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1 Samuel, 23

1. News was then brought to David, 'The Philistines are besieging Keilah and plundering the threshing-floors'.

1. Now they told David, "Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Kei'lah, and are robbing the threshing floors."

2. David consulted Yahweh, 'Shall I go and fight these Philistines?' Yahweh replied to David, 'Go and fight the Philistines and save Keilah.'

2. Therefore David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" And the LORD said to David, "Go and attack the Philistines and save Kei'lah."

3. But David's men said to him, 'We are already afraid here in Judah; how much more, then, if we go to Keilah to fight the Philistine troops!'

3. But David's men said to him, "Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Kei'lah against the armies of the Philistines?"

4. So David consulted Yahweh again and Yahweh replied, 'Be on your way; go down to Keilah, since I shall give the Philistines into your power.'

4. Then David inquired of the LORD again. And the LORD answered him, "Arise, go down to Kei'lah; for I will give the Philistines into your hand."

5. So David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines and carried off their cattle and inflicted a great defeat on them. Thus David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

5. And David and his men went to Kei'lah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and made a great slaughter among them. So David delivered the inhabitants of Kei'lah.

6. When Abiathar son of Ahimelech took refuge with David, he went down to Keilah with the ephod in his hand.

6. When Abi'athar the son of Ahim'elech fled to David to Kei'lah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.

7. When word was brought to Saul that David had gone to Keilah he said, 'God has delivered him into my power: he has trapped himself by going into a town with gates and bars.'

7. Now it was told Saul that David had come to Kei'lah. And Saul said, "God has given him into my hand; for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars."

8. Saul called all the people to arms, to go down to Keilah and besiege David and his men.

8. And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Kei'lah, to besiege David and his men.

9. David, however, was aware that Saul was plotting evil against him, and said to Abiathar the priest, 'Bring the ephod.'

9. David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; and he said to Abi'athar the priest, "Bring the ephod here."

10. David said, 'Yahweh, God of Israel, your servant has heard that Saul is preparing to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me.

10. Then said David, "O LORD, the God of Israel, thy servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Kei'lah, to destroy the city on my account.

11. Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? Yahweh, God of Israel, I beg you, let your servant know.' Yahweh replied, 'He will come down.'

11. Will the men of Kei'lah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as thy servant has heard? O LORD, the God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant." And the LORD said, "He will come down."

12. David then went on to ask, 'Will the notables of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?' Yahweh replied, 'They will hand you over.'

12. Then said David, "Will the men of Kei'lah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will surrender you."

13. At this, David made off with his men, about six hundred in number; they left Keilah and went where they could. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he abandoned the expedition.

13. Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Kei'lah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Kei'lah, he gave up the expedition.

14. David stayed in the desert, in the strongholds; he stayed in the mountains, in the desert of Ziph; Saul kept looking for him day after day, but God did not deliver him into his power.

14. And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.

15. David was aware that Saul had mounted an expedition to take his life. David was then at Horesh in the desert of Ziph.

15. And David was afraid because Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the Wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.

16. Jonathan son of Saul set off and went to David at Horesh and encouraged him in the name of God.

16. And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose, and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.

17. 'Do not be afraid,' he said, 'for my father Saul's hand will not reach you. You are to reign over Israel, and I shall be second to you. Saul my father is himself aware of this.'

17. And he said to him, "Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you; you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you; Saul my father also knows this."

18. And the two made a pact before Yahweh. David stayed at Horesh and Jonathan went home.

18. And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD; David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.

19. Some men from Ziph then went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, 'Look, David is hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the Hill of Hachilah to the south of the wastelands.

19. Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gib'e-ah, saying, "Does not David hide among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachi'lah, which is south of Jeshi'mon?

20. Now whenever you wish to go down, my lord king, do so; we shall make it our task to hand him over to the king.'

20. Now come down, O king, according to all your heart's desire to come down; and our part shall be to surrender him into the king's hand."

21. Saul replied, 'May you be blessed by Yahweh for sympathising with me.

21. And Saul said, "May you be blessed by the LORD; for you have had compassion on me.

22. Go and make doubly sure, find out exactly what place he frequents, for I have been told that he is very cunning.

22. Go, make yet more sure; know and see the place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there; for it is told me that he is very cunning.

23. Take careful note of all the hiding places where he lurks, and come back to me when you are certain. I shall then come with you and, if he is in the country, I shall track him down through every clan in Judah!'

23. See therefore, and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you; and if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah."

24. Setting off they went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Meanwhile, David and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the plain to the south of the wastelands.

24. And they arose, and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Ma'on, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshi'mon.

25. When Saul and his men set out in search, David was told and went down to the gorge running through the desert of Maon.

