1 Samuel 28:4
And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
Original Language Analysis
פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים
And the Philistines
H6430
פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים
And the Philistines
Strong's:
H6430
Word #:
2 of 12
a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth
וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ
and came
H935
וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ
and came
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
3 of 12
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ
and pitched
H2583
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ
and pitched
Strong's:
H2583
Word #:
4 of 12
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
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 12
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
9 of 12
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
all Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
all Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
10 of 12
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Cross References
Joshua 19:18And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,1 Samuel 31:1Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.2 Kings 4:8And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.
Historical Context
Shunem and Gilboa frame the Jezreel Valley, one of Israel's most strategic and fertile regions. The Philistine advance this far north indicates significant military pressure. Israel's eventual defeat here would open the northern territories to Philistine occupation.
Questions for Reflection
- When have you faced situations where the terrain itself seemed against you?
- How do overwhelming circumstances affect your spiritual condition?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The geographic staging of the armies presents the military reality facing Saul. The Philistines at Shunem and Israel at Gilboa face each other across the Jezreel Valley, far from Saul's traditional southern strongholds. The Hebrew 'chanu' (pitched, encamped) for both armies indicates a standoff before battle. Mount Gilboa's terrain would prove fatal for Israel's forces, particularly for chariot-less infantry facing Philistine military technology on open ground.