1 Samuel 28 4

1 Samuel 28:4 kjv

And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

1 Samuel 28:4 nkjv

Then the Philistines gathered together, and came and encamped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped at Gilboa.

1 Samuel 28:4 niv

The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa.

1 Samuel 28:4 esv

The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.

1 Samuel 28:4 nlt

The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa.

1 Samuel 28 verses

1 Samuel 28 4 Meaning

First Samuel 28:4 describes the initial movements of the impending conflict between the Philistines and Israel. The Philistines, a perennial enemy of Israel, amassed their forces and established a base at Shunem. In response, King Saul rallied the entirety of Israel's military might, taking up a defensive position on Mount Gilboa. This verse sets the immediate geographical and military stage for a pivotal battle, highlighting the critical confrontation and the desperate circumstances surrounding Saul's final stand.

1 Samuel 28 4 Context

First Samuel 28:4 immediately precedes King Saul's desperate act of consulting a medium at En-dor. This verse initiates the climactic events of Saul's life and reign. For chapters, Saul has been spiritually separated from God due to his disobedience. He has lost the Spirit of the Lord, God no longer answers him through dreams, Urim, or prophets (1 Sam 28:6). The Philistines, representing a consistent and often overwhelming external threat to Israel's national existence and spiritual purity, choose a strategically vital location (Shunem in the Jezreel Valley) for their encampment. Saul, feeling isolated and abandoned by God, mobilizes Israel's forces to Gilboa, a mountain range close to Shunem, setting the scene for a confrontation that will determine his fate and Israel's immediate future. This context highlights the increasing pressure on Saul, his spiritual bankruptcy, and the imminent military disaster.

1 Samuel 28 4 Word analysis

• And the Philistines:
  • `Philistines` (Hebrew: פְּלִשְׁתִּים, Pelishtim): A non-Semitic "Sea Peoples" group who settled along the southern coast of Canaan. They were Israel's persistent, powerful, and idol-worshiping enemies throughout the periods of the Judges and early Monarchy. Their presence in the narrative consistently represents a physical and ideological threat to God's people.
  • Significance: Their renewed gathering underscores their ongoing threat and military prowess, a constant thorn in Israel's side, often a tool of divine discipline.
• gathered themselves together:
  • `gathered` (Hebrew: וַיִּקָּבְּצוּ, Vayyikavvu): From the root קָבַץ (qavats), meaning "to collect, gather, assemble." The reflexive form emphasizes a deliberate and united movement.
  • Significance: This signifies a coordinated, formidable military maneuver, not a mere skirmish, highlighting the scale of the threat. It suggests careful preparation and strategic intent.
• and came and pitched in Shunem:
  • `pitched` (Hebrew: וַיַּחֲנוּ, Vayyahnu): From the root חָנָה (hanah), meaning "to encamp, set up a military camp."
  • `Shunem` (Hebrew: שׁוּנֵם, Shunem): A town in the tribal territory of Issachar (Josh 19:18), located on the northern slope of the Hill of Moreh (Gibeath ha-Moreh), overlooking the Jezreel Valley (or Esdraelon Valley).
  • Significance: Shunem's location was highly strategic. The Jezreel Valley was a crucial passageway connecting coastal plains with the Jordan Valley and beyond, making it a frequent battleground. The Philistine presence here indicates their deep penetration into Israelite territory and a direct challenge to the heartland. It set up the battle against Israelite forces who would encamp nearby.
• and Saul gathered all Israel together:
  • `Saul` (Hebrew: שָׁאוּל, Sha'ul): The first king of Israel. At this point, he is a figure in spiritual decline, having been rejected by God for disobedience. His leadership is marked by desperation.
  • `all Israel` (Hebrew: כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, kol-Yisrael): Refers to the military levy from across the tribes, emphasizing the national scale of the impending conflict.
  • Significance: Despite Saul's spiritual state, the people of Israel still rallied under his command in the face of an external threat, demonstrating national unity in crisis, or perhaps a lingering loyalty/habit.
• and they pitched in Gilboa:
  • `Gilboa` (Hebrew: הַגִּלְבֹּעַ, haGilboa): A mountain range situated southeast of Shunem, across the Jezreel Valley.
  • Significance: This mountain would become synonymous with Saul's defeat and death. The choice of Gilboa as a defensive position positions Israel directly opposite the Philistines, preparing for direct confrontation in a location that would soon become infamous.

• "And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem": This phrase paints a picture of a well-organized, determined, and aggressive enemy taking a strong offensive stance. The Philistines' unity and strategic positioning illustrate their effective military capability, setting the scene for a significant threat to Israel's national security. Their advance into the Jezreel Valley shows their confidence and the depth of the territorial challenge they posed.
• "and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa": This response highlights Saul's role as king, mobilizing the entire nation for defense. The counter-positioning on Mount Gilboa demonstrates Israel's attempt to meet the threat head-on, creating a direct confrontation scenario. This grouping of words portrays the two forces poised against each other, leading to a crucial moment in Israelite history, deeply shadowed by Saul's internal struggle and God's silence.

1 Samuel 28 4 Bonus section

• Literary Foreshadowing: The selection of Gilboa for Israel's encampment directly foreshadows the subsequent events in 1 Samuel 31, where Saul and his sons are slain on this very mountain, marking the end of Saul's reign and dynasty. David's later lament (2 Sam 1:21) ensures Gilboa is etched into Israel's collective memory as a place of sorrow and divine judgment.
• Spiritual Isolation of Saul: The strategic movements described in this verse immediately precede Saul's futile attempt to consult God and then, in desperation, turn to a medium, illustrating the depth of his spiritual abandonment. His decision to gather "all Israel" emphasizes his reliance on human might rather than divine direction.
• Cultural Context: In ancient Near Eastern warfare, gathering and pitching camp were standard preparatory actions before battle, involving strategic assessment of terrain and resources. The Jezreel Valley, including areas around Shunem and Gilboa, was a historically significant battlefield due to its geography, suitable for chariot warfare and large armies.
• Polemical Implication: While not overtly polemical, the context of Israel facing its pagan adversaries who seemingly prosper in their gatherings implies a challenge to God's covenant with Israel. The eventual defeat on Gilboa underscores that God's people, even when numerous, are vulnerable when their leader is disobedient and rejected by their Divine King. It is a subtle but potent argument against idolatry and unfaithfulness.

1 Samuel 28 4 Commentary

First Samuel 28:4 lays the ground for one of the most tragic episodes in Israel's early monarchy. It depicts the standard preparations for war, with the formidable Philistines asserting their dominance by encamping in a key strategic location in the Jezreel Valley. In response, Saul, the king abandoned by divine favor, rallies Israel for a desperate confrontation. This verse, deceptively simple in its military movements, subtly emphasizes the grave peril Israel faced and the spiritual bankruptcy of their king. It is a setting for the coming climax where human desperation leads to forbidden practices, culminating in defeat and death, ultimately demonstrating that strength in battle does not come from numbers or strategic position but from the Lord (Prov 21:30-31). The specific locations mentioned, Shunem and Gilboa, become markers for the Philistine threat and Israel's catastrophic defeat respectively.