12 Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah , whose name was Jesse , and he had eight sons . And Jesse was old in the days of Saul , advanced in years among men . 13 The three older sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle . And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn , and the second to him Abinadab , and the third Shammah . 14 David was the youngest . Now the three oldest followed e Saul , 15 but David went e back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem . 16 The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand . 17 Then Jesse said to David his son , " Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers . 18 " Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand , and look into the welfare of your brothers , and bring back news of them. 19 "For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah , fighting with the Philistines ." 20 So David arose 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 circle of the camp while the army was going out in battle array shouting the war cry . 21 Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle array, army against army . 22 Then David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper , and ran to the battle line and entered in order to greet e his brothers . 23 As he was talking with them, behold , the champion e , the Philistine from Gath named Goliath , was coming up from the army of the Philistines , and he spoke these same words ; and David heard them. 24 When all the men of Israel saw the man , they fled from him and were greatly afraid . 25 The men of Israel said , "Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel . And it will be that the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel ." 26 Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying , "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel ? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine , that he should taunt the armies of the living God ?" 27 The people answered him in accord with this word , saying , " Thus it will be done for the man who kills him." 28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men ; and Eliab's anger burned against David and he said , "Why have you come down ? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness ? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart ; for you have come down in order to see the battle ." 29 But David said , "What have I done now ? Was it not just a question ?" 30 Then he turned away e from him to another and said the same thing ; and the people answered the same thing as before .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:12-30
Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:12-30
(Read 1 Samuel 17:12-30)
Jesse little thought of sending his son to the army at that critical juncture; but the wise God orders actions and affairs, so as to serve his designs. In times of general formality and lukewarmness, every degree of zeal which implies readiness to go further, or to venture more in the cause of God than others, will be blamed as pride and ambition, and by none more than by near relations, like Eliab, or negligent superiors. It was a trial of David's meekness, patience, and constancy. He had right and reason on his side, and did not render railing for railing; with a soft answer he turned away his brother's wrath. This conquest of his own passion was more honourable than that of Goliath. Those who undertake great and public services, must not think it strange if they are spoken ill of, and opposed by those from whom they expect support and assistance. They must humbly go on with their work, in the face not only of enemies' threats, but of friends' slights and suspicions.