8
column translation, usually marked with a special notation. Origin states that the purpose
for the Hexapla was to assist Christian apologists in their disputes with Jews over biblical
texts. He intended it to be used by scholars in scholarly discussions. However, over time
the critical notations were dropped and Origin's fifth column became a popular Old
Testament used extensively in the Eastern Churches, probably something that Origin
himself never intended.
8
Nonetheless, as in the case of Symmachus' translation, Origin's
use of the variant "six cubits and a span" is substantial evidence that the Hebrew
manuscript that he had access to reflected the proto-MT tradition and had Goliath's
height as "six cubits and a span."
Jerome's fourth century AD Latin translation (the Vulgate), which follows the
Hebrew proto-MT faithfully, likewise puts Goliath at six cubits and a span. The Vulgate
gradually grew in popularity in the Western churches and eventually became the
"received text" for the Western churches, thus codifying the 9'9" giant into Western
culture.
Another variant reading is reflected in Codex Venetus, an eight century AD text
that normally follows Origin's Hexapla. In 1 Samuel 17:4, however, this codex lists
Goliath's height as "five cubits and a span." This sole source, of course, is a weak
witness, and probably reflects an attempt to compromise between the two other variant
readings. Or perhaps this was an attempt to harmonize with 1 Chronicles 11:23, which
mentions an Egyptian warrior that was "five cubits" (7'6"), although this explanation
seems unlikely.
So, in summary of the external evidence, we see that the variant reading of "six
cubits and a span" is not attested by any extant Hebrew witnesses any earlier than the 10
th
8
Jobes and Silva, 48-53.