1 Samuel 17:15 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

David went, and returned from Saul, &c.— This being when the Israelites were encamped in Elah, and after the relation of his going to court to soothe Saul's troubled spirit with his music, seems to fix the date of his standing before Saul in quality of musician, in the order of time in which it is related. But the words, David went, and returned from Saul, seem not to be rightly understood. They do not mean that David left Saul's court where he had resided, but that he left Saul's camp to which he had been summoned. The case was this. A sudden invasion of the Philistines had penetrated to Shochoh. Now, upon such occasions, there always went out a general summons for all, able to bear arms, to meet at an appointed rendezvous; where, a choice being made of those most fit for service, the rest were sent back again to their several homes. At such a rendezvous all the tribes at this time assembled. Among the men of Beth-lehem came Jesse and his eight sons: the three eldest were enrolled in the troops, and the rest sent home again. But of these David is particularly named, as the history related particularly to him. Now David was the son of that Ephrathite—and he had three sons—and David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. But David went and returned from Saul, to feed his father's sheep at Beth-lehem: that is, he was dismissed by the captains of the host as too young for service. And in these sentiments we find they continued, when he returned with a message from his father to the camp. Div. Leg. vol. 3: p. 358.