John Gill Commentary 1 Samuel 17:16

"And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days." — 1 Samuel 17:16 (ASV)

And the Philistine drew near morning and evening
Twice a day he came near the camp, within the hearing of it. The Jews ^F23 say, he took those seasons on purpose to disturb them in reading their "Shema", or "hear, O Israel" and saying their prayers morning and evening:

and presented himself forty days ;
Successively, before the armies of Israel, daring them to send down a man to fight with him, and reproaching them for their cowardice in not doing it.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F23: T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 42. 2.