I have always thought of Goliath as the size of Shaquille O'Neal -- around 7' 3"and 305 lbs. I met him in Orlando when he was 20 yrs old, and I never realized a proportional human could be so huge.
For the size of Goliath I think he was definitely around 9'. First, Saul was stated to be a whole head taller than any other Jew. So he is around 6' tall (probably a few inches taller). Saul was a great warior and even he was terrified to fight Goliath. If Goliath was under 7' tall that means there would probably have only been about 6" or so between their height. I don't see a seasoned warrior king being that scared of someone who is only half a foot taller. For reference I am 6' tall and had a roommate in college who was 7' tall. Sure I might be a little scared to enter combat with him but do I think if I were a seasoned warrior I would be so scared I would refuse to fight? Probably not. He is tall but not so tall victory seems impossible. Second, the weight of Goliath's gear is just too heavy for someone who is only 6'9". His gear is more than double the normal weight of weapons and armor for the period. Goliath would have to have insane strength to be able to wield them effectively for any amount of time. We have also found relics of massive weapons like spear heads near there. If Goliath and his relatives were really giants (at least over 8') then the use of the weapons and armor described in the Bible makes more sense. Third, yes many things in the Bible seem extraordinary. I think the giants are part of that. I also believe in a young earth and a global flood but I think Goliath's size is much easier to explain. Not all 7'+ tall people are frail. Look at Shaq, he was strong and angile. I think Goliath was built like that but taller. That is why an entire army was terrified to fight. Lastly kind of on another topic, sure David didn't have army combat training but he had to fight wild animals and the sling he used takes a tremendous amount of technical skill. He was not just some guy with no skills at all. God had prepared David for that moment and David trusted God to protect him as He had always done. Still an incredible act of faith and shows his courage but sometimes people like to act as if David was a little kid with absolutely no relevant skills and he just miraculously picked up a sling and killed Goliath. David showed faith and courage but we are never told of a miracle being performed to give David the skills/strength to use a weapon he had never used before.
No one over 8ft tall would be able to wield Goliath's weapons. A strongman around 7 to 7 and a half feet tall absolutely would be. But stand a 5'11" guy (Saul's probably height) next to someone like Hafthor or Shaq who is a known killer armed with such heavy weaponry and see who intimidates who physically. ;-)
As long as we can't know for sure how long exactly the cubit used was we will not know. But (from memory) the longer cubit still put Goliath at over 8 feet tall from 4 cubits and a span. And you kind of mix being tall and being a giant, you can be tall and no giant ! But just look a André the Giant at just over 7 feet,, but 500+ pound frame.. Now how much of a stretch is it to imagine Goliath being just a foot and some taller and bigger than André the Giant ? You have to remember also that who is in charge here is God, the Almighty, and God works to create epic things, and that include historic events, and I don't mean embellishments ! It is my belief that Goliath was, by God's wishes the biggest and tallest that a human being can ever ever be, and to show his (God's) glory and might in giving the victory to a simple Shepperd ! Some times God goes epic ! You think the parting of the see was just a small stream ? Understand this, God chose something huge to make a point, he is the almighty !
This account tells us more about Saul and his height compared to Goliath and the short height of David. Worth reading - "HEIGHT THEOLOGY: THE THEOLOGICAL USE OF LEXICAL AMBIGUITY IN THE DAVID AND GOLIATH STORY" AVINOAM SHARON
