1 Samuel 23:3

3 And (the) men, that were with David, said to him, Lo! we be here in Judah, and have dread (and be afraid); how much more if we shall go into Keilah against the companies of (the) Philistines.

1 Samuel 23:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 23:3

And David's men said unto him, behold, we be afraid here in
Judah
Of Saul and his army falling upon them, and crushing them, though they were in the tribe of Judah, where they had many friends, and in the heart of that tribe:

how much more then if we come to Keilah;
which, though in the same tribe, yet in the further parts of it, and on the borders of the Philistines: and there engage

against the armies of the Philistines?
too numerous and powerful for them, and so by this means be driven out of their place of safety, the forest of Hareth, where they could hide themselves upon occasion; to be exposed not only to the Philistines, before them, on the edge of their country, from whence they could have re-enforcements easily, but to Saul and his army behind them; and so, being between two fires, would be in danger of being cut off.

1 Samuel 23:3 In-Context

1 And they told to David, and said, Lo! The Philistines fight against Keilah, and ravish the cornfloors (and steal the harvest/and rob the threshing floors).

2 Therefore David counselled (with) the Lord, and said, Whether I shall go, and smite these Philistines? (And so David counselled with the Lord, and asked, Shall I go, and strike down these Philistines?) And the Lord said to David, Go forth, and thou shalt smite the Philistines, and thou shalt save Keilah.

3 And (the) men, that were with David, said to him, Lo! we be here in Judah, and have dread (and be afraid); how much more if we shall go into Keilah against the companies of (the) Philistines.

4 Therefore again David counselled with the Lord; the which answered (who answered), and said to David, Rise thou up, and go into Keilah; for I shall betake [the] Philistines into thine hand

5 Therefore David went, and his men, into Keilah, and fought against the Philistines; and he drove away their work beasts, and smote them with [a] great wound; and David saved the dwellers of Keilah. (And so David and his men went to Keilah, and fought against the Philistines; and he took away their work beasts, and struck them down with a great slaughter; and so David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.)