Editing Goliath (section)

==Composition of the Book of Samuel==
The [[Books of Samuel]], together with the books of [[Book of Joshua|Joshua]], [[Book of Judges|Judges]] and [[Books of Kings|Kings]], make up a unified history of Israel which biblical scholars call the [[Deuteronomistic History]]. The first edition of the history was probably written at the court of Judah's King [[Josiah]] (late 7th century BCE) and a revised second edition during the exile (6th century BCE), with further revisions in the post-exilic period.{{Sfn|Campbell|O'Brien|2000|p=2 and fn6}}{{sfn|Person|2010|p=10–11}} Traces of this can be seen in contradictions within the Goliath story, such as that between 1 Samuel 17:54, which says that David took Goliath's head to Jerusalem, although according to 2 Samuel 5 Jerusalem at that time was still a Jebusite stronghold and was not captured until David became king.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/17|title=1 Samuel, CHAPTER 17 &#124; USCCB|website=bible.usccb.org}}</ref>{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Not all scholars agree that the account in 1 Samuel 17:54 contradicts the one in 2 Samuel 5, and various explanations have been proposed as to why David would have brought Goliath's head to the Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem.{{sfn|Hoffmeier|2011|p=103}} Hoffmeier (2011), drawing on Ancient Near Eastern comparative data, suggests that David was performing a symbolic action intended to announce his victory over Goliath as well as to intimidate the Jebusites.{{sfn|Hoffmeier|2011|pp=104–108}}}}