1 Samuel 17:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers.

NIV: David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were.

NASB: Then David left the baggage in the care of the baggage keeper and ran to the battle line. And he entered and greeted his brothers.

CSB: David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were.

NLT: David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers.

KJV: And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

NKJV: And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers.

David's father sent him to deliver food to his brothers, encamped with Saul against the Philistines at the Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:17–19). The youngest of Jesse's sons has arrived just as the Israelites are forming up their battle lines against the Philistine army across the valley (1 Samuel 17:21).

This is not the right moment to deliver the food to his brothers and the commander of their division (1 Samuel 17:18). Instead, David leaves his large load of food with the man who watches the supplies and runs among the ranks of the soldiers to find his brothers and talk with them. The youthful David is not yet allowed to fight with the army, but he seems eager to get close to the action.

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.

Accessed 6/1/2025 6:26:38 AM