1 Samuel 17:52 kjv
And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
1 Samuel 17:52 nkjv
Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.
1 Samuel 17:52 niv
Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.
1 Samuel 17:52 esv
And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron.
1 Samuel 17:52 nlt
Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron. The bodies of the dead and wounded Philistines were strewn all along the road from Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron.
1 Samuel 17 52 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jdg 7:22 | "When Gideon sounded the 300 trumpets... and the Lord set every man’s sword against his comrade..." | Divine panic and rout of enemies. |
| Josh 10:10 | "And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow..." | God's direct intervention in battle leading to enemy rout. |
| Exod 14:24 | "at the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces..." | God observing and acting against enemies during pursuit. |
| Exod 15:9 | "The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my desire shall be satisfied..." | Reversal of expected outcome; Israel now pursues. |
| Exod 15:15-16 | "the chiefs of Edom shall be dismayed... Terror and dread fall upon them..." | Fear and dread upon nations facing God's people. |
| Deut 20:4 | "For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies..." | God actively fights for Israel in battle. |
| 1 Sam 7:10 | "the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines..." | God directly intervenes to rout the Philistines. |
| 2 Sam 5:19-20 | "Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand... ‘The Lord has broken through my enemies before me..." | David's future victories over Philistines through God's power. |
| Ps 9:3 | "When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence." | Enemies retreat and are defeated by God's presence. |
| Ps 18:37 | "I pursued my enemies and overtook them; and did not turn back till they were consumed." | Victory through vigorous, relentless pursuit, often divine aid. |
| Ps 18:42 | "I ground them fine as dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets." | Complete destruction of defeated enemies. |
| Ps 34:19-21 | "Many are the afflictions of the righteous... but evil shall slay the wicked..." | The ultimate downfall of the wicked, God's justice. |
| Ps 68:1-2 | "Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered... As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away..." | God causing His enemies to scatter and perish. |
| Ps 78:66 | "He struck down his adversaries in the rear; he put them to everlasting reproach." | God smiting enemies, leading to their complete disgrace. |
| Isa 17:13 | "The nations roar like the roaring of many waters, but he will rebuke them... and they flee..." | God's rebuke causing enemy flight and defeat. |
| Isa 30:17 | "A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five, you shall flee..." | The Lord causing panic and disproportional flight. |
| Heb 11:34 | "quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight." | Faith empowers individuals to defeat armies (e.g., David). |
| Jas 4:7 | "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." | Spiritual application: resisting the enemy causes flight. |
| Col 2:15 | "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." | Christ's decisive victory over spiritual enemies. |
| 1 Cor 15:54 | "‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’" | The ultimate defeat of the last enemy through Christ. |
| Rev 19:15 | "From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron..." | Future definitive victory of Christ over His enemies. |
1 Samuel 17 verses
1 Samuel 17 52 Meaning
Following David's defeat of Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:52 describes the immediate and decisive rout of the Philistine army. The men of Israel and Judah, emboldened by their champion's victory and renewed by God's hand, erupted in a victorious war cry and relentlessly pursued the fleeing Philistines deep into their own territory. This pursuit was so effective and violent that fallen and wounded Philistines littered the entire stretch of land from Shaaraim to the major Philistine cities of Gath and Ekron, signaling a complete and devastating defeat for their enemies.
1 Samuel 17 52 Context
This verse stands at the climax of one of the most famous narratives in the Bible, immediately following David's impossible victory over Goliath. For forty days, the Philistine champion had taunted Israel's army, who, along with King Saul, were paralyzed by fear and had retreated from confrontation. David, a young shepherd boy armed with only faith, a sling, and five stones, confronted and defeated Goliath, cutting off his head. Verse 52 describes the immediate and transformative effect of this singular act of faith on the morale of the Israelite army. The battle turned instantaneously from stalemate and fear to a vigorous, divinely-empowered pursuit. Historically, the Philistines were Israel's formidable and persistent adversaries, constantly threatening their territorial integrity and way of life, often seeking to assert their polytheistic religion and cultural dominance. This battle represented a critical juncture in this long-standing conflict, decisively demonstrating the power of Yahweh over pagan gods and shifting the military balance.
