1 Samuel 17:1

1 Samuel 17:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes–dammim.
• New International Version (NIV)Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim.

Context of 1 Samuel 17:1

Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle and were assembled at Socoh, which belongs to Judah; and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together and they camped in the Valley of Elah, and assembled in battle formation to meet the Philistines. 3The Philistines were standing on the mountain on one side and Israel was standing on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.

1 Samuel 17:1 word by word

וַיַּאַסְפ֨וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֤ים אֶת־מַֽחֲנֵיהֶם֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַיֵּאָ֣סְפ֔וּ שֹׂכֹ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִיהוּדָ֑ה וַֽיַּחֲנ֛וּ בֵּין־שׂוֹכֹ֥ה וּבֵין־עֲזֵקָ֖ה בְּאֶ֥פֶס דַּמִּֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Now the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• gathered togetherאָסַף'âsaph · to gatherH622
• their armiesמַחֲנֶהmachăneh · campH4264
• to battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• at Shochohשׂוֹכֹה, שֹׂכֹהώôkôh ώôkôh ώôkô · SocohH7755
• to Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
• and pitchedחָנָהchânâh · to campH2583
• and Azekahעֲזֵקָה‛ăzêqâh · AzekahH5825
• in Ephes–dammimאֶ֫פֶס דַּמִּים'ephes dammîym · Ephes-dammimH658

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 17:1

• 1 Samuel 7:7Now when the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the lords (governors) of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the Israelites heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
• 1 Samuel 13:5Now the Philistines gathered to fight against Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and troops in multitude, like sand on the seashore. They came up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
• 1 Samuel 14:46Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
• Judges 3:3The remaining nations are: the five lords (governors) of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to the entrance of Hamath.
• Joshua 15:35Jarmuth and Adullam, Socoh and Azekah,
• 2 Chronicles 11:7Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
• 1 Samuel 28:18Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day.
• Joshua 10:10And the Lord caused them to panic and be confused before Israel, and He struck them dead in a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goes up to Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
• Jeremiah 34:7when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the remaining cities of Judah, against Lachish and Azekah, for these were the [only] fortified cities among the cities of Judah.
• 1 Chronicles 11:13He was with David at Pasdammim [where David had killed Goliath] and there the Philistines were gathered together for battle, and there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people [of Israel] fled before the Philistines.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 17:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Now the Philistines gathered together - Calmet thinks that this war happened eight years after the anointing of David, and ten or twelve years after the war with the Amalekites. We have already seen that there was war between Saul and the Philistines all his days. See 1 Samuel 14:52. Shochoh and Azekah - Places which lay to the south of Jerusalem and to the west of Bethlehem; about five leagues from the former. Ephes-dammim was somewhere in the vicinity…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The narrative reverts to the Philistine wars 1 Samuel 14:52; the other introductory details concerning Saul‘s rejection, and David‘s introduction upon the stage of the history, having been disposed of in the intermediate chapters. Shochoh which belongeth to Judah - See the marginal reference which places Shochoh and Azekah in the “Shephelah” or maritime plain, and 2 Chronicles 28:18, “Shochoh” now “Shuweikeh,” “nine miles from Eleutheropolis,” Jerome…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Goliath's challenge. (1-11) David comes to the camp. (12-30) David undertakes to fight Goliath. (31-39) and goes to meet him. (40-47) He kills Goliath. (48-58) Verses 1-11 Men so entirely depend upon God in all things, that when he withdraws his help, the most valiant and resolute cannot find their hearts or hands, as daily experience shows.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1The Philistines were a constant threat during Saul’s rule (see 1 Samuel 14:47–52). Socoh in Judah was 22.5 kilometers (14 miles) west of Bethlehem, near Philistine land. Azekah was a few kilometers northwest of Socoh (the exact location of Ephes-dammim is unknown). The Philistines were invading Israelite territory.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-31Sa 17:1-3. The Israelites and Philistines Being Ready to Battle. 1. the Philistines gathered together their armies--twenty-seven years after their overthrow at Michmash. Having now recovered their spirits and strength, they sought an opportunity of wiping out the infamy of that national disaster, as well as to regain their lost ascendency over Israel. Shocoh--now Shuweikeh, a town in the western plains of Judah (Jos 15:35), nine Roman miles from…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 17:1

• Azekah
• Ephes-Dammin
• Pas-Dammim
• Socoh

In the dictionaries

• Judah
• Philistines
• Judah, kingdom of Judah
• Judea, Judah
• Ephes-Dammim
• Arise
• Assay
• Carriage
• Cause
• Coat

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings