What does 1 Samuel 17:54 mean?
ESV: And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.
NIV: David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.
NASB: And David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent.
CSB: David took Goliath’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put Goliath’s weapons in his own tent.
NLT: (David took the Philistine’s head to Jerusalem, but he stored the man’s armor in his own tent.)
KJV: And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
NKJV: And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.
Verse Commentary:
The head of Goliath, the giant and champion of the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:4–7), is a trophy of Israel's victory over their enemy (1 Samuel 17:1–3). It also proves that the seemingly invincible warrior has been bested by faith in Israel's unstoppable God (1 Samuel 17:46–47). David, a youth in shepherd's clothing (1 Samuel 17:33, 40) and confident in the Lord (1 Samuel 17:34–37), defeated the Philistine with one well-delivered stone (1 Samuel 17:49). David had declared that the "battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand" (1 Samuel 17:47). God did just that. After the stone crushed Goliath's skull, he fell on his face, where David took the giant's sword and decapitated him (1 Samuel 17:51).
Now David takes Goliath's head to Jerusalem. Scholars are divided about what exactly this means. At this moment in history, Israel did not control the walled city of Jerusalem. It was not yet the capital of Israel or the location of the temple. David's home in Bethlehem, however, was just a few miles from Jerusalem. It may be that David eventually took Goliath's head home to a suburb of Jerusalem to put on display. Some suggest that he took it and gave it to those occupying Jerusalem to show that the Philistine champion had been defeated in order to demoralize them. First, David will present the head to King Saul (1 Samuel 17:57).
In any case, the second part of the verse is clear. David kept Goliath's armor and weapons for himself as plunder from the battle. He put them in his own tent to keep them. Later, Goliath's sword will turn up again at the temple in Nob (1 Samuel 21:9).
Verse Context:
First Samuel 17:41–54 describes a world-renowned fight. Goliath is a Philistine giant armed with massive weapons. David is a teenager armed only with his shepherd's sling: a long leather strap used to throw hand-sized stones at deadly speed. Goliath mocks David, and the Lord. David replies by expressing faith and vowing to cut off Goliath's head. As the two approach each other, David slings a stone into Goliath's forehead, crushing the giant's skull. The Philistine falls, and David runs up to remove Goliath's sword, making good on his promise to behead the enemy. The Philistine army panics, flees, and the Israelite army follows to complete the victory.
Chapter Summary:
David, delivering food to his brothers at the Israelite army camp, hears the Philistine Goliath's defiant challenge. Single man combat could decide the battle, but no Israelite wanted to face the massive warrior. David is appalled that a Philistine would defy the armies of the living God. He volunteers to fight, and King Saul agrees. Before the battle, David declares that the Lord will give victory and thereby show the world that there is a God in Israel. David quickly kills and beheads Goliath. The Israelites chase the Philistines back to their own territory and plunder their camp. David brings Goliath's head to Saul.
Chapter Context:
Saul was made king of Israel (1 Samuel 9—10) and had many early successes (1 Samuel 11—14). However, his disobedience resulted in God's plan for a different king (1 Samuel 15). The prophet Samuel anointed David as this future monarch (1 Samuel 16:11–13). David has been serving as a musician for Saul (1 Samuel 16:18–21) and comes visit his brothers during a standoff between Israelite and Philistine forces. This leads to the famous story of David and Goliath. David's victory publicly triggers his rise to power, paralleled by Saul's collapse. In the end, Saul will die in disgrace (1 Samuel 31:4–7) and David will be appointed the new king of Israel (1 Samuel 2:45:1–3).
Book Summary:
First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.
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