1 Samuel 23:12

12 "And will the citizens of Keilah hand my men and me over to Saul?" David asked again. "They will," the Lord answered.

1 Samuel 23:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 23:12

Then said David, will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men
into the hand of Saul?
&c.] That is, the lords and great men of the place, the governor of the city, and the heads of it, the chief magistrates in it:

and the Lord said, they will deliver [thee] up:
that is, provided he stayed there; for the Lord knew the dispositions and affections of their minds, that they were inclined to do it, and would do it, if he continues among them till Saul came down; which showed the great ingratitude of this people to their deliverer.

1 Samuel 23:12 In-Context

10 Then David said, "Lord, God of Israel, I have heard that Saul is planning to come to Keilah and destroy it on account of me, your servant.

11 Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to Saul? Will Saul really come, as I have heard? Lord, God of Israel, I beg you to answer me!" The Lord answered, "Saul will come."

12 "And will the citizens of Keilah hand my men and me over to Saul?" David asked again. "They will," the Lord answered.

13 So David and his men - about six hundred in all - left Keilah at once and kept on the move. When Saul heard that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up his plan.

14 David stayed in hiding in the hill country, in the wilderness near Ziph. Saul was always trying to find him, but God did not turn David over to him