1 Samuel 17:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry.

NIV: Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry.

NASB: So David got up early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper, and took the supplies and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the entrenchment encircling the camp while the army was going out in battle formation, shouting the war cry.

CSB: So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with someone to keep it, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had charged him. He arrived at the perimeter of the camp as the army was marching out to its battle formation shouting their battle cry.

NLT: So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries.

KJV: And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.

NKJV: So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle.

The Philistines have gathered against Israel for war near the Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:1–3). Jesse, an elderly man living in Bethlehem, has eight sons. Three of those sons are at the field of battle with King Saul (1 Samuel 17:12–14). His youngest son, David, tends his father's sheep and also serves King Saul (1 Samuel 17:15). Due to Saul's flagrant disobedience, God rejected him as king (1 Kings 15:22–29). God sent the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king—David (1 Samuel 16:1–13). Though David was God's chosen and the Spirit of the Lord was with him, David would not assume the throne for at least ten more years. At this point in David's journey, he is apparently under the age of twenty. He is both a shepherd for his father and an armor-bearer and musician for King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14–23).

Jesse sent David to the field of battle to bring provisions to his brothers and their division. He also wanted a report back from his three oldest boys to see how they fared (1 Samuel 17:17–18). Here, David obeys his father and carries out his directive. It may have been about ten to fifteen miles—sixteen to twenty-four kilometers—from Jesse's home in Bethlehem to the Israelite camp. David arrives just as the army of the Israelites was forming up their battle line across the valley from the Philistines, who are doing the same. Armies would shout war cries to raise their spirits and intimidate the enemy.

First Samuel 17:12–23 re-introduces David (1 Samuel 16:11–13), who travels between shepherding and playing music for King Saul. This chapter seems to add detail to the earlier description of David in Saul's service (1 Samuel 16:18–21). David's father sends the young man on an errand to his three oldest brothers, camped with the rest of Israel's army in a faceoff with the Philistines. While there, David hears one of the daily challenges from Goliath, the enormous Philistine champion.

David, delivering food to his brothers at the Israelite army camp, hears the Philistine Goliath's defiant challenge. Single man combat could decide the battle, but no Israelite wanted to face the massive warrior. David is appalled that a Philistine would defy the armies of the living God. He volunteers to fight, and King Saul agrees. Before the battle, David declares that the Lord will give victory and thereby show the world that there is a God in Israel. David quickly kills and beheads Goliath. The Israelites chase the Philistines back to their own territory and plunder their camp. David brings Goliath's head to Saul.

Saul was made king of Israel (1 Samuel 9—10) and had many early successes (1 Samuel 11—14). However, his disobedience resulted in God's plan for a different king (1 Samuel 15). The prophet Samuel anointed David as this future monarch (1 Samuel 16:11–13). David has been serving as a musician for Saul (1 Samuel 16:18–21) and comes visit his brothers during a standoff between Israelite and Philistine forces. This leads to the famous story of David and Goliath. David's victory publicly triggers his rise to power, paralleled by Saul's collapse. In the end, Saul will die in disgrace (1 Samuel 31:4–7) and David will be appointed the new king of Israel (1 Samuel 2:45:1–3).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.