Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek; and the Israelites encamped by the spring which is in Jezreel.
- KJV Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.
- NKJV Then the Philistines gathered together all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel.
- NASB Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek, while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in Jezreel.
- NLT The entire Philistine army now mobilized at Aphek, and the Israelites camped at the spring in Jezreel.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Philistines gather at Aphek while Israel camps by the spring in Jezreel. The armies assemble for the impending battle.
Overview
The narrative returns to David's situation, locating the Philistine and Israelite forces as they muster. The mention of Aphek and Jezreel sets the geographic stage and reminds readers that David is among the Philistines. The scene raises the unresolved tension of whether David must fight his own people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 1 Sam 4:1Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek.
- 2 Kgs 9:30Now when Jehu arrived in Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. So she painted her eyes, adorned her head, and looked down from a window.
- 1 Kgs 20:30The rest of them fled into the city of Aphek, where the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the remaining men. Ben-hadad also fled to the city and hid in an inner room.
- 1 Kgs 21:1Some time later, Naboth the Jezreelite happened to own a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
- Josh 19:30Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, along with their villages.
- Josh 12:18the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;
- 1 Sam 28:4The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.
- Josh 19:18Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
- Judg 6:33Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.
- 2 Kgs 9:36So they went back and told Jehu, who replied, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour the flesh of Jezebel.
- 1 Kgs 18:45–46Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
- 1 Kgs 21:23And the LORD also speaks concerning Jezebel: ‘The dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’
- 1 Sam 28:1–2Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.”
- Hos 1:4–11Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 29:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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