1 Samuel 23:1

David Saves Keilah

1 When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,”

1 Samuel 23:1 in Other Translations

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

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

1 One day news came to David that the Philistines were at Keilah stealing grain from the threshing floors.

1 It was reported to David that the Philistines were raiding Keilah and looting the grain.

1 It was reported to David: "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and raiding the threshing floors."

1 Samuel 23:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 23:1

Then they told David
Either the men of Keilah sent to him, being near them, or some well wishers of theirs, and of their country, acquainted him with their case:

saying, behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah;
had laid siege to it, being a fortified place, ( 1 Samuel 23:7 ) ; it was a city in the tribe of Judah, on the borders of the Philistines; of which (See Gill on Joshua 15:44);

and they rob the threshing floors;
took away the corn upon them, which they were threshing and winnowing, which were usually done without the city for the sake of wind, see ( Judges 6:11 ) ( Ruth 3:2 Ruth 3:15 ) ; it was harvest time when the three mighty men came to David in the cave of Adullam, and so now it might be the time of threshing, harvest being over, see ( 1 Samuel 22:1 ) ; compared with ( 2 Samuel 23:13 ) .

1 Samuel 23:1 In-Context

1 When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,”

2 he inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The LORD answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

3 But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”

4 Once again David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.”

5 So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah.

Cross References

• 1. S Joshua 15:44
• 2. S Numbers 18:27; S Judges 6:11