But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
Read it in contextDavid Accepts the Challenge
Start reading at 1 Samuel 17:12 (1 Samuel 17:12 to 1 Samuel 17:37).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
David's public emergence and relationships develop alongside Saul's growing hostility.
17:12Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
17:13And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
17:14And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.
17:15But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
17:16And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
17:17And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren.
17:18And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
17:19Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
17:20And 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.
17:21For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
17:22And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
17:23And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
17:24And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
17:25And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
17:26And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
17:27And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
17:28And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
17:29And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
17:30And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
17:31And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
17:32And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
17:33And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
17:34And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
17:35And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
17:36Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
17:37David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Tradition associates Samuel with the earlier material and Nathan and Gad with its continuation. Samuel dies during the narrative, so he did not write the complete account; the final compiler is unknown. Biblical references: 1 Samuel 25:1; 1 Chronicles 29:29. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (1 Samuel 17:1–17:58): David, Goliath, Saul, David's brothers, and the opposing Israelite and Philistine forces are involved in the battle scene. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israelite readers considering the rise of the monarchy and the transition from Saul to David. A more exact first readership cannot be established. Biblical references: 1 Samuel 8:4; 1 Samuel 16:13; 1 Samuel 31:6. book background
What
What is the topic of this reading unit? David Accepts the Challenge. Read 1 Samuel 17:12 through 1 Samuel 17:37 as a connected unit. interpretation
How does it contribute to the book? David's public emergence and relationships develop alongside Saul's growing hostility. interpretation
When
When are the events or message set? The narrative spans Samuel's upbringing, Israel's request for a king, Saul's reign, and David's emergence before Saul's death. book background
Where
What is the book’s geographic setting? Events occur at Shiloh, among Israel's towns, in Philistine territory, and in places of David's flight. The chapter identifies the immediate setting. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in David Accepts the Challenge (1 Samuel 17:12 to 1 Samuel 17:37).
Start reading at 1 Samuel 17:12. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Acts 13 connects Samuel, Saul, and David with the subsequent coming of Jesus from David's seed. David's anointing belongs to that historical line; it does not turn every conflict into a direct messianic prediction. See Acts 13:20, Acts 13:21, Acts 13:22, Acts 13:23. interpretation
How should this book guide our response? Evaluate leadership by hearing and obeying God rather than appearance or initial success. David's restraint toward Saul can be considered with its narrated reasons rather than generalized into approval of wrongdoing by leaders. interpretation
Cited: 1 Samuel 17:12, 1 Samuel 17:37, Acts 13:20, Acts 13:21, Acts 13:22, Acts 13:23
Who wrote it, and how we know
Samuel, with Nathan and Gad (traditional)From early tradition
What Scripture saysThe book does not name its author. Chronicles refers to written records of Samuel, Nathan, and Gad. 1 Chronicles 29:29
Early traditionJewish tradition credits Samuel, with Nathan and Gad continuing after his death.
What is debatedSamuel dies partway through the account, so he cannot have written all of it. The final form is later.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of 1 Samuel 17
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
First Samuel follows the transition from the judges to kingship and the rise of David during Saul's reign. It records Samuel's death before the book ends; attributing every line to Samuel would therefore exceed the narrative's evidence. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. David's public emergence and relationships develop alongside Saul's growing hostility.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. David's public emergence and relationships develop alongside Saul's growing hostility.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of 1 Samuel
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
First Samuel follows the transition from the judges to kingship and the rise of David during Saul's reign. It records Samuel's death before the book ends; attributing every line to Samuel would therefore exceed the narrative's evidence.
Connection to the wholeSamuel's upbringing and calling stand beside the failures of Eli's house and the ark narrative, leading to Israel's return to the LORD.
Connection to the wholeThe establishment of kingship is followed by Saul's failures, and the LORD's rejection of his kingship prepares the choice of David.