1 Samuel 17:31

31 And the words which David hath spoken are heard, and they declare before Saul, and he receiveth him;

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 saith, `What have I done now? is it not a word?'

30 And he turneth round from him unto another, and saith according to this word, and the people return him word as the first word.

31 And the words which David hath spoken are heard, and they declare before Saul, and he receiveth him;

32 and David saith unto Saul, `Let no man's heart fall because of him, thy servant doth go, and hath fought with this Philistine.'

33 And Saul saith unto David, `Thou art not able to go unto this Philistine, to fight with him, for a youth thou [art], and he a man of war from his youth.'