1 Samuel 17:31

31 And the words were heard, that David spake, and they were told before Saul. And when David was brought to Saul,

1 Samuel 17:31 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:31

And when the words were heard which David spake
To one, and to another, and these reported to other persons, and so they went from one to another through many hands:

they rehearsed [them] before Saul;
coming to the ears of some of his courtiers and counsellors, or officers about him, they told him what such an one had said:

and he sent for him;
to his tent or pavilion where he was, to talk with him on this subject. The whole of ( 1 Samuel 17:11-31 ) is wanting in the Septuagint version, according to the Vatican exemplar; and these "twenty" verses are thought, by some ^F5, to be an interpolation; and it must be owned there are difficulties in them, and that the connection of ( 1 Samuel 17:11 ) with the following is very clear and consistent, as also is ( 1 Samuel 17:50 ) left out in the same version; and likewise the last four of the chapter, ( 1 Samuel 17:55-58 ) , and five with which the next begins, ( 1 Samuel 18:1-5 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 See Dr. Kennicott's Dissert. 2. p. 418

1 Samuel 17:31 In-Context

29 And David said, What have I done? Whether it is not but a word? (Did I not just ask a question?)

30 And David went thence a little from him to another man; and David said the same word, and the people answered to him the word as they did before (and David asked the same question, and the people gave him the same answer).

31 And the words were heard, that David spake, and they were told before Saul. And when David was brought to Saul,

32 David spake to him thus, The heart of any man fall not down in him, for I thy servant shall go, and fight against the Philistine. (David spoke thus to him, Let not any man's heart fall down because of that man, for I, thy servant, shall go, and fight against the Philistine.)

33 And Saul said to David, Thou mayest not against-stand this Philistine, neither fight against him, for thou art a child (for thou art but a boy, that is, a young man); forsooth this man is a warrior from his young waxing age.