New English Translation
1 Samuel 17:1
1The Philistines gathered their troops for battle. They assembled at Socoh in Judah. They camped in Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah.
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
The Philistines gathered their troops for battle. They assembled at Socoh in Judah. They camped in Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. 2Saul and the Israelite army assembled and camped in the valley of Elah, where they arranged their battle lines to fight against the Philistines. 3The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites on another hill, with the valley between them.
Read all of 1 Samuel 171 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 7:7When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the leaders of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the Israelites heard about this, they were afraid of the Philistines.
- 1 Samuel 13:5For the battle with Israel the Philistines had amassed 3,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven.
- 1 Samuel 14:46Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back home.
- Judges 3:3These were the nations: the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo-Hamath.
- Joshua 15:35Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
- 2 Chronicles 11:7Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,
- 1 Samuel 28:18Since you did not obey the Lord and did not carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this thing to you today.
- Joshua 10:10The Lord routed them before Israel. Israel thoroughly defeated them at Gibeon. They chased them up the road to the pass of Beth Horon and struck them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah.
- Jeremiah 34:7He did this while the army of the king of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the cities of Lachish and Azekah. He was attacking these cities because they were the only fortified cities of Judah which were still holding out.
- 1 Chronicles 11:13He was with David in Pas Dammim when the Philistines assembled there for battle. In an area of the field that was full of barley, the army retreated 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
In the dictionaries
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
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