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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/17.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_samuel/17.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/17.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_samuel/17.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/17.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The Philistines stood on one hill and the Israelites stood on another, with the valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/17.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and <i>there was</i> a valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/17.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/17.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The Philistines were standing on the mountain on one side, while Israel was standing on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/17.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/17.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And the Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_samuel/17.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now the Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_samuel/17.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The Philistines were standing on the mountain on one side and Israel was standing on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_samuel/17.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites were standing on another hill with a ravine between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/17.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites were standing on another hill with a ravine between them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_samuel/17.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_samuel/17.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_samuel/17.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The Philistines were stationed on a hill on one side, and the Israelites were stationed on a hill on the other side. There was a ravine between the two of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_samuel/17.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The Philistines lined up on one hill and the Israelites on another, with a valley between them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_samuel/17.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The Philistines were standing on the hill on one side while the Israelis were standing on the hill on the other side, with the valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_samuel/17.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites on another hill, with the valley between them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_samuel/17.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_samuel/17.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_samuel/17.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The Philistines stood on one hill and the Israelites stood on another, with the valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_samuel/17.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/17.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And the Philistines are standing on the mountain on this [side], and Israel is standing on the mountain on that [side], and the valley [is] between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_samuel/17.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And the Philistines are standing on the mountain on this side, and the Israelites are standing on the mountain on that side, and the valley is between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_samuel/17.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the rovers standing on the mountain from hence, and Israel standing on the mountain from thence, and the valley between them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_samuel/17.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/17.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And the Philistines were standing on a mountain on the one side, and Israel was standing on a mountain on the other side. And there was a valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_samuel/17.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The Philistines were stationed on one hill and the Israelites on an opposite hill, with a valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/17.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/17.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, and the valley was between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/17.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the Philistines stood on a mountain over here and Israel stood on a mountain over there, and a valley was between them<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_samuel/17.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side; and there was a valley between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_samuel/17.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the Philistines stand on the mountain on one side, and Israel stands on the mountain on the other side, and the valley was between them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_samuel/17-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=4644" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/17.htm">Goliath's Challenge</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>Saul and the men of Israel assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, arraying themselves for battle against the Philistines. <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6430.htm" title="6430: ū·p̄ə·liš·tîm (Conj-w:: N-proper-mp) -- Inhab. of Philistia. Patrial from Plesheth; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth.">The Philistines</a> <a href="/hebrew/5975.htm" title="5975: ‘ō·mə·ḏîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To take one's stand, stand. A primitive root; to stand, in various relations.">stood</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: miz·zeh (Prep-m:: Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">one</a> <a href="/hebrew/2022.htm" title="2022: hā·hār (Art:: N-ms) -- Mountain, hill, hill country. A shortened form of harar; a mountain or range of hills.">hill</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: wə·yiś·rā·’êl (Conj-w:: N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">and the Israelites</a> <a href="/hebrew/5975.htm" title="5975: ‘ō·mə·ḏîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To take one's stand, stand. A primitive root; to stand, in various relations.">stood</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: miz·zeh (Prep-m:: Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">another,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2022.htm" title="2022: hā·hār (Art:: N-ms) -- Mountain, hill, hill country. A shortened form of harar; a mountain or range of hills."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1516.htm" title="1516: wə·hag·gay (Conj-w, Art:: N-cs) -- A valley. Or gay; probably from the same root as gevah; a gorge.">with the valley</a> <a href="/hebrew/996.htm" title="996: bê·nê·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- An interval, space between. ">between them.