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.

And the men {H582} of Israel {H3478} and of Judah {H3063} arose {H6965}, and shouted {H7321}, and pursued {H7291} the Philistines {H6430}, until thou come {H935} to the valley {H1516}, and to the gates {H8179} of Ekron {H6138}. And the wounded {H2491} of the Philistines {H6430} fell down {H5307} by the way {H1870} to Shaaraim {H8189}, even unto Gath {H1661}, and unto Ekron {H6138}.

The men of Isra'el and Y'hudah got up, shouting, and pursued the P'lishtim all the way to Gat and the gates of 'Ekron. The wounded P'lishtim fell down all along the road from Sha'arayim to Gat and 'Ekron.

Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. And the bodies of the Philistines were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.

And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou comest to Gai, 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.

Commentary

1 Samuel 17:52 describes the immediate aftermath of David's stunning victory over Goliath, marking a pivotal moment in the battle between Israel and the Philistines in the Valley of Elah.

Context

Prior to this verse, the armies of Israel had been paralyzed by fear for forty days, intimidated by the Philistine champion, Goliath. David, a young shepherd boy armed only with faith and a sling, confronted and defeated Goliath, fundamentally shifting the morale of both armies. The Philistines, witnessing the fall of their champion, were instantly demoralized and routed. This verse details the Israelite response: a surge of courage and aggressive pursuit, transforming their defensive posture into an offensive charge.

Key Themes

  • Decisive Turnaround and Victory: The verse vividly portrays the dramatic shift from Israel's fear and inaction to a triumphant and relentless pursuit. Goliath's defeat was not merely a single combat win but the catalyst for a full-scale rout of the enemy army.
  • Divine Empowerment and Human Action: While God gave the victory through David's faith, the men of Israel and Judah were empowered to act decisively. Their "shouted" response was a battle cry of renewed confidence and collective resolve, indicating the Spirit of God moving among them to complete the triumph.
  • Total Rout of the Enemy: The pursuit extended all the way to the Philistine cities of Ekron and Gath, demonstrating the thoroughness of their defeat. The mention of "wounded" falling along the way emphasizes the heavy casualties inflicted on the fleeing Philistines. This complete dismantling of the enemy's formation highlights the comprehensive nature of God's deliverance for Israel.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "shouted" (rua') often denotes a loud cry, whether of alarm, triumph, or battle. Here, it signifies a cry of victory and aggressive pursuit, indicative of the Israelites' newfound courage and determination. The mention of "Ekron" and "Gath" is significant; these were two of the five principal Philistine cities, indicating the great distance the Israelite army pursued their enemies, pushing them back deep into their own territory. "Shaaraim" (meaning "two gates") was likely a fortified town along the route, further marking the extent of the pursuit.

Practical Application

This verse illustrates the principle that after God provides a breakthrough or initial victory, His people are called to participate in the full realization of that triumph. Just as David's faith inspired the army, individual acts of obedience and faith can ignite a collective spiritual fervor. It teaches us that after a spiritual victory, we should not rest on our laurels but continue to pursue the enemy (sin, temptation, spiritual darkness) with diligence, not allowing them to regroup. It reminds us that when God fights for His people, they are called to respond with courage and follow through on the victory He provides, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:7.

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Cross-References

  • Joshua 15:11

    And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.

  • 2 Samuel 23:10

    He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

  • 1 Samuel 14:21

    Moreover the Hebrews [that] were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp [from the country] round about, even they also [turned] to be with the Israelites that [were] with Saul and Jonathan.

  • 1 Samuel 14:22

    Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, [when] they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

  • Joshua 15:45

    Ekron, with her towns and her villages:

  • Joshua 15:46

    From Ekron even unto the sea, all that [lay] near Ashdod, with their villages:

  • Joshua 15:33

    [And] in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,