1 Samuel 23:17

17 And he said to David, Dread thou not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee, and thou shalt reign on Israel, and I shall be the second to thee; but also Saul my father knoweth this. (And he said to David, Fear not; for the hand of my father Saul shall not find thee, and thou shalt reign upon Israel, and I shall be second to thee; and my father Saul knoweth this.)

1 Samuel 23:17 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 23:17

And he said unto him, fear not
Distrust not the power, providence, and promises of God, nor dread the wrath of Saul, or fear falling into his hands:

for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee;
to lay hold on him, seize him, and do him any hurt:

and thou shalt be king over Israel;
meaning after the death of his father; which he knew either by some special revelation made to him; or rather by being informed he had been anointed by Samuel, and which he had either from Samuel or from David himself; and this he most firmly believed, though David was now in so low a condition:

and I shall be next unto thee;
not succeed him in the kingdom; but if living when he came to the throne, he should be the second man in civil affairs, as he now was, and that he should be content with:

and that also Saul my father knoweth;
having knowledge of the anointing of David by Samuel; or he might, and did conclude this from various circumstances, that David was his neighbour Samuel had told him of, God had given his kingdom to, ( 1 Samuel 15:28 ) .

1 Samuel 23:17 In-Context

15 And David saw, that Saul went out, that he would seek his life. And David was in the desert of Ziph, in a wood. (And David saw, that Saul went out to seek his life. And David was in the wilderness of Ziph, in a forest.)

16 And Jonathan, the son of Saul, rose up, and went to David into the wood, and comforted his hands in God. (And Saul's son Jonathan rose up, and went to David in the forest, and strengthened his hand in God/and encouraged him in the name of God.)

17 And he said to David, Dread thou not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee, and thou shalt reign on Israel, and I shall be the second to thee; but also Saul my father knoweth this. (And he said to David, Fear not; for the hand of my father Saul shall not find thee, and thou shalt reign upon Israel, and I shall be second to thee; and my father Saul knoweth this.)

18 Therefore ever either smote (a) bond of peace before the Lord. And David dwelled in the wood; and Jonathan turned again into his house. (And so they both struck a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in the forest; and Jonathan returned home.)

19 Certainly men of Ziph went up to Saul in Gibeah, and said, Lo! whether not David is hid with us in the full secure places in the thick wood(s), in the hill of Hachilah, that is at the right side of desert? (Then men of Ziph went up to Saul in Gibeah, and said, Lo! David is hid among us in the most secure places, in the thick forest on Mount Hachilah, which is to the south of Jeshimon.