</a> </span><span class="reftext">4</span>Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/15-33.htm">Joshua 15:33-36</a></span><br />These were in the foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, / Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, / Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/5-18.htm">2 Samuel 5:18-22</a></span><br />Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. / So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.” / So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/11-10.htm">2 Chronicles 11:10-12</a></span><br />Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. / He strengthened their fortifications and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine. / He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/15-9.htm">Judges 15:9-10</a></span><br />Then the Philistines went up, camped in Judah, and deployed themselves near the town of Lehi. / “Why have you attacked us?” said the men of Judah. The Philistines replied, “We have come to arrest Samson and pay him back for what he has done to us.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/14-52.htm">1 Samuel 14:52</a></span><br />And the war with the Philistines was fierce for all the days of Saul. So whenever he noticed any strong or brave man, Saul would enlist him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/13-5.htm">1 Samuel 13:5</a></span><br />Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/23-13.htm">1 Samuel 23:13-14</a></span><br />Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth. / And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/28-4.htm">1 Samuel 28:4</a></span><br />The Philistines gathered together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/23-13.htm">2 Samuel 23:13-14</a></span><br />At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. / At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/4-25.htm">1 Kings 4:25</a></span><br />Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/14-7.htm">2 Kings 14:7</a></span><br />Amaziah struck down 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He took Sela in battle and called it Joktheel, which is its name to this very day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/23-4.htm">Psalm 23:4</a></span><br />Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/9-4.htm">Isaiah 9:4</a></span><br />For as in the day of Midian You have shattered the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/4-1.htm">Matthew 4:1-11</a></span><br />Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. / After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. / The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/4-1.htm">Luke 4:1-13</a></span><br />Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, / where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry. / The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/14-22.htm">Hill</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-2.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-2.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/judges/16-3.htm">Mountain</a> <a href="/judges/16-11.htm">Occupied</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-2.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-5.htm">Ravine</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-47.htm">Side</a> <a href="/1_samuel/9-27.htm">Standing</a> <a href="/1_samuel/13-3.htm">Stationed</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-21.htm">Stood</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-2.htm">Valley</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/20-19.htm">Hill</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-8.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-11.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-14.htm">Mountain</a> <a href="/1_kings/18-27.htm">Occupied</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-4.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-20.htm">Ravine</a> <a href="/1_samuel/19-3.htm">Side</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-26.htm">Standing</a> <a href="/2_samuel/8-14.htm">Stationed</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-8.htm">Stood</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-19.htm">Valley</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 17</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/17-1.htm">The armies of the Israelites and Philistines being ready to battle</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/17-4.htm">Goliath challenges a combat</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/17-12.htm">David, sent by his father to visit his brothers, takes the challenge</a></span><br><span class="reftext">28. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/17-28.htm">Eliab chides him</a></span><br><span class="reftext">30. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/17-30.htm">He is brought to Saul</a></span><br><span class="reftext">32. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/17-32.htm">shows the reason of his confidence</a></span><br><span class="reftext">38. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/17-38.htm">and slays the giant</a></span><br><span class="reftext">55. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/17-55.htm">Saul takes notice of David</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/17.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/17.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>The Philistines stood on one hill</b><br>The Philistines were a seafaring people who settled along the coastal regions of Canaan. They were often in conflict with the Israelites, as seen throughout the books of Samuel. The Philistines' presence on a hill indicates a strategic military position, as high ground offers a tactical advantage in battle. This setting underscores the ongoing struggle between the Israelites and their enemies, a theme prevalent in the Old Testament.<p><b>and the Israelites stood on another</b><br>The Israelites, God's chosen people, were often depicted in the Old Testament as being in conflict with surrounding nations. Their position on a hill opposite the Philistines symbolizes the standoff between the forces of God and the forces of the world. This imagery can be seen as a representation of spiritual warfare, a concept echoed in the New Testament, where believers are called to stand firm against spiritual adversaries.<p><b>with the valley between them.</b><br>The valley, likely the Valley of Elah, served as the battleground for the impending confrontation between David and Goliath. Valleys in biblical narratives often symbolize places of decision and testing. This particular valley becomes the setting for one of the most famous biblical stories, where David's faith in God leads to a miraculous victory. The valley can also be seen as a type of the world, where believers must confront challenges and rely on God's strength to overcome.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/philistines.htm">Philistines</a></b><br>A significant enemy of Israel during the time of the Old Testament, known for their military prowess and frequent conflicts with the Israelites.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, led by King Saul at this time, who were often in conflict with surrounding nations, including the Philistines.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/v/valley_of_elah.htm">Valley of Elah</a></b><br>The geographical location where the battle between the Philistines and Israelites took place. It served as the setting for the famous encounter between David and Goliath.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/h/hill.htm">Hill</a></b><br>The strategic high ground occupied by both armies, symbolizing the standoff and tension between the two forces.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/b/battle.htm">Battle</a></b><br>The impending conflict between the Philistines and Israelites, setting the stage for David's confrontation with Goliath.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/s/strategic_positioning.htm">Strategic Positioning</a></b><br>Just as the Israelites and Philistines positioned themselves strategically, Christians must be aware of their spiritual positioning. Are we standing firm in our faith, ready to face challenges?