20 And David H1732 rose up early H7925 in the morning, H1242 and left H5203 the sheep H6629 with a keeper, H8104 and took, H5375 and went, H3212 as Jesse H3448 had commanded H6680 him; and he came H935 to the trench, H4570 as the host H2428 was going forth H3318 to the fight, H4634 and shouted H7321 for the battle. H4421
And David H1732 arose, H6965 and came H935 to the place H4725 where Saul H7586 had pitched: H2583 and David H1732 beheld H7200 the place H4725 where Saul H7586 lay, H7901 and Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner, H5369 the captain H8269 of his host: H6635 and Saul H7586 lay H7901 in the trench, H4570 and the people H5971 pitched H2583 round about H5439 him.
For G3754 the days G2250 shall come G2240 upon G1909 thee, G4571 that G2532 thine G4675 enemies G2190 shall cast G4016 a trench G5482 about G4016 thee, G4671 and G2532 compass G4033 thee G4571 round, G4033 and G2532 keep G4912 thee G4571 in G4912 on every side, G3840
And Eliab H446 his eldest H1419 brother H251 heard H8085 when he spake H1696 unto the men; H582 and Eliab's H446 anger H639 was kindled H2734 against David, H1732 and he said, H559 Why camest thou down H3381 hither? and with whom hast thou left H5203 those H2007 few H4592 sheep H6629 in the wilderness? H4057 I know H3045 thy pride, H2087 and the naughtiness H7455 of thine heart; H3824 for thou art come down H3381 that thou mightest see H7200 the battle. H4421
So David H1732 and Abishai H52 came H935 to the people H5971 by night: H3915 and, behold, Saul H7586 lay H7901 sleeping H3463 within the trench, H4570 and his spear H2595 stuck H4600 in the ground H776 at his bolster: H4763 but Abner H74 and the people H5971 lay H7901 round about H5439 him.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Samuel 17
Commentary on 1 Samuel 17 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 17
David is the man whom God now delights to honour, for he is a man after his own heart. We read in the foregoing chapter how, after he was anointed, Providence made him famous in the court; we read in this chapter how Providence made him much more famous in the camp, and, by both, not only marked him for a great man, but fitted him for the throne for which he was designed. In the court he was only Saul's physician; but in the camp Israel's champion; there he fairly fought, and beat Goliath of Gath. In the story observe,
1Sa 17:1-11
It was not long ago that the Philistines were soundly beaten, and put to the worse, before Israel, and they would have been totally routed if Saul's rashness had not prevented; but here we have them making head again. Observe,
1Sa 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 Israel more and more timorous, while God designed hereby to ripen him for destruction and to make Israel's deliverance the more illustrious. All this while David is keeping his father's sheep, but at the end of forty days Providence brings him to the field to win and wear the laurel which no other Israelite dares venture for. We have in these verses,
1Sa 17:31-39
David is at length presented to Saul for his champion (v. 31) and he bravely undertakes to fight the Philistine (v. 32): Let no man's heart fail because of him. It would have reflected too much upon the valour of his prince if he had said, Let not thy heart fail; therefore he speaks generally: Let no man's heart fail. A little shepherd, come but this morning from keeping sheep, has more courage than all the mighty men of Israel, and encourages them. Thus does God often send good words to his Israel, and do great things for them, by the weak and foolish things of the world. David only desires a commission from Saul to go and fight with the Philistine, but says nothing to him of the reward he had proposed, because that was not the thing he was ambitious of, but only the honour of serving God and his country: nor would he seem to question Saul's generosity. Two things David had to do with Saul:-
1Sa 17:40-47
We are now coming near this famous combat, and have in these verses the preparations and remonstrances made on both sides.
1Sa 17:48-58
Here is,