MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE SAND

Some wingers reply to the charges of torture by saying something like "at least we didn't behead them" and as a result, I've been a little curious about the tradition of beheading. As is often the case, the Old Testament provides a classic example in the story of David versus Goliath:

1 Samuel
Revised Standard Version
17:48
When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

17:49
And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone, and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

17:50
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him; there was no sword in the hand of David.

17:51
Then David ran and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath, and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

17:52
And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Sha-ara'im as far as Gath and Ekron.

There are five other examples in the Books of Samuel.