Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Dave Washburn <dwashbur AT nyx.net>]

If he saw the sling and was ready for it with his shield, he did a lousy job 
of being ready...........

On Thursday 01 July 2004 21:03, Karl Randolph wrote:
> Dear Brian:
>
> In the passage, twice it is mentioned that Goliath was going back and
> forth between the two encampments, "going and approaching" with his
> shield bearer in front of him. The last time omits mention of the
> shield bearer.
>
> I remember reading in Xenophon's Anabasis that slingers were an
> integral part of the army, and that a well placed stone was deadly.
> Presumably Goliath saw the sling so he was ready for a battle, so he
> would be carrying the shield himself the last time.
>
> Karl W. Randolph.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Brian & Laureen Powell <PowellBrian AT omf.net>
>
> > Hi all.
> > I'm translating in I Samuel 17 at present, and am unclear why verse
>
> 41
>
> > is translated as it is.
> >
> > My interlinear for the verse reads 'And-he-came the-Philistine coming
> > and-closer to David and-the-man bearing the-shield in-front-of-him'.
> >
> > This is rendered in the NIV as 'Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his
> > shield-bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David.'
> >
> > My confusion is based on how it could have worked that two of them
>
> would
>
> > be approaching David. I understand the idea of an armour-bearer to
>
> carry
>
> > weapons etc. for a warrior, but surely when he is actually going to
> > battle the armour-bearer then gives the armour to the warrior.
> >
> > My question is whether the Hebrew necessarily implies two different
> > people or whether 'the Philistine' in the first clause and 'the man'
>
> in
>
> > the second clause could not be one and the same person. This would
>
> lead
>
> > to a translation such as 'The Philistine kept coming closer to David
> > bearing his shield before him.'
> >
> > Thanks
> > Brian
> >
> > --
> >
> >
> > Brian Powell
> >
> > Bible Translator
> > Philippines

-- 
Dave Washburn
http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur
Learning about Christianity from a non-Christian
is like getting a kiss over the telephone.