1 Samuel 28:4

4 The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa.

1 Samuel 28:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 28:4

And the Philistines gathered themselves together
From different parts, and formed a considerable army:

and came and pitched in Shunem;
a city, in the borders of the tribe of Issachar, of which (See Gill on Joshua 19:18);

and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa;
a range of mountains, near Jezreel, and which Jerom ^F2 calls the mountains of the Philistines, six miles from Scythopolis, where there is a large village called Gelbus.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 De loc. Heb fol. 92. D.

1 Samuel 28:4 In-Context

2 “Very well!” David agreed. “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.” Then Achish told David, “I will make you my personal bodyguard for life.”

3 Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him. He was buried in Ramah, his hometown. And Saul had banned from the land of Israel all mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead.

4 The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa.

5 When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear.

6 He asked the LORD what he should do, but the LORD refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets.