John Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 17:2

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, etc.] 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 f338 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 f339, 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 f340, 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.

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