Goliath

Goliath the Gittite, is the most well-known giant in the Bible. He is described as 'a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, whose height was six cubits and a span' (1 Samuel 17:4).

Goliath is not a Hebrew name. Some say that the name means “Lion-man”. As for whether he was really a giant, there is textual variation between Masoretic Text and the Septuagint. The first says his height was about 6′9″ (2.06 m), while the second says 9′9″ (2.97 m). So according to the Septuagint he was on the tall side, but within the realm of normality, while according to the Masoretic Text he was truly a giant.

Pseudohistory has it that Goliath is a descendant from the old Rephaim, of whom remnants took refuge in the city of Gath. Regardless, "He had a giant brother too, and several other giant relatives" (1 Chronicles 20).

Those of Gath in the ancient Philistine Pentapolis (“Gaza; Ashdod; Ashkelon; Ekron, and Gath” jointly constituting Philistia during the Iron Age) were called “Gittites” rather than Hittites, for the Philistines had conquered the Hittites and dominated the land at the time during Israel’s early tribal period in Canaan.

Noteworthy that David, while running from Saul, escaped to Gath, and served under its King Achish, later-on six hundred Gittites came with him into Jerusalem as his men with Ittai at their head. (2 Samuel 15:18; 15:19; 18:2).

Although the suffix “ite” often denotes (natives of), the “Gittite” appellation for the Gath natives is amply self-descriptive of their Hittite background…

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Food for thought!