1 Samuel 17:16

16 Now the Philistine came forward early and late, and he took his stand [for] 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 Now David was the youngest. The three oldest {followed} Saul,

15 but David went {back and forth} from Saul to feed the sheep of his father in Bethlehem.

16 Now the Philistine came forward early and late, and he took his stand [for] forty days.

17 Then Jesse said to his son David, "Please take for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and bring [them] quickly to the camp for your brothers.

18 And these ten portions of cheese you will bring to the commander of the thousand; {find out how your brothers are doing}, and take their pledge."