Bible Strands
1 Samuel 19:8
When war broke out again, David went out and fought the Philistines and struck them with such a mighty blow that they fled before him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records David's military action immediately after Jonathan's mediation restores him to Saul's presence. David departs to engage the Philistines as hostilities resume.
The words — The Hebrew phrase וַתּוֹסֶף הַמִּלְחָמָה לִהְיוֹת (va./To.sef ha./mil.cha.Mah li/h.Yot) literally means "and the war repeated to be," marking a fresh outbreak of conflict. David's campaign is defined by וַיֵּצֵא (va/i.ye.Tze', "and he went out") and וַיַּךְ (va/i.Yakh, "and he struck/defeated").
The thread — The recurrence of battle aligns with the war imagery in Psalms 27:3, where an army encamps and hostilities break out. David's decisive strike corresponds to the strength and clear path described in Psalms 18:32.
Why it lands — The verse states only that David fought and routed the Philistines, without explicitly naming the source of his victory. A reader notes this military success occurs between Jonathan's protective mediation and Saul's next episode of distress.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
Cross-references
- Psalms 18:32 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way clear.
- Psalms 27:3 Though an army encamps around me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, I will keep my trust.