And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army.
Forty days the two armies lay encamped facing one another, each advantageously posted, but neither forward to engage. Either they were parleying and treating of an accommodation or they were waiting for recruits; and perhaps there were frequent skirmishes between small detached parties.
Commenting on 1 Samuel 17:12-30
For Israel and all the Philistines had put the battle in array,.... Both sides prepared for it, and drew up in line of battle: army against army; rank against rank, battalion against battalion, the right wing of the one against the left of the other, &c.
1Sa 17:20-21 In pursuance of this commission, David went in the morning to the waggon-rampart, when the army, which was going out (of the camp) into battle array, raised the war-cry, and Israel and the Philistines placed themselves battle-array against battle-array.
Commenting on 1 Samuel 17:20-21