1 Samuel 23:3

3 David's men told him, "We're afraid of staying here in Judah. How much more [afraid do you think we'll be] if we go to Keilah against the Philistine army?"

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 David was asked, "Did you know that the Philistines are fighting against Keilah? They are robbing the threshing floors."

2 David asked the LORD, "Should I go and attack these Philistines?" "Go," the LORD told David, "attack the Philistines, and save Keilah."

3 David's men told him, "We're afraid of staying here in Judah. How much more [afraid do you think we'll be] if we go to Keilah against the Philistine army?"

4 David asked the LORD again, and the LORD answered him. He said, "Go to Keilah. I'm giving you the power to defeat the Philistines."

5 David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines, drove off their livestock, and decisively defeated them. So David rescued the people who lived in Keilah.