1Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.
Socoh and the Valley of Elah was about 20–25 kilometres to the west of Bethlehem.1 This valley was the natural point of entry from the Philistine homeland into the hill country of Israel.2
1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.