<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/facing_the_valley.htm">Facing the Valley</a></b><br>The valley represents challenges and trials. As believers, we must trust God to guide us through our valleys, knowing that He is with us even in difficult times.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/preparation_for_battle.htm">Preparation for Battle</a></b><br>The standoff between the two armies reminds us of the importance of preparation. Are we preparing ourselves spiritually through prayer, scripture, and fellowship to face the battles in our lives?<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_deliverance.htm">Trust in God's Deliverance</a></b><br>The account of David and Goliath, which follows this verse, teaches us to trust in God's power rather than our own strength. Are we relying on God to deliver us from our giants?<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/unity_and_community.htm">Unity and Community</a></b><br>The Israelites stood together as a community. In our spiritual battles, we must not stand alone but seek the support and encouragement of our Christian community.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_17.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 17</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_reduce_a_conflict_to_a_duel.htm">Why would a sophisticated army reduce an entire conflict to a one-on-one duel (1 Samuel 17)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_david_beat_goliath.htm">How did David defeat the giant Goliath?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_one_stone_fell_a_giant_warrior.htm">Is it scientifically plausible for a single stone to fell a trained giant warrior (1 Samuel 17:49)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/goliath's_sword__how_did_it_reach_nob.htm">How did Goliath's sword end up in the temple at Nob, and is there a historical or archaeological record (1 Samuel 21:8-9)?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/17.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3, 4) <span class= "bld">And the Philistines stood. . . .</span>--Conder, in his <span class= "ital">Tent Work in Palestine, </span>writing on the spot, gives us a vivid picture of the scene of the well-known encounter between David and the giant Philistine:--"We may picture to ourselves the two hosts covering the low rocky hills opposite to each other, and half hidden among the lentisk bushes. Between them was the rich expanse of the ripening barley, and the red banks of the torrent, with its white shingly bed. Behind all were the distant blue hill-walls of Judah, whence Saul had just come down. The mail-clad warrior advanced from the west through the low corn, with his mighty lance perhaps tufted with feathers, his brazen helmet shining in the sun. From the east a ruddy boy in his white shirt and sandals, armed with a goat's-hair sling, came down to the brook, and, according to the poetic fancy of the Rabbis, the pebbles were given voices, and cried, 'By us shalt thou overcome the giant !' The champion fell from an unseen cause, and the wild Philistines fled to the mouth of the valley, where Gath stood towering on its white chalk cliff, a frontier fortress, the key to the high road leading to the corn-lands of Judah and to the vineyards of Hebron."<p><span class= "bld">Goliath, of Gath.</span>--The Philistine champion belonged to a race or family of giants, the remnant of the sons of Anak (see <a href="/joshua/11-22.htm" title="There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.">Joshua 11:22</a>), who still dwelt in Gath and Gaza and Ashdod. The height mentioned was about nine feet two inches. We have in history a few instances of similar giants. This doughty champion was "full of savage insolence, unable to understand how any one could contend against his brute strength and impregnable panoply; the very type of the stupid 'Philistine,' such as has, in the language of modern Germany, not unfitly identified the name with the opponents of light and freedom and growth."--<span class= "ital">Stanley.</span><p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/17-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">The Philistines</span><br /><span class="heb">וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֞ים</span> <span class="translit">(ū·p̄ə·liš·tîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6430.htm">Strong's 6430: </a> </span><span class="str2">Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia</span><br /><br /><span class="word">stood</span><br /><span class="heb">עֹמְדִ֤ים</span> <span class="translit">(‘ō·mə·ḏîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5975.htm">Strong's 5975: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stand, in various relations</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">one</span><br /><span class="heb">מִזֶּ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(miz·zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">hill</span><br /><span class="heb">הָהָר֙</span> <span class="translit">(hā·hār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2022.htm">Strong's 2022: </a> </span><span class="str2">Mountain, hill, hill country</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and the Israelites</span><br /><span class="heb">וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל</span> <span class="translit">(wə·yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">stood</span><br /><span class="heb">עֹמְדִ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(‘ō·mə·ḏîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5975.htm">Strong's 5975: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stand, in various relations</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">another,</span><br /><span class="heb">מִזֶּ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(miz·zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with the valley</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהַגַּ֖יְא</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hag·gay)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1516.htm">Strong's 1516: </a> </span><span class="str2">A valley</span><br /><br /><span class="word">between them.</span><br /><span class="heb">בֵּינֵיהֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(bê·nê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_996.htm">Strong's 996: </a> </span><span class="str2">An interval, space between</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/17-3.htm">1 Samuel 17:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/17-3.htm">1 Samuel 17:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_samuel/17-3.htm">1 Samuel 17:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/17-3.htm">1 Samuel 17:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/17-3.htm">1 Samuel 17:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/17-3.htm">1 Samuel 17:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/17-3.htm">1 Samuel 17:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/17-3.htm">1 Samuel 17:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/17-3.htm">1 Samuel 17:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_samuel/17-3.htm">1 Samuel 17:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_samuel/17-3.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 17:3 The Philistines stood on the mountain (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/17-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 17:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 17:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/17-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 17:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 17:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>