Bible Strands
1 Samuel 17:1
Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records the Philistine mobilization immediately preceding the Israelite array in the Valley of Elah. The words — וַ/יַּאַסְפ֨וּ (va/i.ya.'as.Fu) translates literally as "and they gathered," while מַֽחֲנֵי/הֶם֙ (ma.cha.nei./Hem) means "their armies" or "their camps." The thread — Socoh and Azekah appear in Joshua 15:35 as Judahite border towns, and the text echoes 1 Samuel 13:5 and 1 Chronicles 11:13 regarding Philistine battle assemblies. Why it lands — The passage states the exact encampment locations to frame the immediate military confrontation without commentary.
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The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Joshua 15:35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
- 1 Samuel 13:5 Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
- 1 Chronicles 11:13 He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place with a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines.
- 2 Chronicles 28:18 The Philistines had also raided the cities of the foothills and the Negev of Judah, capturing and occupying Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their villages.
- Joshua 10:10 And the LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great slaughter at Gibeon, pursued them along the ascent to Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
- Judges 3:3 the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath.
- 1 Samuel 7:7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. And when the Israelites learned of this, they feared the Philistines
- 1 Samuel 14:46 Then Saul gave up his pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own land.
- 1 Samuel 14:52 And the war with the Philistines was fierce for all the days of Saul. So whenever he noticed any strong or brave man, Saul would enlist him.
- 2 Chronicles 11:7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,