Five Stone For Five Giants

Before David faced Goliath, he chose for himself five stones from the brook and placed them in his shepherd's bag.

"He took his stick in his hand

and chose for himself

 five smooth stones from the brook

and put them in the shepherd's bag

which he had."

1 Samuel 17:40 (NASB)

Only one stone was required for God to kill Goliath. David knew this. His faith in God was strong. Why then did he choose five?

"And David put his hand into his bag

and took from it a stone and slung it,

and struck the Philistine on his forehead.

And the stone sank into his forehead,

so that he fell on his face to the ground."

1 Samuel 17:49 (NASB)

According to the Scriptures, there were four other giants in Gath that fell by the hand of David and his servants. These four brothers were sons of a well-known giant who lived in Gath, but it was not Goliath.

"These four were born to the giant in Gath,

and they fell by the hand of David

and by the hand of his servants."

2  Samuel 21:22 (NASB)

One of the four giants is named elsewhere in Scriptures. He is Lahmi, who is stated as being a brother of Goliath.

And there was again war with the Philistines,

and Elhanan the son of Jair

struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite."

1 Chronicles 20:8 (NASB)

Therefore, Goliath had four brothers who were giants as well. David picked up five stones to kill all five giants. Not for one second, did David feel he might need five stones to kill Goliath. If the first stone didn't kill Goliath, David knew he was a goner.