1 Samuel 31:9

“And they cut off his head, etc.] And fastened it in the temple of Dagon, (<131010>1 Chronicles 10:10); perhaps that which was at Ashdod, one of the principalities of the Philistines, (<090501>1 Samuel 5:1,2); and stripped off his armour; or vessels f572, his clothes as well as his armour, and what he had about him; as for his crown on his head, and the bracelet on his arm, the Amalekite took them before the Philistines came, (<100110>2 Samuel 1:10); and sent into the land of the Philistines round about: not his head and his armour, for they were placed in the temple of their idols; unless we can suppose these were first carried about for show, and as proofs of the victory: but rather…”

“Cut off his head - As the Israelites did by Goliath, and fastened it in the temple of Dagon, Ch1 10:10. Idols - To give them the glory of this victory. And by this respect shewn to their pretended deities, how do they shame those, who give not the honour of their achievements to the living God? 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 31:12”

“31:9 In the ancient world, the death of an enemy king was good news, for it meant that the enemy’s god had been defeated. However, little did the Philistines know that their victory would be short-lived and hollow. David, the Lord’s true anointed king, would soon come to power and pay back the Philistines mightily. Far from defeating Israel’s God, the Philistines were simply fulfilling his purpose.”

“cut off: Sa1 31:4, Sa1 17:51, Sa1 17:54; Ch1 10:9, Ch1 10:10 to publish: Jdg 16:23, Jdg 16:24; Sa2 1:20 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 31:10”