1 Samuel 17:19

19 David’s brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.

1 Samuel 17:19 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:19

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.

1 Samuel 17:19 In-Context

17 One day Jesse said to David, “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers.

18 And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain. See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing. ”

19 David’s brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.

20 So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries.

21 Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army.