1 Samuel 17:41

41 Then the Philistine {came on, getting nearer and nearer} to David, with {his shield bearer} in front of him.

1 Samuel 17:41 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:41

And the Philistine came on, and drew near unto David
By slow paces, because of the weight of his armour, and bulk of his body, yet with a haughty air, and a proud gait:

and the man that bare the shield [went] before him;
(See Gill on 1 Samuel 17:7).

1 Samuel 17:41 In-Context

39 Then David strapped on his sword over his fighting attire, but he tried in vain to walk [around], for he was not trained to use [them]. So David said to Saul, "I am not able to walk with these, because I am not trained to use [them]." So David removed them.

40 Then he took his staff in his hand, picked out for himself five smooth stones from the wadi, and he put them in his shepherd's bag, in the pouch. And with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.

41 Then the Philistine {came on, getting nearer and nearer} to David, with {his shield bearer} in front of him.

42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him, for he was [only] a boy and ruddy with a handsome appearance.

43 So the Philistine said to David, "[Am] I a dog, that you [are] coming to me with sticks?" Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "went going and near"
• [b]. Literally "the man carrying the shield"