1 Samuel 17:23

23 While they were talking together, the Philistine champion, Goliath of Gath, stepped out from the front lines of the Philistines, and gave his usual challenge. David heard him.

1 Samuel 17:23 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:23

And as he talked with them
About their health, and the errand he came upon, and the message of his father to them, and how it was with him, who sent them his best wishes:

behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by
name:
of whom see ( 1 Samuel 17:4 ) ; he came out of the valley, and drew near to the mountain the Israelites were descending:

out of the armies of the Philistines:
from the plains where they were encamped, as Kimchi, though they seem to have been encamped on a mountain as the Israelites were; or from the ranks of the Philistines; according to the marginal reading, he came out of one of the battalions that were set in array:

and spake according to the same words;
which he had spoken time after time forty days successively, namely, what is expressed ( 1 Samuel 17:8-10 ) ;

and David heard [them];
and observed them.

1 Samuel 17:23 In-Context

21 Israel and the Philistines moved into position, facing each other, battle-ready.
22 David left his bundles of food in the care of a sentry, ran to the troops who were deployed, and greeted his brothers.
23 While they were talking together, the Philistine champion, Goliath of Gath, stepped out from the front lines of the Philistines, and gave his usual challenge. David heard him.
24 The Israelites, to a man, fell back the moment they saw the giant - totally frightened.
25 The talk among the troops was, "Have you ever seen anything like this, this man openly and defiantly challenging Israel? The man who kills the giant will have it made. The king will give him a huge reward, offer his daughter as a bride, and give his entire family a free ride."
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.