1 Samuel 23
In this chapter, David continues to be pursued by Saul, but despite the king's intentions, David remains faithful to God and follows His guidance. We also see David's acts of deliverance and mercy toward the people of Keilah, his constant evasion from Saul, and Jonathan’s encouraging visit. David’s reliance on God for guidance and protection is central throughout this chapter, demonstrating his trust in the Lord in the face of danger.
1 Samuel 23:1 (NKJV)
Then they told David, saying, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.”
David learns that the Philistines are attacking Keilah and looting its food supplies. Keilah was a fortified city within Judah’s territory, and the Philistines' raid was a direct threat to its security. The threshing floors, where grain was processed, represented the food and livelihood of the people. David is presented with a situation where he must decide whether to intervene and help defend the city.
1 Samuel 23:2 (NKJV)
Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”
And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”
David seeks the Lord’s guidance before acting. His priority is not just to protect Keilah, but to ensure that he is following God’s will. In response, God instructs David to go and save the city. This shows David’s faithfulness in seeking divine direction, rather than relying solely on his own understanding.
1 Samuel 23:3 (NKJV)
But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
David’s men express fear about confronting the Philistines. They were already in a dangerous situation while hiding from Saul, and the thought of confronting a large Philistine force made them even more anxious. Their hesitation highlights the difficult position they were in—caught between Saul’s pursuit and the threat of the Philistines.
1 Samuel 23:4 (NKJV)
Then David inquired of the Lord once again.
And the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
Despite his men’s concerns, David again turns to the Lord for confirmation. God reaffirms His command and promises that David will be victorious. This repeated inquiry shows David’s deep trust in God’s plan and his willingness to seek assurance from the Lord, even when faced with his men’s fear.
1 Samuel 23:5 (NKJV)
And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
David, trusting in God’s promise, leads his men into battle and successfully defeats the Philistines. They strike a significant blow, even seizing the Philistines’ livestock as spoils of war. Through this victory, David rescues the people of Keilah, fulfilling God’s word. His actions demonstrate his role as a protector of Israel, even while being pursued by Saul.
1 Samuel 23:6 (NKJV)
Now it happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he went down with an ephod in his hand.
Abiathar, the only surviving priest from the massacre at Nob, joins David at Keilah and brings with him an ephod, a priestly garment used to seek God’s will. This ephod becomes important as David continues to seek God’s guidance through it. Abiathar’s presence reinforces the idea that David has access to divine guidance, even in the wilderness.
1 Samuel 23:7 (NKJV)
And Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. So Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.”
Saul learns of David’s location and assumes that David’s entry into the walled city of Keilah is a trap set by God, making it easier for Saul to capture him. Saul’s misunderstanding of God’s will shows his disconnection from divine guidance, as he wrongly interprets circumstances to suit his own desires.
1 Samuel 23:8 (NKJV)
Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
Saul gathers his army to march on Keilah, planning to trap David and his men within the city walls. This verse highlights Saul’s relentless pursuit of David, prioritizing his personal vendetta over the welfare of his people and his role as king.
1 Samuel 23:9-10 (NKJV)
When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.”
David learns of Saul’s intentions and, instead of fleeing immediately, first seeks God’s guidance through Abiathar and the ephod. He acknowledges the gravity of the situation, understanding that Saul’s attack would endanger the city of Keilah. David’s prayer reflects his responsibility and care for the people of the city.
1 Samuel 23:11-12 (NKJV)
“Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.”
And the Lord said, “He will come down.”
Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?”
And the Lord said, “They will deliver you.”
David asks two critical questions of God: first, whether Saul will indeed come down to Keilah, and second, whether the people of Keilah will betray him to Saul. God confirms both. This must have been a difficult revelation for David, as it shows that despite him saving the city, the people of Keilah would betray him to save themselves.
1 Samuel 23:13 (NKJV)
So David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. Then it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah; so he halted the expedition.
David quickly leaves Keilah, knowing the city would not protect him. His force has now grown to about six hundred men, a testament to his increasing leadership. When Saul hears of David’s escape, he abandons his plan to besiege Keilah. This marks another moment where David successfully evades Saul’s grasp.
