Bible Strands
1 Samuel 17:52
Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. And the bodies of the Philistines were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes the men of Israel and Judah immediately after David kills the Philistine champion, as they charge forward with a shout to pursue the fleeing enemy forces.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַ/יָּרִ֗עוּ (va/i.ya.Ri.'u) literally means "and they shouted a war cry," marking the coordinated military response that turns the Philistines' retreat into a rout.
The thread — The city of Ekron appears in Joshua 15:11 and Joshua 15:45 as part of the Philistine territory allotted to Judah, establishing the geographic boundary the Israelites now press against.
Why it lands — The text states that Philistine bodies were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron, asking the reader to acknowledge the decisive, physical consequence of divine deliverance and the complete collapse of the enemy's line.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Joshua 15:11 Then it went out to the northern slope of Ekron, curved toward Shikkeron, proceeded to Mount Baalah, went on to Jabneel, and ended at the Sea.
- Joshua 15:33 These were in the foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
- Joshua 15:45 Ekron, with its towns and villages;
- Judges 7:23 Then the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and they pursued the Midianites.
- 1 Samuel 14:21 And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps to join the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
- 2 Samuel 23:10 but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead.