Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
17:15 went back and forth: David apparently served as a musician and armor bearer in Saul’s court (see 16:19-23) while maintaining his duties at home. The intermittent nature of David’s service might explain why Saul was unfamiliar with David during the encounter with Goliath (see 17:55-58).
Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
17:15 went back and forth: David apparently served as a musician and armor bearer in Saul’s court (see 16:19-23) while maintaining his duties at home. The intermittent nature of David’s service might explain why Saul was unfamiliar with David during the encounter with Goliath (see 17:55-58).
Literal English (Darby)ⓘThe Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.The Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.
Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel [were] in the valley of terebinths, fighting against the Philistines.
Hebrew (Masoretic Text)ⓘThe Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.The Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.
King James VersionⓘKing James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
American Standard VersionⓘAmerican Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.American Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.
Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the vale of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
World English BibleⓘWorld English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.World English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.
Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
Bible in Basic EnglishⓘBible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.Bible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.
Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.