1 Samuel 17:21

21 Israel and [the] Philistines drew up [in] battle lines, {one battle line against the other}.

1 Samuel 17:21 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:21

For Israel and all the Philistines had put the battle in
array
Both sides prepared for it, and drew up in line of battle:

army against army;
rank against rank, battalion against battalion, the right wing of the one against the left of the other

1 Samuel 17:21 In-Context

19 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel [were] in the valley of Elah fighting [the] Philistines.

20 David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper, and he took [the provisions] and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment while the troops [were] going to the battle line, and they raised the war cry.

21 Israel and [the] Philistines drew up [in] battle lines, {one battle line against the other}.

22 David left the baggage [he had] with him in the {care} of the baggage keeper, ran to the battle line, and came and {asked how his brothers were doing}.

23 While he [was] speaking to them, {the champion}, whose name was Goliath the Philistine from Gath, [was] coming up from the caves of [the] Philistines. He spoke {just as he had previously}, and David heard [his words].

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "battle line to oppose battle line"