1 Samuel 17:53 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp.

NIV: When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.

NASB: Then the sons of Israel returned from their close pursuit of the Philistines, and plundered their camps.

CSB: When the Israelites returned from the pursuit of the Philistines, they plundered their camps.

NLT: Then the Israelite army returned and plundered the deserted Philistine camp.

KJV: And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

NKJV: Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents.

Following David's defeat of Goliath (1 Samuel 17:48–50), the Philistine soldiers abandoned their camp and ran for the safety of their walled cities to the west (1 Samuel 17:51). The armies of Israel chased down and presumably killed as many of the Philistines as they could (1 Samuel 17:52).

Now the Israelite soldiers return to the Philistine camp to collect their belongings and provisions as the plunders of battle. The right to plunder the enemy's belongings after a victory motivated many men to participate in battle. It was also one of the ways the Lord provided for His people when rescuing them from the hands of their enemies.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Accessed 3/28/2025 6:26:31 PM