2013-02-15
Explanation
This comic reimagines the origin of the biblical story of David and Goliath. In the first panel, set in a heavenly or ancient scene, one figure says to another: "I need to write a story about how science and technology will allow mankind to overcome brute force." This establishes the story of David and Goliath as an intentional parable about technological ingenuity (David'''s sling) defeating raw physical power (Goliath'''s size and strength).
In the second panel, labeled "Later...", a child asks a rabbi: "Rabbi, what'''s the story of David and Goliath about?" The rabbi responds: "This one time, we kicked the Philistines''' asses." The joke is that the intended allegorical meaning about science and technology triumphing over brute force has been completely lost over the centuries. Instead, the story has been reduced to a simple nationalistic narrative about military victory -- "we beat those guys."
This reflects a real tension in biblical scholarship between allegorical and literal interpretations of scripture. The comic suggests that even if ancient stories were crafted with sophisticated philosophical themes in mind, popular understanding inevitably flattens them into simple, triumphalist narratives. It is also a commentary on how the lessons of history are frequently oversimplified in their retelling.
The votey panel shows a diagram comparing "shoulder to projectile distance" for David (~150 cm, with a long sling) versus Goliath (~100 cm, with a short arm), reinforcing the original author'''s intended point that David'''s technological advantage (the sling giving him greater range) was the real key to his victory, not divine favor or personal bravery.