Bible Strands
1 Samuel 21:9
The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want, you may take it. For there is no other but this one here.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ahimelech the priest speaks to David at Nob, responding to David’s urgent request for a weapon before fleeing Saul (1 Samuel 21:8). David immediately accepts the offered sword before continuing his flight to Achish in Gath (1 Samuel 21:10).
The words — The text highlights חֶרֶב (cherev, sword) and הִכִּיתָ (hikkita, you struck down) to identify the weapon and its origin. These terms directly reference the specific event at the Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:50).
The thread — The sword’s storage behind the ephod links to priestly provisions (Exodus 28:6), while its presence at the Valley of Elah recalls the battle where Saul and Israel arrayed themselves against the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:2). David’s prior victory without a blade (1 Samuel 17:50) now precedes his pragmatic acceptance of one for survival.
Why it lands — The verse records a factual inventory of a stored weapon, noting its location behind the ephod and its history with Goliath. It requires the reader to observe the shift from a past deliverance achieved without arms to a present tactical necessity.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 17:2 Saul and the men of Israel assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, arraying themselves for battle against the Philistines.
- Exodus 28:6 They are to make the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn.
- 1 Samuel 17:50 Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
- 1 Samuel 31:10 They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and hung his body on the wall of Beth-shan.