1 Samuel 17:15 (GNV)

Passage

Dauid also went, but hee returned from Saul to feede his fathers sheepe in Beth-lehem.

Nearby Context

1 Samuel 17:13 And the three eldest sonnes of Ishai went and followed Saul to the battel: and the names of his three sonnes that went to battell, were Eliab the Eldest, and the next Abinadab, and the thirde Shammah.

1 Samuel 17:14 So Dauid was the least: and the three eldest went after Saul.

1 Samuel 17:15 Dauid also went, but hee returned from Saul to feede his fathers sheepe in Beth-lehem.

1 Samuel 17:16 And the Philistim drew neere in the morning, and euening, and continued fourtie daies.

1 Samuel 17:17 And Ishai said vnto Dauid his sone, Take nowe for thy brethren an Ephah of this parched corne, and these ten cakes, and runne to the hoste to thy brethren.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "sheep", "dauid", "went", "returned", "saul", "feede", "fathers", and "sheepe". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "sheep" and "dauid", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "So Dauid was the least and the..." into verse 16's "And the Philistim drew neere in the...", so "sheep" and "dauid" belong inside that flow. In 1 Samuel context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "sheep" and "dauid" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.