25. And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told; therefore he went down to the rock which is in the wilderness of Ma'on. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Ma'on.

26. Saul and his men proceeded along one side of the mountain, David and his men along the other. David was hurrying to escape from Saul, while Saul and his men were trying to cross over to David and his men's side, to capture them,

26. Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain; and David was making haste to get away from Saul, as Saul and his men were closing in upon David and his men to capture them,

27. when a messenger came to Saul and said, 'Come at once, the Philistines have invaded the country.'

27. when a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Make haste and come; for the Philistines have made a raid upon the land."

28. So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to oppose the Philistines. That is why the place is called the Gorge of Separations.

28. So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines; therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.

29.

29. And David went up from there, and dwelt in the strongholds of En-ge'di.



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Footnotes:

23:1-5 - David hears that the Philistines are attacking Keilah and, following God's guidance, leads his men to save the city. This demonstrates David's concern for his people and his willingness to obey God's will, even in times of danger (see also Psalm 18:32-39 and 2 Samuel 5:19).

23:6-9 - David consults God through the ephod brought by Abiathar. This event underscores the importance of prayer and divine guidance in David's decisions, as he constantly seeks the Lord's counsel (see also 1 Samuel 30:7-8 and James 1:5).

23:10-13 - David learns that Saul intends to besiege Keilah and decides to leave to protect his men. This demonstrates David's wisdom in avoiding direct confrontation and preserving lives, rather than exposing himself to Saul's vengeance (see also Psalm 31:3-5 and Proverbs 22:3).

23:14-18 - Jonathan, Saul's son, visits David in the wilderness and reaffirms his loyalty. Jonathan and David's friendship exemplifies faithfulness and support in the face of adversity, highlighting the value of spiritual bonds (see also Proverbs 17:17 and 1 Corinthians 13:7).

23:19-28 - The Ziphites betray David by informing Saul of their hiding place, but God intervenes by sending the Philistines to attack Israel, forcing Saul to abandon his pursuit. This demonstrates the divine providence that protects David even when all seems lost (see also Psalm 54:1-7 and Proverbs 21:30-31).

Verses related to 1 Samuel, 23:

1 Samuel chapter 23 recounts David's adventures as a fugitive. How does God guide and protect His anointed? This moving text recounts David's rescue of Keilah, his steady escape from Saul, and the encouragement given by Jonathan. The chapter highlights David's dependence on God for guidance and his growing reputation as a leader. Themes of friendship, divine faithfulness, and leadership in times of crisis are evident. Explore with us five biblical passages that elucidate the eternal principles reflected in this dynamic chapter.

Psalms 54:1: "To the music master. With string instruments. Maskil of David. When the Ziphites came to say to Saul, 'David is hiding among us.'" - The title of this psalm directly refers to the events of 1 Samuel 23, where the Ziphites betray David.

Psalms 63:1: "Psalm of David, when he was in the desert of Judah." - This psalm is traditionally associated with the period when David was in the wilderness fleeing from Saul, as described in 1 Samuel 23.

2 Corinthians 11:32-33: "In Damascus, the governor appointed by King Aretas ordered the city to be guarded to arrest me. But some brothers lowered me in a basket through a window in the wall, and so I escaped from his hands." - Paul's escape from Damascus echoes David's escape in 1 Samuel 23, showing how God protects his servants.

Psalms 31:21: "Blessed be the Lord, for he showed his wonderful kindness to me when I was in a city under siege." - This verse may reflect David's feelings when he was surrounded by Saul at Keilah, as described in 1 Samuel 23.

Proverbs 17:17: "The friend loves at all times; He is a brother in adversity." - This proverb reflects the friendship between David and Jonathan mentioned in 1 Samuel 23, where Jonathan encourages David.

FAQ:

Why did David help the city of Keilah?

David helped Keilah because he learned that the Philistines were attacking the city and consulted God, who commanded him to save it. He defeated the Philistines and liberated the city. (1 Samuel 23:1-5)

How did David know that Saul planned to capture him at Keilah?

David inquired of God, who revealed that the inhabitants of Keilah would hand David over to Saul. He then fled before the king arrived. (1 Samuel 23:9-13)

Who helped David as he fled from Saul?

Saul’s son Jonathan met David at Horeb and encouraged him, reaffirming their friendship and prophesying that David would become king. (1 Samuel 23:16-18)

How did David escape from Saul in the wilderness of Maon?

When Saul was about to capture David, he received news of a Philistine attack and had to retreat, allowing David to escape. (1 Samuel 23:26-28)

What did the wilderness of Ziph represent to David?

The Wilderness of Ziph was a place of testing, where the Ziphites betrayed David by informing Saul of his whereabouts, but God protected David. (1 Samuel 23:14-24)


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