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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The Philistines now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim.

Context of 1 Samuel 17:1

Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. 2Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, 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 7:7When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.
• 1 Samuel 13:5The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash, east of Beth Aven.
• 1 Samuel 14:46Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.
• Judges 3:3the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath.
• Joshua 15:35Jarmuth, Adullam, Sokoh, Azekah,
• 2 Chronicles 11:7Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam,
• 1 Samuel 28:18Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today.
• Joshua 10:10The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah.
• Jeremiah 34:7while the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah that were still holding out—Lachish and Azekah. These were the only fortified cities left in Judah.
• 1 Chronicles 11:13He was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place where there was a field full of barley, the troops fled from 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