1 Samuel 17:2

2 Saul and the Israelites gathered and encamped in the valley of Elah, and formed ranks 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 gathered their armies for battle; they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.
2 Saul and the Israelites gathered and encamped in the valley of Elah, and formed ranks against the Philistines.
3 The Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.
4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
5 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.