What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 28:4? The Philistines gathered together and camped at Shunem “The Philistines gathered together and came and camped at Shunem.” (1 Samuel 28:4a) • Big picture: The Philistines are pressing the offensive once again. This army is no border raiding party; it is a full-scale mobilization. Comparable campaigns can be seen in 1 Samuel 13:5 and 17:1, where the Philistines mass forces with the clear intent to dominate Israel. • Shunem’s location: A village on the northwestern slope of Mount Gilboa, overlooking the Jezreel Valley trade routes. By occupying Shunem, the Philistines control high ground and choke points, much like later Assyrian tactics in 2 Kings 18:17. • Momentum shift: Earlier in the book, David’s victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17) had driven the Philistines back, but Saul’s spiritual decline has eroded that advantage (1 Samuel 18:12, 28). Their bold advance into Israelite heartland signals both military confidence and Israel’s weakened leadership. • Spiritual undertones: Scripture often pairs geographic movement with spiritual movement. As the Philistines push forward, Israel’s king has already stepped backward—rejecting God’s word (1 Samuel 15:23) and losing the Spirit’s empowering presence (1 Samuel 16:14). The camp at Shunem is the visible symptom of an invisible malady. while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa “while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.” (1 Samuel 28:4b) • Rallying the nation: Saul assembles “all Israel,” echoing his earlier call-to-arms in 1 Samuel 11:7. Externally, he still functions as commander-in-chief; internally, fear erodes his confidence (1 Samuel 28:5). • Mount Gilboa: A rugged ridge just south of Shunem. By camping on Gilboa, Saul places a natural barrier between himself and the Philistines—defensible, yet also confining. The terrain mirrors Saul’s spiritual landscape: protective walls that cannot ultimately save (Psalm 20:7). • Contrast with David: While Saul camps on Gilboa in dread, David is years into exile, preparing for future kingship (1 Samuel 27:6–7; 2 Samuel 2:4). God’s plan advances through David even as Saul stalls on the mountainside. • Impending tragedy: Gilboa becomes synonymous with Saul’s downfall (2 Samuel 1:21). This verse foreshadows that outcome, underscoring the biblical principle that disobedience bears bitter fruit (Galatians 6:7). • Hope thread: Even here, God’s covenant faithfulness endures. The same ridge that witnesses Saul’s failure will later echo with Davidic laments and, ultimately, with God’s promise of an everlasting kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12–16). summary 1 Samuel 28:4 is more than military logistics; it is a snapshot of two camps that reveal two hearts. The Philistines, emboldened and aggressive, occupy strategic Shunem. Saul, stripped of divine favor, retreats to Gilboa’s heights, rallying troops yet paralyzed by fear. The verse frames the climactic contrast between a king who has forsaken God and a God who will not forsake His redemptive plan. |
    |