1 Samuel 28 · Verse 4

1 Samuel 28:4

And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
1 Samuel 28:4, King James Version

1 Samuel 28:4 in other translations

BSBThe Philistines came together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.
WEBThe Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilboa.
ASVAnd the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilboa.
YLTAnd the Philistines are gathered, and come in, and encamp in Shunem, and Saul gathereth all Israel, and they encamp in Gilboa,
DARBYAnd the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilboa.
BBEAnd the Philistines came together and put their forces in position in Shunem; and Saul got all Israel together and they took up their positions in Gilboa.
WebsterAnd the Philistines assembled, and came and encamped in Shunem: and Saul collected all Israel, and they encamped in Gilboa.

What does 1 Samuel 28:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. the Philistines ... pitched in Shunem--Having collected their forces for a last grand effort, they marched up from the seacoast and encamped in the "valley of Jezreel." The spot on which their encampment was fixed was Shunem (Jos 19:18), now Sulem, a village which still exists on the slope of a range called "Little Hermon." On the opposite side, on the rise of Mount Gilboa, hard by "the spring of Jezreel," was Saul's army--the Israelites, according to their wont, keeping to the heights, while their enemies clung to the plain. 1Sa 28:7-25. Saul Seeks a Witch, Who, Being Encouraged by Him, Raises Up Samuel.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 28:1-6

David could not refuse Achish without danger. If he promised assistance, and then stood neuter, or went over to the Israelites, he would behave with ingratitude and treachery. If he fought against Israel, he would sin greatly. It seemed impossible that he should get out of this difficulty with a clear conscience; but his evasive answer, intended to gain time, was not consistent with the character of an Israelite…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 28:1-6 →

1 Samuel 28:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּvai.yi.ka.ve.Tzuand they gathered togetherH6908
פְלִשְׁתִּ֔יםfe.lish.Tim[the] PhilistinesH6430
וַיָּבֹ֖אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uand they cameH935
וַיַּחֲנ֣וּvai.ya.cha.Nuand they encampedH2583
בְשׁוּנֵ֑םve.shu.Nemat ShunemH7766
וַיִּקְבֹּ֤ץvai.yik.Botzand he gatheredH6908
שָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlSaulH7586
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּvai.ya.cha.Nuand they encampedH2583
בַּגִּלְבֹּֽעַ\׃ba.gil.Bo.a'at <the> GilboaH1533

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 28:4

  • Joshua 19:18

    And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,

  • 1 Samuel 31:1

    Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

  • 2 Kings 4:8

    And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

  • 2 Samuel 1:6

    And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

  • 2 Samuel 1:21

    Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

  • 2 Samuel 21:12

    And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh–gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth–shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Shunem.
Jos 19:18; 2Ki 4:8
Gilboa.
31:1; 2Sa 1:6,21; 21:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 28:3

    Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

  • 1 Samuel 28:4

    And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

  • 1 Samuel 28:5

    And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

Read all of 1 Samuel 28

1 Samuel 28:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pues como los Filisteos se juntaron, vinieron y asentaron campo en Sunam: y Saúl juntó á todo Israel, y asentaron campo en Gilboa.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les Philistins s’assemblèrent, et ils vinrent, et campèrent à Sunem; et Saül rassembla tout Israël, et ils campèrent à Guilboa.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Philister versammelten sich, und sie kamen und lagerten sich zu Sunem. Und Saul versammelte ganz Israel, und sie lagerten sich auf dem Gilboa.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Congregatique sunt Philisthiim, et venerunt, et castrametati sunt in Sunam: congregavit autem et Saul universum Israël, et venit in Gelboë.