Aikev: Knowing and hearing

Aikev: Knowing and hearing

verse 9:2 says You have known and you have heard that," who can stand up against the children of giant?" 

You have known and you have heard. What does hearing add to knowing?  How did you know before you heard? 

Belief can precede the reinforcement of hearing" the fact" from others, You can fell that you know something before the comfort of learning that others believe as you do.  The verse implies that agreement is stronger than belief, a statement is more likely true if other people believe it, as well.  A statement is more likely true if it is canon, repeated as a teaching, validated by the authorities, published. 

The sense of knowing can precede the synthesis needed to hear a statement.   The fear of the giant is instinctive, adaptive.  Hearing that one can stand up to an overwhelming force is counter intuitive, unbelievable, maladaptive. Learning to run from the giant reinforces a self preserving instinct.  Hearing the abstraction: run from the giant- helps formulate a plan for survival. 

The  great thing about this verse : what you knew and what you heard - are wrong.  There is an alternative .  When you only come up to the ankle of the giant, smite his ankle... he will fall hard ( if Gd helps you.). 

Do not trust what you believe.  Be careful whom you listen to