1 Samuel 23

King James Version

Full text for 1 Samuel Chapter 23

1¶ Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.

2Therefore 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.

3And David's 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?

4Then 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.

5So 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.

6And 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.

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

9And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.

10Then 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.

11Will 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.

12Then 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.

13Then 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.

15And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David [was] in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

16And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

17And 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.

18And 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?

20Now 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 king's hand.

21And Saul said, Blessed [be] ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.

22Go, 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.

23See 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.

24And 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.

25Saul 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.

26And 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.

27But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.

28Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.

29And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

David, seeking divine guidance, delivers the city of Keilah from the Philistines. Upon hearing of David's presence, King Saul prepares to besiege Keilah, believing David is trapped. However, David, again consulting the Lord, learns the Keilahites would betray him and escapes into the wilderness, where he is relentlessly pursued by Saul until a Philistine invasion diverts the king.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with David inquiring of the Lord whether to save Keilah from the Philistines, receiving divine affirmation despite his men's fears. After successfully delivering Keilah, David learns that King Saul intends to besiege the city to capture him. David consults the Lord through Abiathar and the ephod, asking if the men of Keilah would betray him to Saul, and is told they would. Consequently, David and his six hundred men depart Keilah, eluding Saul. David then takes refuge in the wilderness of Ziph, where Jonathan secretly visits him to strengthen his faith and reaffirm God's promise of David's kingship. Later, the Ziphites betray David's hiding place to Saul, leading to a close pursuit in the wilderness of Maon, which is only interrupted when Saul is called away to repel a Philistine invasion.

Long Summary

The chapter begins with David being informed that the Philistines are attacking Keilah and robbing its threshingfloors. David, seeking divine counsel, inquires of the LORD if he should go and smite the Philistines, receiving an affirmative answer. Despite his men's apprehension, David again consults the LORD and is assured of victory. David and his men then proceed to Keilah, defeat the Philistines with a great slaughter, and save the city's inhabitants. During this time, Abiathar the priest, fleeing from Saul, joins David in Keilah, bringing an ephod. When Saul learns David is in Keilah, he believes God has delivered David into his hand, as the city has gates and bars, and prepares to besiege it. David, aware of Saul's malicious intent, uses Abiathar's ephod to inquire of the LORD whether the men of Keilah would deliver him to Saul, and is told they would. Thus warned, David and his approximately six hundred men depart Keilah before Saul can arrive. David then takes refuge in strongholds in the wilderness of Ziph, where Saul relentlessly seeks him, though God does not deliver David into his hand. Jonathan, Saul's son, secretly visits David in the wood, strengthening his faith in God and reiterating that David will be king and he will be next to him. They renew their covenant before the LORD. Subsequently, the Ziphites betray David's location to Saul, offering to deliver him. Saul blesses them and instructs them to confirm David's exact hiding places. Saul then pursues David in the wilderness of Maon, cornering him. However, a messenger urgently informs Saul that the Philistines have invaded the land, forcing Saul to abandon his pursuit of David and return to fight the Philistines, allowing David to escape to the strongholds of Engedi.

Core Concepts

  • Divine GuidanceDavid repeatedly seeks the LORD's counsel through prayer and the ephod before making significant decisions, such as engaging the Philistines or determining the loyalty of Keilah's inhabitants. This highlights his reliance on God's direction in uncertain times.
  • The EphodAbiathar brings the ephod to David, which serves as a sacred garment used by the priest to inquire of the LORD. It is instrumental in David's ability to receive direct answers from God regarding his movements and the intentions of others.
  • Saul's Relentless PursuitKing Saul is depicted as obsessively pursuing David's life, believing God has delivered David into his hand. His pursuit is characterized by strategic planning and a desperate desire to capture David, even involving local inhabitants in his hunt.
  • Betrayal and LoyaltyThe chapter illustrates both human treachery, as the men of Keilah are revealed to be willing to betray David and the Ziphites actively inform Saul of David's whereabouts. Conversely, Jonathan demonstrates unwavering loyalty to David, strengthening his hand in God despite his father's animosity.
  • Divine DeliveranceDespite being cornered by Saul and facing imminent capture, David is repeatedly delivered by divine intervention. The most prominent example is the timely Philistine invasion that diverts Saul, preventing David's capture.
  • Wilderness as RefugeDavid and his men frequently take refuge in the wilderness and its strongholds, such as Ziph, Maon, and Engedi. These desolate areas provide temporary safety from Saul's pursuit, demonstrating David's reliance on natural defenses and God's protection in remote places.