1 Samuel 17:18

18 und diese zehn frischen Käse und bringe sie dem Hauptmann und besuche deine Brüder, ob's ihnen wohl gehe, und nimm, was sie dir befehlen. {~}

1 Samuel 17:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:18

And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their
thousand
Their chiliarch or colonel, who had the command of 1000 men, and under whom Jesse's sons fought; Jarchi thinks this was Jonathan, who had 1000 men with him at Gibeah, and so now, ( 1 Samuel 13:2 ) , these cheeses were sent by Jesse to the captain, to be distributed among his men, or a present to himself, that he might use his sons well who were under his command:

and look how thy brethren fare;
whether in good health, in good spirits, and in safety:

and take their pledge;
that is, if they had been obliged for want of money to pawn any of their clothes, or what they had with them to buy food with, that he would redeem and take up the pledge, by paying the money for which they were pawned; for it is thought that soldiers at this time were not maintained at the expense of the king and government, but at their own, and the families to which they belonged: though some are of opinion that this was some token which they had sent by a messenger to their father, by which he might know he came from them, so Ben Gersom; and which David was now to take with him, and return it; or a token that he was to bring from them, whereby he might be assured of their welfare; and so the Targum, "and bring their goodness", a token of their being in good health. The Jews ^F26 understand it of bills of divorce to be given to their wives, that if they should die in battle, or be taken captive, that their wives might marry after three years.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 Hieron. Trad. Heb. in lib. Reg. fol. 76. D.

1 Samuel 17:18 In-Context

16 Aber der Philister trat herzu frühmorgens und abends und stellt sich dar vierzig Tage.

17 Isai aber sprach zu seinem Sohn David: Nimm für deine Brüder dieses Epha geröstete Körner und diese zehn Brote und lauf ins Heer zu deinen Brüdern, {~}

18 und diese zehn frischen Käse und bringe sie dem Hauptmann und besuche deine Brüder, ob's ihnen wohl gehe, und nimm, was sie dir befehlen. {~}

19 Saul aber und sie und alle Männer Israels waren im Eichgrunde und stritten wider die Philister.

20 Da machte sich David des Morgens früh auf und ließ die Schafe dem Hüter und trug und ging hin, wie ihm Isai geboten hatte und kam zur Wagenburg. Und das Heer war ausgezogen und hatte sich gerüstet, und sie schrieen im Streit. {~} {~} {~}