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.
Sword of Goliath - (see the note at 1 Sam. 18:54 .)
Wrapped in a cloth, х luwTaah (H3874), covered, basimlaah (H8071), with the article. Whence it must mean some particular covering; elegant, embroidered, and sufficiently worthy to keep the consecrated memorials of a memorable victory.] Harmer thinks that, though the covering of the sword may refer to the scabbard, the probability is that it must be understood of something in which both sword and scabbard were wrapped up.
Behind the ephod - in the place allotted for keeping the sacred vestments, of which the ephod is mentioned as the chief. The giant's sword was deposited in that safe custody as a memorial of the divine goodness in delivering Israel.
If thou wilt take that, take it. Arms, though deposited as votive offerings in temples, might lawfully be taken, and very frequently were employed, when necessity required, in the public service.
There is none like that - not only for its size and superior temper, but for its being a pledge of the divine favour to him, and a constant stimulus to his faith. This incident forms the historic basis of Psalms 52:1-9, as appears from its traditional title.