And the words which David spoke were heard, and were rehearsed before Saul.

sent for him [heb] took him

Proverbs 22:29 Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.

The preceding twenty verses, from the

12th to the

31st inclusive, the

41st, and from the

54th to the end of this chapter, with the five first verses and the

9th,

10th,

11th,

17th,

18th, and

19th, of ch.

1 Samuel 17:18 And carry these ten little cheeses to the tribune: and go see thy brethren, if they are well: and learn with whom they are placed.

, are all wanting in the Vatican copy of the LXX.; and they are supposed by Dr. Kennicott, and others, to be an interpolation. But, as Bp. Horsley observes, it appears, from many circumstances of the story, that David's combat with Goliath was many years prior to Saul's madness, and David's introduction to him as a musician. In the first place, David was quite a youth when engaged with Goliath, (ver.

1 Samuel 17:33 And Saul said to David: Thou art not able to withstand this Philistine, nor to fight against him: for thou art but a boy, but he is a warrior from his youth.

,

42:) when introduced to Saul he was of full age, (ch

1 Samuel 16:18 And one of the servants answering, said: Behold I have seen a son of Isai, the Bethlehemite, a skilful player, and one of great strength, and a man fit for war, and prudent in his words, and a comely person: and the Lord is with him.

) Again, this combat was his first appearance in public life, and first military exploit, (ver.

36,

38,39) when introduced as a musician, he was man of established character, and a man of war (ch.

1 Samuel 16:18 And one of the servants answering, said: Behold I have seen a son of Isai, the Bethlehemite, a skilful player, and one of great strength, and a man fit for war, and prudent in his words, and a comely person: and the Lord is with him.

). Now the just conclusion is, that the last ten verses of chapter

1 Samuel 16:16 Let our lord give orders, and thy servants who are before thee, will seek out a man skilful in playing on the harp, that when the evil spirit from the Lord is upon thee, he may play with his hand, and thou mayst bear it more easily.

have been misplaced; their true place being between the ninth and tenth verses of ch.

1 Samuel 16:18 And one of the servants answering, said: Behold I have seen a son of Isai, the Bethlehemite, a skilful player, and one of great strength, and a man fit for war, and prudent in his words, and a comely person: and the Lord is with him.

. Let them be removed there, and the whole apparent disorder will be removed.