1 Samuel 17:17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:12-30

Forty days the two armies lay encamped facing one another, each advantageously posted, but neither forward to engage. Either they were parleying and treating of an accommodation or they were waiting for recruits; and perhaps there were frequent skirmishes between small detached parties. All this while, twice a day, morning and evening, did the insulting champion appear in the field and repeat his challenge, his own heart growing more and more proud for his not being answered and the people of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:17

And Jesse said unto David his son ,.... His youngest son, that was at home with him keeping sheep; he had three more at home, and who were elder than David, and yet he is directed by the providence of God to pick and send him on the following errand, there being work for him to do Jesse knew nothing of: take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn ; pointing to a quantity of it in a certain place; this was wheat or barley dried in a furnace or oven, and ground into meal, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:12-19

Cooperation in spiritual warfare. The facts are— 1 . Three of Jesse's sons are with the army opposing the Philistines. 2 . David, being relieved from attendance on Saul, keeps the flock at Bethlehem. 3 . Jesse sends David to the camp with provisions, and instructs him to look after the welfare of his brethren. It is possible that Jesse may have surmised that some considerable developments would soon arise out of Samuel's recent visit to Bethlehem and the wonderful interest... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:16-19

The Philistine .... presented himself. I.e. took his stand (see on 1 Samuel 10:23 ; 1 Samuel 12:7 , 1 Samuel 12:16 ). This verse takes up the narrative, disturbed by the inserted explanation about David's family relations. The extraordinary formation of the ground, as described in 1 Samuel 17:3 , shows how it was possible for this challenge to go on for forty days without either army advancing or retiring. During this long time it seems to have been the business of the friends at... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 17:17-18

1 Samuel 17:17-18. Jesse said, Take now for thy brethren, &c. He thought provisions might be scarce with them. But, having other sons at home with him, it was, no doubt, through a divine influence that he sent David from the sheep upon this errand. Carry these ten cheeses unto the captain Whose favour might be very serviceable to them. And take their pledge That is, bring me some token of their welfare. Perhaps Jesse and his sons had fixed on some pledge between them, that they... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 17:1-58

Goliath’s challenge and defeat (17:1-58)The Philistines again assembled their troops to fight against Israel (17:1-3). As often happened in ancient warfare, the invaders challenged the defenders by calling for a contest between the champions of the two sides (4-11). At this time David was back on his father’s farm at Bethlehem, for he did not need to remain at Saul’s court when Saul was away directing affairs on the battlefield (12-16).When circumstances later brought David to the scene of the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 17:17

ephah . See App-51 . read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 17:17

17. Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves—In those times campaigns seldom lasted above a few days at a time. The soldiers were volunteers or militia, who were supplied with provisions from time to time by their friends at home. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 17:1-58

2. The reason for God’s selection of David ch. 17The exciting story of David and Goliath illustrates what it was that God saw in David’s heart that led Him to choose David for the position of king. It also shows how and why others in Israel began to notice David. David fought the Lord’s battles, as Samuel did (ch. 7). He also did so as Saul, God’s previously anointed king, had done (chs. 10-11, 14-15).Saul’s defeat of the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:1-11) followed Saul’s anointing (1 Samuel 10:1).... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 17:12-25

The reason for David’s presence at the battle 17:12-25At this time in his life David was assisting Saul as his armor-bearer when he was not tending his father’s sheep (1 Samuel 17:15). Moses, too, had been tending sheep before God called him to shepherd His people Israel (Exodus 3:1). The site of battle was 15 miles due west of David’s hometown, Bethlehem. The Old Testament writers sometimes used "Ephratah" (1 Samuel 17:12), an older name for Bethlehem, to distinguish the Bethlehem in Judah... read more

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