The volume under review is a study of the biblical story of the battle of David and Goliath, attempting to suggest a cultural and historical context for its formation. Needless to say, the underlying context of this fascinating biblical narrative has often been discussed, with a wide range of suggested understandings—from a blanket acceptance of the story as reflecting the on-the-ground realia of early Iron Age Philistia and Judah to those who claim that it is a completely mythological story without any basis—and just about every option in between.
The author takes a very definitive approach to this topic, seeing it as a reflection of the many Greek mercenaries who served in the armies of Saite-period Egypt, during the seventh and sixth centuries BCE, prior to the Persian conquest of Egypt (525 BCE). Rodan believes that the entire background of this confrontation should be seen as an ideological statement of...
