1 Samuel 17 1

1 Samuel 17:1 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 Ephesdammim.

1 Samuel 17:1 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.

1 Samuel 17:1 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.

1 Samuel 17:1 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.

1 Samuel 17:1 nlt

The Philistines now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim.

1 Samuel 17 verses

1 Samuel 17 1 Meaning

This verse immediately establishes the primary antagonist and the dire situation for Israel. The Philistines, Israel's long-standing and formidable enemy, actively mobilized their entire army for a direct military confrontation, explicitly aiming for battle on Israelite soil. Their strategic encampment between Socoh and Azekah in the Shephelah, a region belonging to Judah, positioned them to challenge Israelite control over vital access routes into the Judean highlands, setting the stage for a critical engagement.

1 Samuel 17 1 Context

This verse serves as the critical opening to one of the Bible's most well-known narratives: the confrontation between David and Goliath. It immediately establishes the dire military and spiritual state of Israel under King Saul. Following Saul's rejection by God for disobedience (1 Sam 15) and David's anointing as the future king (1 Sam 16), Israel is presented with a monumental challenge from its long-standing enemy, the Philistines.

Historically, the Philistines were a dominant force in the coastal plain of Canaan, and their ongoing encroachment into the Shephelah (the low-lying hills between the coastal plain and the Judean mountains) represented a constant threat to Israelite sovereignty and security. The choice of location – "between Socoh and Azekah" – pinpoints the strategic Valley of Elah, a natural passage from the Philistine territory into the heart of Judah. This precise positioning of their forces signaled a deliberate, large-scale invasion with the aim of severing communication between Judah and the north and possibly securing routes to Jerusalem. This military escalation underscores the vulnerability of Israel at a time when their king was increasingly unstable, creating the perfect backdrop for God to demonstrate His power through an unlikely champion.

1 Samuel 17 1 Word analysis

• Now (וַיַּאַסְפוּ - wayya'aspû): The Hebrew verb is a consecutive perfect, functioning like "And...". It signifies a direct continuation of the narrative, transitioning immediately into the Philistine mobilization after the previous chapter's focus on David's anointing. It shows an immediate action taking place, setting the scene.
• the Philistines (פְּלִשְׁתִּים - Pəlištîm): This refers to the people inhabiting the southwestern coast of Canaan. Known for their advanced iron weaponry, superior organization, and military prowess, they were a perennial and formidable adversary of Israel. Their very name often evoked fear due to their repeated oppressive actions against the Israelites throughout the period of the Judges and early Monarchy.
• gathered (וַיַּאַסְפוּ - wayya'aspû): From the root ʼāsăph, meaning "to gather, collect, assemble." This indicates a deliberate and organized mustering of their military forces, not just a casual raiding party. It highlights their preparation and numerical strength.
• their armies (מַחֲנֹתָם - maḥănôtām): From maḥăneh, meaning "camp, army, host, military encampment." The plural suffix '-tām' (their) emphasizes the full force of their military might. It suggests multiple divisions or contingents converging, indicating a large-scale and significant military operation.
• for battle (לַמִּלְחָמָה - lammiḵḥāmāh): From milḥāmāh, meaning "war, battle." The preposition la- ("for") and the definite article ("the") specify the unequivocal purpose: they assembled for the battle, a planned and direct confrontation, not mere border skirmishes or plundering. This signals serious intent for full-scale war.
• at Socoh (בְּשׂוֹכֹה - bəśôḵōh): A significant Judahite city in the Shephelah, roughly 17 miles southwest of Jerusalem. Its location was strategically vital as it guarded an important pass into the Judean highlands. This emphasizes the Philistine incursion into core Israelite territory.
• which belongs to Judah (אֲשֶׁר לִיהוּדָה - ʼăšer lîhûḏāh): Explicitly states tribal ownership. This highlights the invasion of the territory assigned by God to His chosen people, intensifying the stakes of the impending conflict. It underlines that the Philistines are intruding on the inheritance of Israel.
• and encamped (וַיַּחֲנוּ - wayyaḥănû): From ḥānāh, meaning "to pitch a tent, encamp." This signifies a military maneuver to establish a base of operations, suggesting a readiness for a protracted stand-off or immediate engagement rather than a swift raid. It implies setting up defensive positions.
• between Socoh and Azekah (בֵּין שׂוֹכֹה וּבֵין עֲזֵקָה - bên śôkōh ûbên ʻăzēqāh): Azekah (‘Ăzēqāh) is another important fortified Judahite city, about 3 miles northwest of Socoh. These two points define the precise geographic location of the Valley of Elah (explicitly named in later verses), which provided a natural arena for the impending battle. This detailed geographical markers signify the strategic advantage the Philistines sought to gain, by controlling this critical valley access.

Words-group Analysis

• "Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle": This phrase paints a picture of a massive, organized military threat. The use of "armies" (plural) rather than just "forces" highlights the scale. This was not a small raiding party but a coordinated, national effort designed to achieve a decisive victory, putting immense pressure on Israel. It immediately presents the gravity of the challenge confronting God's people.
• "at Socoh, which belongs to Judah": This specifies the targeted location, indicating a deliberate incursion into core Israelite, specifically Judean, territory. It underlines the invasive nature of the Philistine action, transforming it from a mere border skirmish into an direct challenge to Israel's God-given inheritance. The battle would take place on land given by God to Judah, whose descendant (David) would soon emerge.
• "and encamped between Socoh and Azekah": This describes the precise geographical setting of the imminent confrontation—the Valley of Elah, strategically chosen. By encamping in this narrow valley, the Philistines presented a significant challenge for the Israelite forces, forcing a defensive posture. It establishes the stage for the dramatic face-off between two opposing forces and, more significantly, between two differing spiritual worldviews.

1 Samuel 17 1 Bonus section

• The Philistine encampment in the Valley of Elah specifically blocked one of the few natural invasion routes from their coastal strongholds into the heartland of Judah. Control of this valley was vital for strategic dominance over the entire region, enabling access to important Israelite cities and trade routes.
• This gathering of Philistine forces contrasts sharply with Saul's current military situation, as seen later in the chapter where Israel's forces appear disheartened and fearful. It sets up the thematic tension between human military strength and divine intervention.
• The conflict established here is not merely a territorial dispute; it embodies a clash of worldviews. The Philistines, worshippers of Dagon and other pagan deities, were directly challenging the covenant people of Yahweh on their own land. Thus, the ensuing battle had significant spiritual implications for the supremacy of God in Israel.

1 Samuel 17 1 Commentary

1 Samuel 17:1 sets the dramatic scene for the legendary confrontation between David and Goliath, signaling an immediate and grave national crisis for Israel. The verse does more than just state a factual event; it imbues the situation with deep theological and strategic significance. The Philistines, as persistent enemies of God's people, gathered their armies not for a casual raid but "for battle," indicating a decisive, all-out military campaign aimed at consolidating their dominance over Israel. Their choice of the Shephelah, specifically the area between Socoh and Azekah (which defines the Valley of Elah), was tactically brilliant, controlling access points into Judah's heartland and challenging Israelite sovereignty head-on.

At a time when Israel's anointed king, Saul, was compromised by disobedience and fear, this powerful Philistine advance highlights the vacuum of leadership and faith within Israel's military. The stage is perfectly set for divine intervention through an unexpected champion, transforming what appears to be a mere military skirmish into a profound spiritual battle, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant people despite their king's failings. This verse powerfully underscores the immediate and formidable challenge facing Israel, emphasizing the overwhelming odds against them and setting the dramatic backdrop for God's demonstration of power through the improbable triumph of David.