Goliath's height in the manuscripts

Goliath. The Masoretic reads six cubits and a span, about nine feet nine. The Dead Sea Scrolls copy of Samuel, the Greek and Josephus all read four cubits and a span, about six feet nine.

In plain words

The standard Hebrew text gives Goliath about nine feet nine; the Dead Sea Scrolls copy of Samuel, the Greek and Josephus give about six feet nine. Where the witnesses split, the letter goes with the older ones, and here the older ones are also the smaller.

The mechanism

METHOD DEMONSTRATED — where the witnesses split, the older ones carry, and here the older ones are also the smaller ones

Scripture

1 Samuel 17:4

How it was checked

• EvidenceT6 PHYSICAL / MANUSCRIPT; Status: COMMITTED
• Letter eraTHE LINE HELD THROUGH HELL Abraham to Solomon, c. 2000 to c. 930 BC
• SourcesMANUSCRIPT — 4QSam-a, the Septuagint, Josephus against the Masoretic