Parched corn; a food then much in use, which they used to mix with water, or milk, or oil, &c.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

17. Take now for thy brethren anephah of this parched corn, and these ten loavesIn those timescampaigns seldom lasted above a few days at a time. The soldiers werevolunteers or militia, who were supplied with provisions from time totime by their friends at home.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And Jesse said unto David his son,…. His youngest son, that was at home with him keeping sheep; he had three more at home, and who were elder than David, and yet he is directed by the providence of God to pick and send him on the following errand, there being work for him to do Jesse knew nothing of:

take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched [corn]; pointing to a quantity of it in a certain place; this was wheat or barley dried in a furnace or oven, and ground into meal, and being mixed with water, or milk, or butter, or honey, or oil, was eaten, and reckoned very delicious; and besides this, there was another sort of “kali”, the word here used, which was parched pulse, as beans, peas, c. parched, and which to this day is by the Arabs called by this name x of both which mention is made, 2Sa 17:28. Now an “ephah” was as much as ten men could eat in a day, it consisted of ten omers, Ex 16:16, and the number ten is after used of loaves and cheese:

and these ten loaves of bread; or cakes of bread, as Kimchi interprets it; pieces or morsels of bread, as the Targum; which seems not so agreeable as loaves or cakes, which are not in the text, but to be supplied:

and run to the camp to thy brethren; which, according to Bunting y, was four miles from Bethlehem; and whither it seems he went on foot, and is bid to make haste, and even to run, as his brethren might be in want of provision; and Jesse was very desirous of relieving them, and hearing from them as soon as possible; it is very likely he had a servant or servants to attend him, and assist in carrying this load of provision, which, with what follows, was too much for one man to run with.

x Vid. Bochart. Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 1. c. 7. col. 47. y Travels, &c. p. 135.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

17. Parched corn See note on Rth 2:14.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

(17) And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; (18) And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

There is somewhat very sweet, to the gracious parent, in his view of this. How unconscious was the mind of the father, of the great events which the Lord in his providence had foreordained, to arise from this errand of his son to the camp. While he only wanted to know how his elder children were, the Lord had it in commission for his younger child to become the deliverer of his country. Ye watchful parents, of a gracious God, learn from hence, to be continually looking out for the merciful superintendance of a covenant God in Christ, over your children. Commit them with all their concerns to him, and watch the gracious manifestations of his love in all their arrangements. But Reader! do not overlook the sweet spiritual lesson held forth to the brethren of Jesus. Let our Almighty David take our poor pledge how we far e, and bear it to our Father. And may he bring to us, from our Father, all spiritual food and sustenance we need in our camp, where we are engaged with the enemies of our salvation in warfare, as the pledge of his everlasting, unchanging love in Jesus.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

1Sa 17:17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched [corn], and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;

Ver. 17. And run to the camp. ] This some think David did often, interpreting that going and returning from Saul, 1Sa 17:15 of his going to and fro from his father’s house to the camp. Though anointed king, yet he disdaineth not this low employment; wherein he was a type of Christ. Php 2:7

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

ephah. See App-51.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

David Unawed by the Giant

1Sa 17:17-30

At this juncture David arrived in the camp, sent by Jesse to inquire after the welfare of his three elder sons, who had followed Saul to the war. He also brought them provisions, and a present for the captain of their troop. On arriving at the trenches, he found the army in battle-array but not daring to advance. When the whole story was detailed to the young shepherd, he looked at the incident and challenge from the spiritual side. This event, therefore, marked a turning-point not only in his own history, but in that of his people. One, at least, was found in their ranks who looked at things from Gods standpoint, counted on the God of the ancient Covenant, and was prepared to venture all on faith, 1Sa 17:26; 1Sa 17:36-37.

His brother imputed to him a restless ambition, an unworthy curiosity. Much in the same way the kinsfolk of our Savior misunderstood His motives and sought to interrupt His work. But David was undaunted and, answering his brother kindly and gently, he pressed on with his inquiries and protests, until the tidings of the young champion reached the king. The victory over himself when Eliab reproached him was part of his preparation for the coming conflict.

Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary

Take now: Mat 7:11, Luk 11:13

parched corn: 1Sa 25:18, Rth 2:14, 2Sa 17:28

Reciprocal: Gen 37:13 – come Gen 37:14 – see whether it be well with 2Sa 16:1 – with a couple

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1Sa 17:17-18. Jesse said, Take now for thy brethren, &c. He thought provisions might be scarce with them. But, having other sons at home with him, it was, no doubt, through a divine influence that he sent David from the sheep upon this errand. Carry these ten cheeses unto the captain Whose favour might be very serviceable to them. And take their pledge That is, bring me some token of their welfare. Perhaps Jesse and his sons had fixed on some pledge between them, that they might be assured the messengers they sent to each other had been with them, and executed their commission.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

17:17 And Jesse said unto David his son, {d} Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched [corn], and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;

(d) Though Jesse meant one thing, yet God’s providence directed David to another end.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes