1 Samuel 17:12-31
12 ▼ Now David was the son of this Ephrathite named Jesse from Bethlehem ▼ in Judah. He had eight sons, and in Saul’s days he was old and well advanced in years. ▼
▼ The translation follows the Lucianic recension of the LXX and the Syriac Peshitta in reading “in years,” rather than MT “among men.”
13Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to war. The names of the ▼▼ Heb “his.”
three sons who went to war were Eliab, his firstborn, Abinadab, the second oldest, and Shammah, the third oldest. 14Now David was the youngest. While the three oldest sons followed Saul, 15David was going back and forth ▼▼ Heb “was going and returning.”
from Saul in order to care for his father’s sheep in Bethlehem. 16 Meanwhile for forty days the Philistine approached every morning and evening and took his position. 17Jesse said to his son David, “Take your brothers this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread; go quickly ▼
▼ Heb “run.”
to the camp to your brothers. 18Also take these ten portions of cheese to their commanding officer. ▼▼ Heb “officer of the thousand.”
Find out how your brothers are doing ▼▼ Heb “and your brothers, observe with respect to welfare.”
and bring back their pledge that they received the goods. ▼▼ Heb “and their pledge take.” This probably refers to some type of confirmation that the goods arrived safely. See R. W. Klein, 1 Samuel (WBC), 177. Cf. NIV “bring back some assurance”; NCV “some proof to show me they are all right”; NLT “bring me back a letter from them.”
19They are with Saul and the whole Israelite army ▼▼ Heb “all the men of Israel.”
in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.” 20 So David got up early in the morning and entrusted the flock to someone else who would watch over it. ▼
▼ Heb “to a guard”; KJV, NASB, NRSV “with a keeper”; NIV “with a shepherd.” Since in contemporary English “guard” sounds like someone at a military installation or a prison, the present translation uses “to someone else who would watch over it.”
After loading up, he went just as Jesse had instructed him. He arrived at the camp ▼▼ Or “entrenchment.”
as the army was going out to the battle lines shouting its battle cry. 21Israel and the Philistines drew up their battle lines opposite one another. 22After David had entrusted his cargo to the care of the supply officer, ▼▼ Heb “the guard of the equipment.”
he ran to the battlefront. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing. 23As he was speaking with them, the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, was coming up from the battle lines of the Philistines. He spoke the way he usually did, ▼▼ Heb “according to these words.”
and David heard it. 24When all the men of Israel saw this man, they retreated ▼▼ Or “fled.”
from his presence and were very afraid. 25 The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who is coming up? He does so ▼
▼ Heb “he is coming up.”
to defy Israel. But the king will make the man who can strike him down very wealthy! He will give him his daughter in marriage, and he will make his father’s house exempt from tax obligations in Israel.” 26 David asked the men who were standing near him, “What will be done for the man who strikes down this Philistine and frees Israel from this humiliation? ▼
▼ Heb “and turns aside humiliation from upon Israel.”
For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he defies the armies of the living God?” 27The soldiers ▼▼ Heb “people.”
told him what had been promised, saying, ▼▼ Heb “according to this word, saying.”
“This is what will be done for the man who can strike him down.” 28 When David’s ▼
▼ Heb “his”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, he became angry ▼▼ Heb “the anger of Eliab became hot.”
with David and said, “Why have you come down here? To whom did you entrust those few sheep in the desert? I am familiar with your pride and deceit! ▼▼ Heb “the wickedness of your heart.”
You have come down here to watch the battle!” 29 David replied, “What have I done now? Can’t I say anything?” ▼
▼ Heb “Is it not [just] a word?”
30Then he turned from those who were nearby to someone else and asked the same question, ▼▼ Heb “and spoke according to this word.”
but they ▼▼ Heb “the people.”
gave him the same answer as before. 31When David’s words were overheard and reported to Saul, he called for him. ▼▼ Heb “he took him.”
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