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

The Philistines now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim. 2Saul countered by gathering his Israelite troops near the valley of Elah. 3So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, 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 Philistine rulers heard that Israel had gathered at Mizpah, they mobilized their army and advanced. The Israelites were badly frightened when they learned that the Philistines were approaching.
• 1 Samuel 13:5The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven.
• 1 Samuel 14:46Then Saul called back the army from chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines returned home.
• Judges 3:3These are the nations: the Philistines (those living under the five Philistine rulers), all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath.
• Joshua 15:35Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
• 2 Chronicles 11:7Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
• 1 Samuel 28:18The Lord has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites.
• Joshua 10:10The Lord threw them into a panic, and the Israelites slaughtered great numbers of them at Gibeon. Then the Israelites chased the enemy along the road to Beth-horon, killing them all along the way to Azekah and Makkedah.
• Jeremiah 34:7At this time the Babylonian army was besieging Jerusalem, Lachish, and Azekah—the only fortified cities of Judah not yet captured.
• 1 Chronicles 11:13He was with David when the Philistines gathered for battle at Pas-dammim and attacked the Israelites in a field full of barley. The Israelite army fled,

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