MPV Commentary

The Israelites and Philistines Being Ready to Battle.

The Philistines had regrouped their armies twenty-seven years after their defeat at Michmash. Having regained their confidence and strength, they sought an opportunity to erase the shame of that national setback and reassert their dominance over Israel.

Shocoh was a town in the western plains of Judah (Joshua 15:35), located about nine miles from Eleutheropolis on the road to Jerusalem. Azekah was a small settlement nearby. Ephes-dammim, also known as Pas-dammim (1 Chronicles 11:13), translates to "the portion" or "effusion of blood," situated between the other two locations.

The valley where this battle took place is referred to as Elah, which means "the Terebinth." This area is now identified as Wady Er-Sumt. Some traditions suggest an alternative location, Wady Beit Hanina, but it is less certain.