David's fame
As Goliath moves in to silence his brash opponent, David slings one of the stones with unerring accuracy. It strikes the Philistine on the forehead, perhaps killing him instantly (v. 49). David then removes Goliath’s sword from the scabbard and cuts off his head. Stunned by this turn of events, the Philistines flee back to their coastal cities with the Israelites in hot pursuit. As David had predicted in verse 46, many of the Philistines are killed along the way. David puts Goliath’s weapons in his own tent and later dedicates the sword to the Lord, taking it to the tabernacle (21:9) as a way of acknowledging that God gave him the victory. According to verse 54, David took Goliath’s head to Jerusalem. This may refer to a later time after David conquered Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:1–9) or it may mean that a number of Israelites already lived in Jerusalem. Since Jerusalem was a major city, it would have been a logical place to display a trophy of victory.
Saul’s questions about David’s identity seem peculiar in light of David’s earlier service as a court musician (16:18–23). Since David did not stay at the court permanently, however, it is possible that Saul had forgotten his name or at least the name of his father. Saul had promised tax exemption to the family of the one who killed Goliath (v. 25), so he has to find out the name of David’s father. Perhaps Saul wanted to honor David’s family in other ways as well.
Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Commentary on the Bible. Vol. 3. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995. Print. Baker Reference Library.
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