1 Samuel 17:9-19

9 If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall you be our servants, and serve us.

10 The Pelishti said, I defy the armies of Yisra'el this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

11 When Sha'ul and all Yisra'el heard those words of the Pelishti, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

12 Now David was the son of that Efratite of Beit-Lechem-Yehudah, whose name was Yishai; and he had eight sons: and the man was an old man in the days of Sha'ul, stricken [in years] among men.

13 The three eldest sons of Yishai had gone after Sha'ul to the battle: and the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eli'av the firstborn, and next to him Avinadav, and the third Shammah.

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.

19 Now Sha'ul, and they, and all the men of Yisra'el, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Pelishtim.

1 Samuel 17:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 17

This chapter relates how the armies of Israel, and of the Philistines, prepared for battle, and where, 1Sa 17:1-3, describes a champion of the Philistines, who defied the armies of Israel, 1Sa 17:4-11, and while he was so doing, it informs us that David came into the camp, and he heard his words, and signified to one and another his inclination to fight with him, 1Sa 17:12-30, which being reported to Saul, David was sent for by him, and much discourse passed between them about it, 1Sa 17:31-37 when we are told the manner in which he engaged with the Philistine, and the victory he obtained over him, 1Sa 17:38-51 upon which the Philistines fled, and Israel pursued them; and on account of this action David was taken notice of by Saul, and brought to court again, as the following chapter shows, 1Sa 17:52-58.