1 Samuel 28:4

1Sa 28:4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

Ver. 4. And pitched in Shunem.] A city in the tribe of Issachar, ennobled afterwards by the good Shunamite with whom Elisha hosted. {2Ki 4:8}

Pitched in Gilboa.] Baleful and baneful to Saul and his sons: and therefore cursed by David. {2Sa 1:21}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

28:4 Shunem, a border town in the territory of Issachar (Josh 19:18), overlooked the valley of Jezreel. • Mount Gilboa is at the east end of the valley of Jezreel. The mountain took its name from a nearby village.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

the Philistines . . . pitched in Shunem--Having collected their forces for a last grand effort, they marched up from the seacoast and encamped in the "valley of Jezreel." The spot on which their encampment was fixed was Shunem (Jos 19:18), now Sulem, a village which still exists on the slope of a range called "Little Hermon." On the opposite side, on the rise of Mount Gilboa, hard by "the spring of Jezreel," was Saul's army--the Israelites, according to their wont, keeping to the heights, while their enemies clung to the plain.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(4) And pitched in Shunem.—As has been already described in the Note on 1Sa_27:1, the Philistine army had penetrated into the heart of Palestine, and, marching across the Valley of Jezreel, took up a strong position on the south-western slope of “Little Hermon,” near to the village, or town, of Shunem, a little to the north of Jezreel. Shunem is known in Biblical history as the home of Abishag (1Ki_1:3), and the dwelling-place of the woman who entertained Elisha, and whose dead son he raised to life (2 Kings 4).

It has been identified by modern travellers. Conder speaks of it as being at present only a mud hamlet, with cactus hedges and a spring; but the view, he says, extends as far as Mount Carmel, fifteen miles away. It is now called Sutêm.

And Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.—Saul’s position was only a few miles distant from the camp of his enemies, on the slope of the hills opposite Shunem, but parted by the deep Valley of Jezreel. From the high ground by his camp Saul could plainly see the whole of the Philistine army. Mount Gilboa is the name given to a range of lofty hills, rising 1,500 feet above the sea, and consisting of white chalk.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

4. the Philistines gathered themselves together] This was no border foray, but a gathering of the whole force of the confederacy, as is clear from 1Sa_28:1 and 1Sa_29:1-4, for a decisive struggle with Israel. They marched northwards along the coast to the plain of Esdraelon, the great battle-field of Palestine, where their chariots and horsemen could move freely.

in Shunem] Now Sôlam, on the S.W. slope of the range called Little Hermon (Neby Dûhy), opposite Jezreel and Mount Gilboa, having the deep broad valley of Jezreel between, and overlooking the whole western plain to Carmel. Shunem is elsewhere mentioned as the abode of Abishag (1Ki_1:3), and the home of the woman who entertained Elisha (2 King 1Sa_4:8 ff.).

in Gilboa] A mountainous tract on the E. of the plain of Esdraelon. It is now called Jebel Fukûa, but the ancient name is still preserved in the village of Jelbôn, situated on the top of the mountain.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And the Philistines gathered themselves together,.... From different parts, and formed a considerable army:

and came and pitched in Shunem; a city, in the borders of the tribe of Issachar, of which See Gill on Jos 19:18,

and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa; a range of mountains, near Jezreel, and which Jerom (b) calls the mountains of the Philistines, six miles from Scythopolis, where there is a large village called Gelbus.

(b) De loc. Heb fol. 92. D.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Gilboa - Now called Jebel Fukuak. But the ancient name is preserved in the village of Jelbon, situated on the south side of the mountain. It was separated from Shunem (see the marginal reference) by the deep valley of Jezreel. The Philistines either advanced along the seacoast, and then entered the valley of Jezreel from the west, or they came by the present road right through Samaria, starting from Aphek 1Sa 29:1.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Gelboe. So that he occupied the parts south of the vale of Jezrahel, while the Philistines were encamped on the north, in the tribe of Issachar. (Menochius)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Shunem; a town in the tribe of Issachar, Jos 19:18.

Gilboa; a mountain not far from the valley of Jezreel, where the battle was fought, 1Sa 31:1; 2Sa 1:21. So the two armies seem to be placed in the same manner as they were 1Sa 17, each upon a hill, and a valley between them.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

4. Shunem — The modern Solam, on the southwestern declivity of Jebel Duhy, (Little Hermon,) and on the eastern border of the great Plain of Esdraelon. Jos_19:18.

Gilboa — On the mountains of this name, which lie just south of Shunem. From these heights Saul could have seen the assembling hosts of the Philistines. Here Gideon and his host once encamped. Jdg_7:1.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The Philistines pitched in Shunem. Having collected their forces, the Philistines entered Palestine as we have seen, by the valley of Jezreel, also called Esdraelon, and, marching eastward, encamped at Shunem. This was a village in the tribe of Issachar, (Jos_19:18) rendered famous as the abode of the woman who made a little chamber for Elisha; (2Ki_4:8) and from thence also came Abishag. (1Ki_1:8) Conder describes it as being at present only a mud hamlet, with cactus hedges and a spring, but the view extends, he says, as far as to Mount Carmel, fifteen miles away ("Tent-Work," 1:123). It is now called Sulem, a name given to it also by Eusebius, and lies upon the slopes of the little Hermon, opposite Mount Gilboa, from which it is separated by the valley of Jezreel. This broad plain "is bounded on the east by the range of Gilboa, rising 1500 feet above the sea, and consisting of white chalk; while on the west a long spur runs out at about the same average elevation with Gilboa, and wends northwest to the ridge of Carmel (Conder, "Handbook," p. 209). As the valley is about 250 feet above the sea level, Saul, from anelevation of 1200 feet, would easily see the camp of the Philistines pitched upon the slopes of the opposite range at a distance of about four miles.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.