Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Samuel 17:1

"Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle; and they were gathered together at Socoh, which belongeth to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim." — 1 Samuel 17:1 (ASV)

The narrative returns to the Philistine wars (1 Samuel 14:52), as the preceding chapters have already covered the introductory details concerning Saul’s rejection and David’s appearance in the history.

Shochoh which belongs to Judah. See the marginal reference that places Shochoh and Azekah in the "Shephelah" or maritime plain (see also 2 Chronicles 28:18). Jerome identifies this as the modern "Shuweikeh," located "nine miles from Eleutheropolis."

Ephes-dammim. This place is also called Happas-dammim (or Pas-dammim, as in 1 Chronicles 11:13), which means "the end of bloodshed." It is now identified as "Damun," about four miles northeast of Shuweikeh.