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1. Where were the Philistines expanding into, when they encountered the armies of the Israelites?

Gladwell says that the Philistines were expanding from Crete into the valleys below the Judaean mountains where the Israelites lived. Gladwell says that the Philistines encountered the Israelites in the Valley of Elah, where they set up camp on the southern ridge.

2. How does Gladwell characterize Goliath’s size and equipment?

Gladwell says that Goliath is a six-foot-nine-inch giant who wears a bronze helmet and armor made of overlapping plates, which must have weighed a hundred pounds. Gladwell says that Goliath is armed with a thrusting javelin made of bronze, a short-range spear and a sword, and is accompanied by a shield bearer.

3. What does Gladwell say is the advantage David has over Goliath?

Gladwell says that David is agile and he is equipped to fight from a distance, with lightweight weapons that are deadly from a long range. For a warrior like Goliath, whose strength is brute force in one-on-one combat, this is a mismatch, especially when David can be so accurate with his stone and sling.

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