C. F. Keil and Franz Delitzsch on 1 Samuel 17:20-21

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. וגו והחיל is a circumstantial clause, and the predicate is introduced with והרעוּ, as וגו והחיל is placed at the head absolutely: “and as for the army which, etc., it raised a shout.” בּמּלחמה הרע, lit. to make a noise in war, i.e., to raise a war-cry.