| Geneva Study Bible And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their {e} pledge. (e) If they have laid anything to gauge for their necessity, redeem it out. Wesley's Notes 17:18 Pledge - That is, bring me some token of their welfare. King James Translators' Notes cheeses: Heb. cheeses of milk of...: Heb. of a thousand Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 18. carry these ten cheeses to the captain-to enlist his kind attention. Oriental cheeses are very small; and although they are frequently made of so soft a consistence as to resemble curds, those which David carried seem to have been fully formed, pressed, and sufficiently dried to admit of their being carried. take their pledge-Tokens of the soldiers' health and safety were sent home in the convenient form of a lock of their hair, or piece of their nail, or such like. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 17:12-30 Jesse little thought of sending his son to the army at that critical juncture; but the wise God orders actions and affairs, so as to serve his designs. In times of general formality and lukewarmness, every degree of zeal which implies readiness to go further, or to venture more in the cause of God than others, will be blamed as pride and ambition, and by none more than by near relations, like Eliab, or negligent superiors. It was a trial of David's meekness, patience, and constancy. He had right and reason on his side, and did not render railing for railing; with a soft answer he turned away his brother's wrath. This conquest of his own passion was more honourable than that of Goliath. Those who undertake great and public services, must not think it strange if they are spoken ill of, and opposed by those from whom they expect support and assistance. They must humbly go on with their work, in the face not only of enemies' threats, but of friends' slights and suspicions. | 
