1 Samuel 17:2

2 And Saul and the men of Israel came together and took up their position in the valley of Elah, and put their forces in order against the Philistines.

1 Samuel 17:2 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:2

And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together
He being cured, at least being better of his disorder, through the music of David, and alarmed and aroused by the invasion of the Philistines, which might serve to dissipate any remains of it, or prevent its return, got together his forces:

and pitched by the valley of Elah;
which Jerom F21 says Aquila and Theodotion interpret "the valley of the oak"; but the Vulgate Latin version, the valley of Terebinth; which, according to our countryman Sandys F23, was four miles from Ramaosophim, where Samuel dwelt; for he says,

``after four miles riding, we descended into the valley of Terebinth, famous, though little, for the slaughter of Goliath;''

and in the Targum this valley is called the valley of Butma, which in the Arabic language signifies a "terebinth", or turpentine tree; though some translate it "the oak"; and, according to some modern travellers {x}, to this day it bears a name similar to that; for they say it is

``now called the vale of Bitumen, very famous all over those parts for David's victory over Goliath:''

and set the battle in array against the Philistines;
prepared to give them battle.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 Deloc. Heb. fol. 91. F.
F23 Travels, p. 157. ed. 5.
F24 Egmont and Heyman's Travels, vol. 1. p. 305.

1 Samuel 17:2 In-Context

1 Now the Philistines got their armies together for war, and came together at Socoh in the land of Judah, and took up their position between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim.
2 And Saul and the men of Israel came together and took up their position in the valley of Elah, and put their forces in order against the Philistines.
3 The Philistines were stationed on the mountain on one side and Israel on the mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
4 And a fighter came out from the tents of the Philistines, named Goliath of Gath; he was more than six cubits tall.
5 And he had a head-dress of brass on his head, and he was dressed in a coat of metal, the weight of which was five thousand shekels of brass.
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