The Meaning of 1 Samuel 29:1 Explained

1 Samuel 29:1

KJV: Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.

YLT: And the Philistines gather all their camps to Aphek, and the Israelites are encamping at a fountain which is in Jezreel,

Darby: And the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek; and Israel encamped by the spring that is in Jizreel.

ASV: Now the Philistines gathered together all their hosts to Aphek: and the Israelites encamped by the fountain which is in Jezreel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now the Philistines  gathered together  all their armies  to Aphek:  and the Israelites  pitched  by a fountain  which [is] in Jezreel. 

What does 1 Samuel 29:1 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 29:1-11 - Under Just Suspicion
David was in a strait! To what a plight had eighteen months of deceit brought him! He had no alternative other than to follow King Achish to battle, but it must have been with a sinking heart. It looked as if he would be forced to fight Saul, the Lord's anointed, and Jonathan, his friend, and the people whom he was one day to rule. Probably he turned in an agony of prayer to God, that he might be extricated from the net which his sins had woven. Read Deuteronomy 30:4.
An unexpected door opened in the valley of Achor. The Philistine lords took offense at David's position in the rear with the king, and insisted on his returning with his men to Ziklag. In the end Achish had to yield, though with great reluctance. He little realized the profound sense of belief with which David heard the royal order. As David stole off in the gray dawn with his men on the homeward journey, he must have broken into the words of Psalms 124:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 29

1  David marching with the Philistines
3  is disallowed by their princes
6  Achish dismisses him, with commendations of his fidelity

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 29:1 mean?

And gathered together the Philistines - all their armies at Aphek and Israel encamped by fountain which [is] in Jezreel
וַיִּקְבְּצ֧וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֛ים אֶת־ כָּל־ מַחֲנֵיהֶ֖ם אֲפֵ֑קָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל חֹנִ֔ים בַּעַ֖יִן אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּיִזְרְעֶֽאל

וַיִּקְבְּצ֧וּ  And  gathered  together 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָבַץ  
Sense: to gather, assemble.
פְלִשְׁתִּ֛ים  the  Philistines 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: פְּלִשְׁתִּי  
Sense: an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מַחֲנֵיהֶ֖ם  their  armies 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.
אֲפֵ֑קָה  at  Aphek 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אֲפֵק  
Sense: a Canaanite city near Jezreel.
וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל  and  Israel 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
חֹנִ֔ים  encamped 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: חָנָה  
Sense: to decline, incline, encamp, bend down, lay siege against.
בַּעַ֖יִן  by  fountain 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  which  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בְּיִזְרְעֶֽאל  in  Jezreel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יִזְרְעֶאל 
Sense: a descendant of the father or founder of Etam of Judah.