1 Samuel 17 52 Word analysis
- And the men of Israel and Judah: This phrase signifies a unified, albeit still geographically distinct, fighting force of Saul's kingdom. While Israel and Judah would later divide politically (1 Ki 12), their common identity and purpose against the Philistine threat is emphasized here. This unity underscores the collective reversal of fear.
- rose with a shout: The Hebrew phrase `va'yakumu be'teru'ah`.
- `va'yakumu`: "and they rose" or "and they stood up." This denotes a change from their previous state of apprehension, now rising to action and determination.
- `be'teru'ah`: "with a shout" or "with a trumpet blast." This is a battle cry, a triumphant roar of war, often associated in Israelite warfare with divine presence, empowerment, or the initiation of battle (e.g., Josh 6:5 for Jericho). It signified confidence and unity.
- and pursued the Philistines: The verb is `vayirdfu` (from `radaph`, to pursue). This active and relentless chase shows their determination to capitalize on the Philistines' flight and inflict maximum damage. It implies that the Philistines were in full retreat, panicked and disorganized.
- as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron: These are two significant Philistine city-states, representing deep incursions into enemy territory.
- Gath: Home city of Goliath himself, a prominent Philistine city, strong and well-fortified. The pursuit reaching here indicates significant penetration.
- gates of Ekron: The gates of a city represented its strength, defense, and seat of authority. To pursue to the gates signifies almost capturing the city, a thorough rout, and the utter breakdown of the enemy's defense. Ekron was a cultic center of Baal-zebub (2 Ki 1:2), making the victory here a polemic against pagan deity power.
- so that the wounded Philistines fell: The Hebrew `chalalei Pelishtim` (`ḥâlâl` meaning "pierced, slain, mortally wounded"). This indicates that a large number of Philistines were killed or incapacitated during the pursuit, not just in the initial confrontation. It highlights the high casualty count and the comprehensive nature of the defeat.
- on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron: This specifies the entire stretch of the rout.
- Shaaraim: Possibly meaning "Two Gates," a city on the border of Judah (Josh 15:36), confirming the extensive nature of the pursuit starting from the battlefield, deep into Philistine territory. The location solidifies the picture of a thorough, prolonged pursuit rather than just a quick flight.
1 Samuel 17 52 Bonus section
The immediate and devastating collapse of the Philistine army, initiated by Goliath's fall, served not only as a military victory but also as a profound theological statement. It demonstrated the impotence of their god(s) and the overwhelming power of the Lord, who truly fights for His people. The "shout" (teru'ah) of the Israelites carries significant theological weight, often associated with the voice of God or the presence of His might in battle, transforming a previously fearful army into a potent force. The extent of the chase, into fortified Philistine heartland, points to a desire for thorough victory and likely reclamation of territories previously lost to Philistine domination. This event solidified David's role as a national hero and future deliverer, paving the way for his ascendancy in God's plan.
1 Samuel 17 52 Commentary
This verse is pivotal, marking the immediate and comprehensive triumph that God granted Israel through David's faithfulness. It vividly portrays the reversal of fortunes: the fear-stricken Israelite army, empowered by divine courage, became relentless pursuers, driving their formidable Philistine adversaries into full, panic-stricken retreat. The extent of the pursuit, from Shaaraim deep into the heartland of Philistia, reaching the major cities of Gath and Ekron, demonstrates the decisiveness and severity of the Philistine defeat. This was not a minor skirmish but a major rout, inflicting heavy casualties, underscoring God's absolute victory over the "uncircumcised Philistines" and their false gods. The unified shout of Israel and Judah symbolizes their revitalized faith and aggressive commitment to pursuing the Lord's victory.
Examples for practical usage:
- In times of spiritual defeat, a single act of faith can ignite widespread victory and turn the tide against persistent enemies.
- The pursuit highlights the importance of not just starting well, but finishing strong and pressing the advantage when God grants breakthrough.
- Just as fear paralyzes, courageous faith can awaken collective resolve and lead to shared triumph.