1 Samuel 17:54

54 Forsooth David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it into Jerusalem; soothly he putted his armours in the tabernacle of the Lord (but he put Goliath's arms, or his weapons, in his own tent).

1 Samuel 17:54 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:54

And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to
Jerusalem
After he had been introduced with it to Saul, and when he had passed through various cities in Israel, carrying the head in triumph; where he was congratulated by the women, who came out singing and dancing, and speaking highly in his commendation and praise: why he carried it to Jerusalem is not easy to say, this not being a royal city, nor was it wholly in the hands of the Israelites; part of it indeed was in the possession of Judah and Benjamin, but the stronghold of Zion was possessed by the Jebusites; and it is generally thought that it was to the terror of them that the head of Goliath was carried there. R. Joseph Kimchi thinks, that Nob, where the tabernacle was at this time, was surnamed Jerusalem, but for what reason cannot be said:

but he put his armour in his tent;
not where the army was encamped before the engagement; for David had not his tent there, and beside the camp broke up upon this victory obtained; but rather in his tent or apartment at Bethlehem, when he returned thither, and where he laid up the armour he took from Goliath; though Abarbinel thinks, and so other Jews F17, that by his tent is meant the tabernacle of the Lord, called David's, because of his attachment to it; and certain it is that the sword of Goliath was either now, or at least hereafter, laid up there, see ( 1 Samuel 21:9 ) ; where all that went to sacrifice might see it, and call to mind this wonderful instance of the power and goodness of God, and praise him for it.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 Hieron. Trad. Heb. in lib. Reg. fol. 76. E.

1 Samuel 17:54 In-Context

52 And the sons of Israel and of Judah rose up together, and cried [out], and pursued the Philistines, till the time they came into the valley, and unto the gate(s) of Ekron. And the wounded men of the Philistines fell down in the way of Shaaraim, and unto Gath, and unto Ekron (And the wounded men of the Philistines fell down on the way to Shaaraim, and unto Gath, and unto Ekron).
53 And the sons of Israel turned again, after that they had pursued the Philistines, and they assailed their tents. (And the Israelites returned, after that they had pursued the Philistines, and they looted their camp.)
54 Forsooth David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it into Jerusalem; soothly he putted his armours in the tabernacle of the Lord (but he put Goliath's arms, or his weapons, in his own tent).
55 Forsooth in that time in which Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, [the] prince of his chivalry, Abner, of what generation is this young man? And Abner said, King, thy soul liveth, I know not. (Now at the time when Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the leader of his cavalry, or his army, Abner, whose son is this young man? And Abner said, O king, as thy soul liveth, I do not know.)
56 And the king said, Ask thou, whose son this boy is.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.