1 Samuel 17:20
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him. He reached the camp as the army was marching out to its position and shouting the battle cry.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
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.

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
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.

Legacy Standard Bible
So David arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper and carried the supplies and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the circle of the camp while the military force was going out in battle lines shouting the war cry.

Amplified Bible
So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, picked up the provisions and went just as Jesse had directed him. And he came to the encampment as the army was going out in battle formation shouting the battle cry.

Christian Standard Bible
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.

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

American Standard Version
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 place of the wagons, as the host which was going forth to the fight shouted for the battle.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And David arose early at dawn and he left the sheep with a Keeper and he picked up and he went on as Iyshay had commanded him, and he came to the encampment in the valley that went out to the ranks, and they cried out for battle

Contemporary English Version
David obeyed his father. He got up early the next morning and left someone else in charge of the sheep; then he loaded the supplies and started off. He reached the army camp just as the soldiers were taking their places and shouting the battle cry.

Douay-Rheims Bible
David therefore arose in the morning, and gave the charge of the flock to the keeper: and went away loaded as Isai had commanded him. And he came to the place of Magala, and to the army, which was going out to fight, and shouted for the battle.

English Revised Version
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 place of the wagons, as the host which was going forth to the fight shouted for the battle.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
David got up early in the morning and had someone else watch [the sheep]. He took [the food] and went, as Jesse ordered him. He went to the camp as the army was going out to the battle line shouting their war cry.

Good News Translation
David got up early the next morning, left someone else in charge of the sheep, took the food, and went as Jesse had told him to. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelites were going out to their battle line, shouting the war cry.

International Standard Version
David got up early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, took the supplies, and went as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the encampment as the army was going out to the battle line, shouting the battle cry.

JPS Tanakh 1917
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 barricade, as the host which was going forth to the fight shouted for the battle.

Literal Standard Version
And David rises early in the morning, and leaves the flock to a keeper, and lifts up, and goes, as Jesse commanded him, and he comes to the path, and to the force which is going out to the rank, and they have shouted for battle;

Majority Standard Bible
So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him. He reached the camp as the army was marching out to its position and shouting the battle cry.

New American Bible
Early the next morning, having left the flock with a shepherd, David packed up and set out, as Jesse had commanded him. He reached the barricade of the camp just as the army, on their way to the battleground, were shouting their battle cry.

NET Bible
So David got up early in the morning and entrusted the flock to someone else who would watch over it. After loading up, he went just as Jesse had instructed him. He arrived at the camp as the army was going out to the battle lines shouting its battle cry.

New Revised Standard Version
David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, took the provisions, and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment as the army was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry.

New Heart English Bible
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 place of the wagons, as the army which was going forth to the fight shouted for the battle.

Webster's Bible Translation
And David rose 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.

World English Bible
David rose up early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper, and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the place of the wagons as the army which was going out to the fight shouted for the battle.

Young's Literal Translation
And David riseth early in the morning, and leaveth the flock to a keeper, and lifteth up, and goeth, as Jesse commanded him, and he cometh in to the path, and to the force which is going out unto the rank, and they have shouted for battle;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Accepts the Challenge
19They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.” 20So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him. He reached the camp as the army was marching out to its position and shouting the battle cry. 21And Israel and the Philistines arrayed in formation against each other.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 17:19
They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines."

1 Samuel 17:21
And Israel and the Philistines arrayed in formation against each other.

1 Samuel 26:5
Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general of his army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp, with the troops camped around him.

1 Samuel 26:7
That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

left the sheep

1 Samuel 17:28
And 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.

Ephesians 6:1,2
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right…

trench.

1 Samuel 26:5
And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

Luke 19:43
For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

fight.

Jump to Previous
Army Array Barricade Battle Camp Circle Commanded David Directed Early Encampment Host Jesse Keeper Line Morning Provisions Reached Rose Sheep Shepherd Shouted Shouting Trench Wagons War
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Army Array Barricade Battle Camp Circle Commanded David Directed Early Encampment Host Jesse Keeper Line Morning Provisions Reached Rose Sheep Shepherd Shouted Shouting Trench Wagons War
1 Samuel 17
1. The armies of the Israelites and Philistines being ready to battle
4. Goliath challenges a combat
12. David, sent by his father to visit his brothers, takes the challenge
28. Eliab chides him
30. He is brought to Saul
32. shows the reason of his confidence
38. and slays the giant
55. Saul takes notice of David














(20) He came to the trench.--Literally, to the wagon rampart; a circle of wagons formed a rude fortification about the camp of Israel. There--that is, within the fortified enclosure--he left (1Samuel 17:22) his baggage, the ten cheeses, &c, and hastened to the "front," where he knew his brethren and the men of Judah would be posted. (See Numbers 10:14.)

Verses 20-22. - He came to the trench. More probably the barricade, or outer circle of defence for their camp, made of their wagons (see on ch. 10:22). Strictly the word means a wagon track, but the primary meaning of the verb is to be round. This was the shape of camps in old time, and they were protected against surprise by having the wagons and baggage placed round them. The word occurs again in 1 Samuel 26:5, 7. The latter part of the verse is literally, "And he came to the circle of the wagons, and to the host that was going forth to the array; and they shouted for the battle." If the article be omitted before "going forth," for which there is some authority, the rendering of the A.V. would be right. David left his carriage. I.e. that which he was carrying. The word is rendered stuff in 1 Samuel 10:22; 1 Samuel 25:13; 1 Samuel 30:24. Literally the word means utensils, and so whatever he had with him for any purpose (comp. Acts 21:15). Ran into the army. Literally, "to the array," "to the ranks," the place where the troops were drawn up (see ver. 10).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So David
דָּוִ֜ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

got up early
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם (way·yaš·kêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7925: To load up, to start early in the morning

in the morning,
בַּבֹּ֗קֶר (bab·bō·qer)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

left
וַיִּטֹּ֤שׁ (way·yiṭ·ṭōš)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5203: To pound, smite, to disperse, to thrust off, down, out, upon

the flock
הַצֹּאן֙ (haṣ·ṣōn)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

with
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

a keeper,
שֹׁמֵ֔ר (šō·mêr)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

loaded up,
וַיִּשָּׂ֣א (way·yiś·śā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

and set out
וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ (way·yê·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

as
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

Jesse
יִשָׁ֑י (yi·šāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3448: Jesse -- father of David

had instructed him.
צִוָּ֖הוּ (ṣiw·wā·hū)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

He reached
וַיָּבֹא֙ (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the camp
הַמַּעְגָּ֔לָה (ham·ma‘·gā·lāh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4570: An entrenchment, track

as the army
וְהַחַ֗יִל (wə·ha·ḥa·yil)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

was marching out
הַיֹּצֵא֙ (hay·yō·ṣê)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

its position
הַמַּ֣עֲרָכָ֔ה (ham·ma·‘ă·rā·ḵāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4634: An arrangement, a pile, a military array

and shouting
וְהֵרֵ֖עוּ (wə·hê·rê·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7321: To mar, to split the ears, shout

the battle cry.
בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ (bam·mil·ḥā·māh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war


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OT History: 1 Samuel 17:20 David rose up early in the morning (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 17:19
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