1st Samuel Chapter 16 verse 18 Holy Bible

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(18) Then answered one of the servants.--The Dean of Canterbury calls attention to the fact that the word in the original here rendered "servants" is not the same as was translated by "servants" in 1Samuel 16:15-17. In each of these passages the Hebrew word rendered "servant," no doubt signifies officers connected with the royal court. Here the different word hann'-?rim lays stress on the royal attendant in question being a young man. Probably, the one spoken of in this place was a contemporary of David, very likely a youth trained with David in Samuel's prophetic school at Naioth in Ramah, and consequently able to speak thus in detail about the young shepherd pupil of the great seer.Cunning in playing.--As a boy, it is certain that David possessed rare gifts of poetry, and, no doubt, of music. It is probable that some of his early Psalms were originally composed while watching his father's sheep among those hills and vales round the village of Bethlehem, where "in later centuries shepherds were still watching over their flocks by night, when the angel host appeared to them to tell them of the birth of a child in Bethlehem."These gifts of poetry and music were further cultivated and developed in the prophets' school of Samuel, and there the young pupil of the seer no doubt quickly acquired among his companions that reputation and skill which induced the "young man" of the court of Saul to tell his afflicted master of the shepherd son of Jesse, famous for his "cunning in playing."And a mighty valiant man, and a man of war.--The description of the Bethlehemite David at a mighty valiant man can well be explained from what is related in 1Samuel 17:34-35, about the young shepherd's prowess in the conflicts with the lions and the bears. A question has, however, been raised respecting the expression "a man of war," as it would seem from the narrative of 1 Samuel 17 that the combat with the giant Philistine was David's first great military exploit. It has, however, been suggested that, in addition to the combat with those wild beasts, which we know in those days frequented the thickets of the Jordan, and were a terror to the Israelitish shepherds, David had most likely been engaged in repelling one or more of the Philistine marauding expeditions so common in those wild days. Bethlehem, we know, was a strong place or garrison of these hereditary foes of Israel. (See 2Samuel 23:14; 1Chronicles 11:16.) . . . Parallel Commentaries ...HebrewOneאֶחָ֨ד (’e·ḥāḏ)Number - masculine singularStrong's 259: United, one, firstof the servantsמֵהַנְּעָרִ֜ים (mê·han·nə·‘ā·rîm)Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine pluralStrong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retaineranswered,וַיַּעַן֩ (way·ya·‘an)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularStrong's 6030: To answer, respond“I have seenרָאִ֜יתִי (rā·’î·ṯî)Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularStrong's 7200: To seea sonבֵּ֣ן (bên)Noun - masculine singularStrong's 1121: A sonof Jesseלְיִשַׁי֮ (lə·yi·šay)Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularStrong's 3448: Jesse -- father of Davidof Bethlehemהַלַּחְמִי֒ (hal·laḥ·mî)Noun - proper - masculine singularStrong's 1022: Bethlehemite -- a Beth-lechemitewho knowsיֹדֵ֣עַ (yō·ḏê·a‘)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularStrong's 3045: To knowhow to play [the harp].נַ֠גֵּן (nag·gên)Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructStrong's 5059: To touch or play a stringed instrumentHe is a mightyוְגִבּ֨וֹר (wə·ḡib·bō·wr)Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular constructStrong's 1368: Powerful, warrior, tyrantman of valor,חַ֜יִל (ḥa·yil)Noun - masculine singularStrong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strengtha warrior,וְאִ֧ישׁ (wə·’îš)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructStrong's 376: A man as an individual, a male personeloquentוּנְב֥וֹן (ū·nə·ḇō·wn)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular constructStrong's 995: To separate mentally, understandand handsome,תֹּ֑אַר (tō·’ar)Noun - masculine singularStrong's 8389: Outline, figure, appearanceand the LORDוַיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularStrong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelis with him.”עִמּֽוֹ׃ (‘im·mōw)Preposition | third person masculine singularStrong's 5973: With, equally withJump to PreviousAffairs Bethlehemite Beth-Lehemite Cunning Jesse Matters Mighty Playing Prudent Servants Skilful Skillful Speech Valiant Valor Valour War Young