1 Samuel 17:3

3 And the Philistines stood above the hill on this part, and Israel stood on the hill on the tother part of the valley, that was betwixt them. (And the Philistines stood on a hill on one side, and Israel stood on a hill on the other side, and the valley was between them.)

1 Samuel 17:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:3

And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and
Israel stood on a mountain on the other side,
&e.] Before the Israelites are said to encamp in or by the valley; but here they are said to take the higher ground, and face the Philistines, who were on a mountain or hill on the other side over against them, which Kimchi reconciles thus; the whole or the grand army lay encamped in the valley, and, they that were set in array, or the first ranks, the first battalion, ascended the mountain to meet the Philistines. Vatablus takes it to be the same mountain, that on one part of it the Philistines formed their first battalion, and the rest of the army was in the valley; and on the other part of the mountain the Israelites pitched their camp:

and there was a valley between them;
the same as in the preceding verse.

1 Samuel 17:3 In-Context

1 Soothly the Philistines gathered together their companies into battle, and came together in Shochoh of Judah, and they setted tents betwixt Shochoh and Azekah, in the coasts of Dammim (in Ephesdammim).

2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and came into the valley of Terebinth, and they dressed (the) battle array to fight against [the] Philistines. (And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and came into the Elah Valley, and they directed the battle array to fight against the Philistines.)

3 And the Philistines stood above the hill on this part, and Israel stood on the hill on the tother part of the valley, that was betwixt them. (And the Philistines stood on a hill on one side, and Israel stood on a hill on the other side, and the valley was between them.)

4 And a man in the midst, that is, a strong man, and hardy, that goeth before the host, and is ready to fight against one of the enemies in singular battle, (that is, man-to-man,) went out of the Philistines? tents, Goliath by name, of Gath, of six cubits high and a span; (And a champion went out from the Philistines? camp, whose name was Goliath, and was from Gath, and he was six cubits and a span in height;)

5 and a brazen basinet on his head; and he was clothed with a mailed habergeon; and the weight of his habergeon was five thousand shekels of brass; (and he had a bronze helmet on his head; and was clothed with a breastplate of mail; and the weight of his breastplate was equal to five thousand brass shekels;)