Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 17:2

And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.

2. by the valley of Elah ] Rather, “ in the valley of Elah.”

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

The valley of Elah – i. e., of the terebinth, now called Wady es Sunt, from the acacias which are scattered in it.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 2. The valley of Elah] Some translate this the turpentine valley, or the valley of the terebinth trees; and others, the valley of oaks. The situation of this valley is well known.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

2. valley of Elahthat is,”the Terebinth,” now Wady Er-Sumt [ROBINSON].Another valley somewhat to the north, now called Wady Beit Hanina,has been fixed on by the tradition of ages.

1Sa17:4-11. GOLIATHCHALLENGES A COMBAT.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

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 u 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 w, 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.

u Deloc. Heb. fol. 91. F. w Travels, p. 157. ed. 5. x Egmont and Heyman’s Travels, vol. 1. p. 305.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

2. The valley of Elah The Wady es-Sumt, which has been often visited by travellers, and is represented by all as corresponding fully to the statements of this narrative. This valley is a mile in width, and through its centre runs a watercourse whose banks and bed abound with pebbles. The mountains on either side have a steep, uniform slope, and are about five hundred feet high. “It took its name Elah of old from the terebinth, (butm,) of which the largest specimen we saw in Palestine still stands in the vicinity; just as now it takes its name es-Sumt (Sunt) from the acacias which are scattered in it.” Robinson.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments