1 Samuel 17:18

18 also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See how your brothers fare, and bring some token from them."

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.


FOOTNOTES:

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

1 Samuel 17:18 In-Context

16 For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.
17 Jesse said to his son David, "Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers;
18 also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See how your brothers fare, and bring some token from them."
19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
20 David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, took the provisions, and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment as the army was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.