And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
When Saul saw David walking out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, 'Abner, whose son is this young man?' And Abner replied, 'I swear by your life, O king, I don't know.'
King Saul suddenly realizes he doesn't know who David is, even though this young shepherd is about to represent all of Israel in the most important battle of their lives.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, this scene occurs during a battle between the Israelites and the Philistines in the Valley of Elah, where the giant Goliath has been taunting the Israelite army for days. David, a young shepherd boy from Bethlehem who had previously served in Saul's court as a musician, steps forward to face Goliath, demonstrating unexpected courage. Saul's inquiry about David's identity through his commander Abner reflects the king's surprise and lack of familiarity with this rising hero, despite David's earlier interactions with him.
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