1 Samuel 17:18

18 Llevarás asimismo estos diez quesos de leche al capitán de los mil, y cuida de ver si tus hermanos están bien, y toma prendas de ellos

1 Samuel 17:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:18

And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their
thousand
Their chiliarch or colonel, who had the command of 1000 men, and under whom Jesse's sons fought; Jarchi thinks this was Jonathan, who had 1000 men with him at Gibeah, and so now, ( 1 Samuel 13:2 ) , these cheeses were sent by Jesse to the captain, to be distributed among his men, or a present to himself, that he might use his sons well who were under his command:

and look how thy brethren fare;
whether in good health, in good spirits, and in safety:

and take their pledge;
that is, if they had been obliged for want of money to pawn any of their clothes, or what they had with them to buy food with, that he would redeem and take up the pledge, by paying the money for which they were pawned; for it is thought that soldiers at this time were not maintained at the expense of the king and government, but at their own, and the families to which they belonged: though some are of opinion that this was some token which they had sent by a messenger to their father, by which he might know he came from them, so Ben Gersom; and which David was now to take with him, and return it; or a token that he was to bring from them, whereby he might be assured of their welfare; and so the Targum, "and bring their goodness", a token of their being in good health. The Jews ^F26 understand it of bills of divorce to be given to their wives, that if they should die in battle, or be taken captive, that their wives might marry after three years.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 Hieron. Trad. Heb. in lib. Reg. fol. 76. D.

1 Samuel 17:18 In-Context

16 Venía, pues, aquel filisteo por la mañana y por la tarde, y se presentó por cuarenta días

17 Y dijo Jessé a David su hijo: Toma ahora para tus hermanos un efa de esta cebada tostada, y estos diez panes, y llévalo presto al campamento a tus hermanos

18 Llevarás asimismo estos diez quesos de leche al capitán de los mil, y cuida de ver si tus hermanos están bien, y toma prendas de ellos

19 Y Saúl y ellos y todos los de Israel, estaban en el valle del Alcornoque, peleando contra los filisteos

20 Se levantó, pues, David de mañana, y dejando las ovejas al cuidado de un guarda, se fue con su carga, como Jessé le había mandado; y llegó al atrincheramiento del ejército, el cual había salido en ordenanza, y ya tocaban alarma en batalla