1 Samuel 23:14 (NKJV)
And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.
David continues to hide in the wilderness, relying on the rugged terrain for protection. Despite Saul’s daily efforts to capture him, God ensures that Saul does not succeed. This verse emphasizes God’s continual protection of David during his time of hardship and pursuit.
1 Samuel 23:15-16 (NKJV)
So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in a forest.
Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.
David is aware that Saul is still hunting him, even as he hides in the Wilderness of Ziph. During this time, Jonathan, Saul’s son and David’s close friend, visits David. Jonathan encourages David to trust in God, reminding him that God’s promises are steadfast. Their friendship shows loyalty and mutual trust despite Saul’s actions.
1 Samuel 23:17 (NKJV)
And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.”
Jonathan reassures David, affirming that Saul will not succeed in capturing him. Jonathan acknowledges David’s future as king over Israel, showing his complete support and belief in God’s plan for David. Jonathan’s words reflect his selflessness and loyalty, despite the fact that David’s kingship would mean he would not inherit the throne.
1 Samuel 23:18 (NKJV)
So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house.
David and Jonathan renew their covenant of friendship and loyalty before God. This covenant solidifies their bond, even as they go their separate ways. Jonathan’s departure to his house, while David remains in hiding, marks the continuation of their contrasting lives—Jonathan in the palace and David on the run.
1 Samuel 23:19-20 (NKJV)
Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.”
The Ziphites betray David by going to Saul and revealing David’s hiding place in their region. They invite Saul to come down and capture David, showing their loyalty to Saul rather than David. This act of betrayal by the people of Ziph mirrors the earlier potential betrayal of the people of Keilah.
1 Samuel 23:21 (NKJV)
And Saul said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, for you have compassion on me.”
Saul praises the Ziphites for their loyalty and willingness to betray David, seeing it as an act of compassion toward him. His use of religious language here is ironic, as Saul is not acting according to God’s will, yet he seeks to justify his actions with spiritual terms.
1 Samuel 23:22-23 (NKJV)
“Please go and find out for sure, and see the place where his hideout is, and who has seen him there. For I am told he is very crafty.
See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides, and come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. And it shall be, if he is in the land, that I will search for him throughout all the clans of Judah.”
Saul instructs the Ziphites to confirm David’s exact location before he proceeds with his plan. He acknowledges David’s cunning nature and wants to be absolutely sure of where David is hiding. Saul’s detailed instructions show his growing obsession with capturing David, willing to scour the land of Judah for him.
1 Samuel 23:24 (NKJV)
So 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.
The Ziphites carry out Saul’s orders and return to Ziph to gather information about David. Meanwhile, David has moved to the Wilderness of Maon, staying one step ahead of his enemies. David’s constant movement reflects his strategic mind and reliance on God for protection.
1 Samuel 23:25 (NKJV)
When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David. Therefore he went down to the rock, and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued David in the Wilderness of Maon.
As soon as David hears that Saul is closing in on him, he moves again, this time to the rock in the Wilderness of Maon. Saul continues his relentless pursuit, showing how determined he is to capture David. The tension builds as Saul draws nearer to David’s location.
1 Samuel 23:26 (NKJV)
Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them.
In a dramatic moment, Saul’s forces and David’s men are on opposite sides of the same mountain. David hurries to escape, as Saul’s army begins to encircle him. This scene underscores the peril David faces, with capture seeming almost inevitable.
1 Samuel 23:27-28 (NKJV)
But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land!”
Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape.
At the last moment, a messenger arrives, informing Saul that the Philistines are attacking Israel. Saul is forced to abandon his pursuit of David to deal with this new threat. David is delivered from danger, and the place is named the Rock of Escape to commemorate this divine intervention. God’s protection of David is evident as Saul is called away just in time.
1 Samuel 23:29 (NKJV)
Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi.
After Saul’s departure, David moves to the strongholds of En Gedi, a region known for its rocky terrain and caves. This new location provides David with further protection from Saul’s pursuit. David’s continual reliance on God’s guidance and protection keeps him safe from harm during this difficult period of his life.