Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 17:19
Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, [were] in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
19. Now Saul, &c.] Probably, “Now Saul and they are,” &c., i.e. it is Jesse’s direction to David where to find his brothers, not a remark of the historian.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 19. Fighting with the Philistines.] See at the end of the chapter. 1Sa 17:58.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
i.e. In a posture and readiness to fight with them; as it is explained, 1Sa 17:20,21. Men are oft said in Scripture to do what they intend and are prepared to do, as hath been showed formerly by instances.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Now Saul, and they,…. That is, the sons of Jesse, and brethren of David:
and all the men of Israel; the soldiers in the army:
were in the valley Elah; or “by” it, near unto it; for they were set in array on the mountain on the side of it:
fighting with the Philistines; not actually engaged in battle, but drawn up for it; prepared and in readiness to engage whenever it was necessary, or they were obliged to it; and perhaps there might be now and then some skirmishes in the outer parts of the camp.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(19) In the valley of Elan, fighting with the Philistines.The words of this verse, which read in the English Version as an explanatory parenthesis, are really part of Jesses direction to his shepherd son, telling him where he would find his brethren. They are in the valley of the Terebinth (Elah), fighting with the Philistines.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. Saul, and they were in the valley of Elah Better to supply are, instead of were, and understand this verse as a part of Jesse’s words to David. To the instructions which Jesse gives his son in the preceding verses, he here adds, for his further information, that he will find Saul, and his brothers, and all Israel, in the valley of Elah, engaged in war with the Philistines. This obviates the objection urged against the genuineness of this passage, that there was no fighting with the Philistines until after Goliath’s fall. The statement was but a casual remark of Jesse, who was not fully acquainted with the facts, and is not to be taken as literally correct.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 17:19. Now Saul, and theywere in the valley of Elah, fighting Or, Now Saul, and theywere still by the valley of oaks, ready to fight.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(19) Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
The fighting here spoken of means, I should suppose, the preparation only, for battle: for had the battle been opened, the single combat Goliath proposed, would have been unnecessary.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 17:19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, [were] in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
Ver. 19. Fighting, ] i.e., Skirmishing, and ready to join battle.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the valley: Dr. Richardson says, that in about twenty minutes, in an easterly direction, form the cave of St. John – which is about two hours or six miles, in a westerly direction, from Jerusalem they came to the valley of Elah; which position seems to agree with that of Shochoh and Azekah. He describes it as “a small valley, and the place of the encampment is pointed out where it narrows into a broad, deep ravine; part of it was in crop, and part of it was under the plough, which was drawn by a couple of oxen. A small stream, which had shrunk almost under its stony bed, passes through it from east to west, from which we are informed that David chose out five smooth stones, and hasted and ran to meet the haughty champion of Gath. A well of water under the bank, with a few olive trees above, on the north side of the valley, are said to mark the spot of the shepherd’s triumph over his boasting antagonist. Saul and his men probably occupied the side of the valley which is nearest to Jerusalem, on which the ground is higher and more rugged than on the other side.” 1Sa 17:19
Reciprocal: 1Sa 17:2 – the valley
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 17:19. Fighting with the Philistines That is, in a posture and readiness to fight with them, as it is explained 1Sa 17:20-21, being drawn up in battle array. In the valley of Elah Not, strictly speaking, in the valley, but hard by it, on the side of the mountain, where they faced the Philistines, and showed themselves resolved to fight, if the latter came down from the other mountain to oppose them.