1 Samuel 17:53

53 Then the {Israelites} returned from pursuing [the] Philistines and plundered their camp.

1 Samuel 17:53 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:53

And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the
Philistines
The remainder that escaped having got into their fortified cities:

and they spoiled their tents;
which they left in their camp, all their armour, goods, money, and provisions, they found there, they seized upon as their prey and booty; these they did not stay to meddle with as soon as the Philistines fled, but first pursued them, and slew as many of them as they could, and then returned to the spoil; which was wisely done.

1 Samuel 17:53 In-Context

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

52 The men of Israel and Judah got up, raised the war cry, and pursued [the] Philistines {as far as} the valley and up to the gates of Ekron. So the slain of [the] Philistines fell on the way to Shaaraim up to Gath and as far as Ekron.

53 Then the {Israelites} returned from pursuing [the] Philistines and plundered their camp.

54 And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem and placed his weapons in his tent.

55 Now when Saul saw David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Whose son [is] this young man, Abner?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know."

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"