And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side; and the ravine was between them.

And the Philistines are standing on the mountain on this side, and the Israelites are standing on the mountain on that side, and the valley is between them.

The Philistines were stationed on the mountain on one side and Israel on the mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.

And the Philistines were standing on a mountain on the one side, and Israel was standing on a mountain on the other side. And there was a valley between them.

(In the middle of the broad open valley 1-Samuel 17:2 is a deep trench 1-Samuel 17:3 with vertical sides, a valley within a valley: the sides and bed of the trench are strewn with water-worn pebbles. (Conder.))

The Philistines stood on a mountain - These were two eminences or hills, from which they could see and talk with each other.

And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, Before the Israelites are said to encamp in or by the valley; but here they are said to take the higher ground, and face the Philistines, who were on a mountain or hill on the other side over against them, which Kimchi reconciles thus; the whole or the grand army lay encamped in the valley, and, they that were set in array, or the first ranks, the first battalion, ascended the mountain to meet the Philistines. Vatablus takes it to be the same mountain, that on one part of it the Philistines formed their first battalion, and the rest of the army was in the valley; and on the other part of the mountain the Israelites pitched their camp:
and there was a valley between them; the same as in the preceding verse.