Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 17:52
And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
52. until thou come to the valley ] Heb. gai, “the ravine,” as in 1Sa 17:3. But the ravine which separated the armies could not tie the terminus of the Philistine flight, and it seems most probable that gai is a copyist’s error for Gath, which is the reading of the Sept. (B). Shaaraim is mentioned in Jos 15:35-36 in connexion with Sochoh and Azekah among the towns of Judah. It is perhaps to be placed at Tell-Zakarya, a conspicuous hill on the southern side of the main valley, between Shuweikeh (Sochoh) and Tell-es-Sfi (Gath), exactly in the line which the Philistine flight would naturally take. It must originally have been an important outpost for Judah against Gath, but was now no doubt in the hands of the Philistines.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The men of Israel and Judah – See 1Sa 15:4 note.
Shaaraim – A town of Judah in the Shephelah (see the marginal reference), at this time probably in the possession of the Philistines.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
1Sa 17:52-53
And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted and pursued the Philistines.
Keeping the victory
When General Wolfe was mortally wounded at the battle of Quebec, he said after his third injury, Hold me up; do not let my brave boys see I am wounded. A little later, as his blood was fast ebbing away, he said, in faint tones, The victory is ours! Oh! keep it. So, when our Lord died for our sins on the cross, He virtually said to His redeemed ones, The victory is ours. Oh! keep it. And this is the victory that makes His victory ours, and overcometh the world, even our faith. There must be no surrender by sin or unbelief of what He has obtained for us. (H. O. Mackey.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
52. Shaaraim(See Jos15:36).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the men of Israel and of Judah arose,…. From their encampment and entrenchment, or they prepared for a pursuit:
and shouted, and pursued the Philistines; shouted when they first set out, and continued shouting as they pursued, to animate their own troops, and terrify the enemy:
until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron; which was one of the five principalities of the Philistines; so that they pursued them to their own cities, and to the very gates of them:
and the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim; a city in the tribe of Judah, and seems to be the same with Sharaim,
[See comments on Jos 15:36]. Josephus says n, there were killed of the Philistines thirty thousand, and twice as many wounded:
even unto Gath, and unto Ekron; Josephus o has it, to the borders of Gath, and to the gates of Ashkelon, which were two other principalities of the Philistines; according to Bunting p, the whole chase was this, to the valley and river Sorek four miles; from thence to Ekron eight miles; to Ashkelon twenty miles, and to Gath twenty four miles; that is, from the place where Goliath was killed.
n Antiqu. l. 6. c. 9. sect. 5. o Ibid. p Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 128.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(52) To the valley.More accurately, to a valley; there is no article in the Hebrew. This want of the article at once suggests that the valley here spoken of so indefinitely was not that well-known valley or ravine which divided the two armies; besides which, it is nowhere suggested that the Philistines had ever crossed the valley or ravine.
Keil remarks that it is strange that no further mention is made of this valley of the pursuit. The LXX. render, instead of to a valley, to Gath. These Greek translators probably then had before them the true text: Gath, instead of gai, a valley. Gath is mentioned in the next sentence.
The way to Shaaraim.This was a town in the lowlands of Judah (see Jos. 15:36); the name has probably been preserved in the modern Kefr Zakariya. The LXX., however, do not understand Shaaraim as a city at all, but render, instead of by the way to Shaaraim, in the way of the gates. The gates of Ekron are mentioned as one of the notable places of the flight in the preceding sentence.
If the LXX. interpretation be adopted, we must understand by this expression the space between the outer and the inner gates of Ekron.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
52. The valley Where the Wady es-Sumt opens into the great western plain of Philistia.
Shaaraim The site of this place is unknown. It is probably to be looked for somewhere between Gath and Ekron. On the two last named cities, see notes on 1Sa 5:8; 1Sa 5:10.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(52) And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. (53) And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. (54) And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
The event of this victory over Goliath, was, as might have been expected. The Philistines fled, and Israel pursued. But this was not fair as was agreed upon. Goliath had promised for his countrymen, that if any man could be found to conquer him, the Philistines would then be the servants of Israel. But now this is done, they flee. In the Lord Jesus’s victory, however, which this typified, the conquest will be altogether final and complete. The Devil, that deceived the world, will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, and the torment will be forever and ever. See Rev 20:10 , etc.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 17:52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
Ver. 52. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down. ] Their fears betrayed them, as it commonly doth those that flee, into the hand of death. Semper in bello his maximum est periculum qui maxime timent; audacia est pro mare. a
a Sallust.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the valley. Septuagint reads “entrance into Gath”.
wounded = stricken, or slain.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the men of Israel: 1Sa 14:21, 1Sa 14:22, Jdg 7:23, 2Sa 23:10
valley: Jos 15:33-36, Jos 15:45, Jos 15:46
Reciprocal: Exo 32:17 – There is a noise Jos 6:5 – the people Jos 15:36 – Sharaim 1Sa 19:5 – wrought 1Sa 21:10 – Gath 1Ki 20:21 – went out Joh 16:33 – I Heb 11:34 – turned