1 Samuel 17:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.

NIV: Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah.

NASB: Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.

CSB: The Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah and camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim.

NLT: The Philistines now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim.

KJV: Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.

NKJV: Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim.

King Saul had great success in defeating Israel's enemies during his reign. Yet he was never able to completely overcome the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:47–48, 52). They muster their armies to attack Israel once again, encamping in large numbers between the towns of Socoh and Azekah in the Israelite territory of Judah.

Socoh has not been precisely located by modern archaeologists. It seems to be southwest of what would later become Jerusalem. This was territory then controlled by the Philistines. A fortress stood at Azekah, which was northwest of Socoh. Whomever controlled that fortress controlled the road that ran across the Elah Valley, where the Israelite army was camped to oppose the Philistine invasion. Ephes-dammim is a place between Socoh and Azekah, but the specific location is unknown today.

First Samuel 17:1–11 introduces a Philistine champion called Goliath. The armies of Israel and Philistia face off across a valley. Goliath is massive, towering over every other warrior, with gigantic weapons to match. Day after day (1 Samuel 17:16), he taunts the Israelite army. Goliath dares them to send their own champion to face him in single combat; the winner will determine which army is victorious. The Israelite soldiers are too intimidated to fight.

David, delivering food to his brothers at the Israelite army camp, hears the Philistine Goliath's defiant challenge. Single man combat could decide the battle, but no Israelite wanted to face the massive warrior. David is appalled that a Philistine would defy the armies of the living God. He volunteers to fight, and King Saul agrees. Before the battle, David declares that the Lord will give victory and thereby show the world that there is a God in Israel. David quickly kills and beheads Goliath. The Israelites chase the Philistines back to their own territory and plunder their camp. David brings Goliath's head to Saul.

Saul was made king of Israel (1 Samuel 9—10) and had many early successes (1 Samuel 11—14). However, his disobedience resulted in God's plan for a different king (1 Samuel 15). The prophet Samuel anointed David as this future monarch (1 Samuel 16:11–13). David has been serving as a musician for Saul (1 Samuel 16:18–21) and comes visit his brothers during a standoff between Israelite and Philistine forces. This leads to the famous story of David and Goliath. David's victory publicly triggers his rise to power, paralleled by Saul's collapse. In the end, Saul will die in disgrace (1 Samuel 31:4–7) and David will be appointed the new king of Israel (1 Samuel 2:45:1–3).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.