1 Samuel 23 KJV
David Saves Keilah
1 Samuel Chapter 23: David Saves Keilah
David twice consults Abiathar's ephod for precise answers on whether Saul will attack Keilah and whether its citizens will betray him, an unusually detailed sequence of oracular guidance that underscores divine foreknowledge amid political uncertainty.
1hen they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
2 Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
3 And Davidโs men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
4 Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
10 Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.
12 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.
13 Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
16 And Jonathan Saulโs son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the kingโs hand.
21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.
22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.
23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
24 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.
29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
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Did You Know?
David twice consults Abiathar's ephod for precise answers on whether Saul will attack Keilah and whether its citizens will betray him, an unusually detailed sequence of oracular guidance that underscores divine foreknowledge amid political uncertainty.
By saving Keilah from the Philistines, David places himself at risk, as God reveals the town would surrender him to Saul despite the recent victory, illustrating the theme of human ingratitude toward God's anointed deliverer.
Jonathan's secret meeting with David in the forest of Ziph marks their final recorded encounter, where he not only strengthens David's hand in God but explicitly concedes that David will become king, deepening the covenantal bond across rival claims.
The narrative pivots from David's brief success in a fortified Judahite town to permanent wilderness exile after the Ziphites' betrayal, highlighting the geographical and existential cost of obedience when divine protection requires continued flight.
Saul's willingness to divert the entire Israelite army to besiege Keilah solely to capture David reveals the depth of his paranoia, subordinating national defense against the Philistines to personal vendetta and exposing the fractured monarchy.
Commentary & Study Notes Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871) ยท Public Domain Then they told David โ rather, "now they had told"; for this information had reached him previous to his hearing (1Sa 23:6) of the Nob tragedy. Keilah โ a city in the west of Judahโฆ
Classic verse-by-verse commentary on 1 Samuel 23 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: David rescues keilah; Saul's coming, and treachery of the keilites; David escapes to ziph; Saul pursues him.
- 1
- Then they told David โ rather, "now they had told"; for this information had reached him previous to his hearing (1Sa 23:6) of the Nob tragedy. Keilah โ a city in the west of Judah (Jos 15:44), not far from the forest of Hareth. and they rob the threshing-floors โ These were commonly situated on the fields and were open to the wind (Jud 6:11; Ru 3:2).
- 2-5
- David inquired of the Lord โ most probably through Gad (2Sa 24:11; 1Ch 21:9), who was present in David's camp (1Sa 22:5), probably by the recommendation of Samuel. To repel unprovoked assaults on unoffending people who were engaged in their harvest operations, was a humane and benevolent service. But it was doubtful how far it was David's duty to go against a public enemy without the royal commission; and on that account he asked, and obtained, the divine counsel. A demur on the part of his men led David to renew the consultation for their satisfaction; after which, being fully assured of his duty, he encountered the aggressors and, by a signal victory, delivered the people of Keilah from further molestation.
Read all 11 notes on 1 Samuel 23 โ