SEV Biblia, Chapter 17:20
Se levantó, pues, David de mañana, y dejando las ovejas al cuidado de un guarda, se fue con su carga, como Isaí le había mandado; y llegó al atrincheramiento del ejército, el cual había salido en ordenanza, y ya tocaban al arma en batalla.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. And David rose up early in the morning , etc.] Being very ready and eager to obey his father’s orders, and visit his brethren: and left the sheep with a keeper ; which showed his care and faithfulness in the discharge of his office; he was not unmindful of his father’s sheep, any more than of his commands: and took ; the ephah of parched corn, the ten loaves, and the ten cheeses: and went, as Jesse had commanded him ; went and carried them to the camp, according to his orders: and he came to the trench ; foss or ditch, which was cast up all around the army, partly to prevent the enemy falling on them before, and partly to prevent deserters from them behind; or the word signifying a wagon or carriage, which is here used, this might be a fence around the camp made of wagons fastened to each other; though it may only signify, the camp itself, which lay in a circular form, with proper guards about it to watch the enemy. Now David came up to it just as the host was going forth to the fight ; preparing and getting every thing ready to the battle, and in motion, and upon the march to meet the enemy: and shouted for the battle ; which was usually done when about to make the onset, to animate the soldiers, and strike the greater terror into the enemy; and this noise was sometimes made with the voice in a hideous and howling way, and was called “barritus” by the Romans; with the Trojans it was like the noise of cranes in the air f369 ; it was also attended with the clashing of shields and spears f370 ; with the Persians, it was a rough, boisterous, and confused noise f371 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-30 - Jesse little thought of sending his son to the army at that critica juncture; but the wise God orders actions and affairs, so as to serv his designs. In times of general formality and lukewarmness, ever degree of zeal which implies readiness to go further, or to ventur more in the cause of God than others, will be blamed as pride an ambition, and by none more than by near relations, like Eliab, or negligent superiors. It was a trial of David's meekness, patience, an constancy. He had right and reason on his side, and did not rende railing for railing; with a soft answer he turned away his brother' wrath. This conquest of his own passion was more honourable than tha of Goliath. Those who undertake great and public services, must no 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.
Original Hebrew
וישׁכם 7925 דוד 1732 בבקר 1242 ויטשׁ 5203 את 853 הצאן 6629 על 5921 שׁמר 8104 וישׂא 5375 וילך 1980 כאשׁר 834 צוהו 6680 ישׁי 3448 ויבא 935 המעגלה 4570 והחיל 2428 היצא 3318 אל 413 המערכה 4634 והרעו 7321 במלחמה׃ 4421
