Sa mu el 48 them ( v . 3 ) . We suggest a distinction between two tactical steps : at the first one, the Philistines are heading towards the valley near the west - ern entrance of the narrow ravine of the Elah Valley . They encamped between Sochoh and Azekah in “ Ephes - dammim”, very close to the western entrance to the ravine ( v . 1 ) ; while Saul organizes his troops in the eastern spacious part of the Elah Valley ( near today’s Qibbutz Ha - Lamed Hay ) which is near the eastern entrance to the Elah ravine . The Israelites, however, could not afford a battle in this eastern spacious valley against the heavily armed Philistine army, since such a flat terrain better fit the Philistine way of warfare . Hence, in the second stage, after they had identified the Philistines’ intention to en - ter the rav ine through its w este r n e ntran c e, Saul’s troops hurried to the north - e r n r i d g e o f h i l l s t h a t overlooked the ravine . On one hill top of that ridge, k now n tod ay a...
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