gmirkin
> >
> > > My confusion is based on how it could have worked that two of them would
> > > be approaching David. I understand the idea of an armour-bearer to carry
> > > weapons etc. for a warrior, but surely when he is actually going to
> > > battle the armour-bearer then gives the armour to the warrior.
> > >
> > >
> >
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> >
> >
> 
> 
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David Kimbrough
San Gabriel