1 Samuel 17:16

16 The Pelishti drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

1 Samuel 17:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:16

And the Philistine drew near morning and evening
Twice a day he came near the camp, within the hearing of it. The Jews ^F23 say, he took those seasons on purpose to disturb them in reading their "Shema", or "hear, O Israel" and saying their prayers morning and evening:

and presented himself forty days;
Successively, before the armies of Israel, daring them to send down a man to fight with him, and reproaching them for their cowardice in not doing it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 42. 2.

1 Samuel 17:16 In-Context

14 David was the youngest; and the three eldest followed Sha'ul.

15 Now David went back and forth from Sha'ul to feed his father's sheep at Beit-Lechem.

16 The Pelishti drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

17 Yishai said to David his son, Take now for your brothers an efah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry [them] quickly to the camp to your brothers;

18 and bring these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and look how your brothers fare, and take their pledge.