Shmuel Alef 17:29

29 And Dovid said, What have I done now? It was only a davar (word) [I said], wasn’t it?

Shmuel Alef 17:29 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:29

And David said, what have I now done?
&c.] That is criminal and blameworthy; as if he should say, I have only expressed an indignation against this uncircumcised Philistine, and a concern for the glory of God, and the honour of the people of Israel:

[is there] not a cause?
either for his coming to the camp, being sent by his father; or of his expressing himself with indignation at the Philistine's defiance of the armies of Israel. Some take the sense to be, that he had done nothing, he had not committed any fact; it was mere words what he had said, he had attempted nothing, and therefore there was no reason to bear so hard upon him; to this purpose is the Targum,

``what have I done as yet? is it not a word "only" which I have spoken?''

but the former sense seems best.

Shmuel Alef 17:29 In-Context

27 And HaAm answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the ish that killeth him.

28 And Eliav achiv hagadol heard when he spoke unto the anashim; and af Eliav was kindled against Dovid, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? And with whom hast thou left those few tzon in the midbar? I know thy zadon (presumptuousness), and the evil of thine levav; for thou art come down l’ma’an (in order that) thou mightest watch the milchamah.

29 And Dovid said, What have I done now? It was only a davar (word) [I said], wasn’t it?

30 And he turned from him toward another, and spoke after the same manner; and HaAm answered him again according to the davar harishon (the previous word).

31 And when the devarim (words) were heard which Dovid spoke, they rehearsed them before Sha’ul: and he sent for him.