1 Samuel 17:1
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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיֵּאָ֣סְפ֔וּ
and were gathered together
H622
וַיֵּאָ֣סְפ֔וּ
and were gathered together
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
1 of 16
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
פְלִשְׁתִּ֤ים
Now the Philistines
H6430
פְלִשְׁתִּ֤ים
Now the Philistines
Strong's:
H6430
Word #:
2 of 16
a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מַֽחֲנֵיהֶם֙
their armies
H4264
מַֽחֲנֵיהֶם֙
their armies
Strong's:
H4264
Word #:
4 of 16
an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e
לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה
to battle
H4421
לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה
to battle
Strong's:
H4421
Word #:
5 of 16
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
וַיֵּאָ֣סְפ֔וּ
and were gathered together
H622
וַיֵּאָ֣סְפ֔וּ
and were gathered together
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
6 of 16
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
שׂוֹכֹ֥ה
at Shochoh
H7755
שׂוֹכֹ֥ה
at Shochoh
Strong's:
H7755
Word #:
7 of 16
sokoh or soko, the name of two places in palestine
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
8 of 16
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לִֽיהוּדָ֑ה
which belongeth to Judah
H3063
לִֽיהוּדָ֑ה
which belongeth to Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
9 of 16
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
וַֽיַּחֲנ֛וּ
and pitched
H2583
וַֽיַּחֲנ֛וּ
and pitched
Strong's:
H2583
Word #:
10 of 16
properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch a tent; generally to encamp (for abode or s
בֵּין
H996
בֵּין
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
11 of 16
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
שׂוֹכֹ֥ה
at Shochoh
H7755
שׂוֹכֹ֥ה
at Shochoh
Strong's:
H7755
Word #:
12 of 16
sokoh or soko, the name of two places in palestine
וּבֵין
H996
וּבֵין
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
13 of 16
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
Cross References
Joshua 15:35Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,1 Chronicles 11:13He was with David at Pas-dammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.2 Chronicles 28:18The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.1 Samuel 13:5And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven.Judges 3:3Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon unto the entering in of Hamath.
Historical Context
The Philistines, likely Aegean migrants who settled Canaan's coast around 1175 BCE, possessed iron technology giving military advantage. Their five city-states (Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, Ekron) regularly challenged Israelite expansion. The Valley of Elah provided strategic access from the coastal plain into Judah's heartland.
Questions for Reflection
- What territorial or spiritual boundaries are currently contested in your life or community?
- How does understanding the historical stakes deepen your appreciation of David's courage?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
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.
The Philistine gathering for battle introduces the military crisis that would reveal David's faith. Shochoh and Azekah in the Shephelah (lowland hills) marked the contested boundary between Philistine coastal territory and Israelite highlands. The place name Ephes-dammim ('boundary of blood') ominously foreshadowed the coming confrontation. Israel's very existence as an independent nation was at stake in this struggle for territorial control.