1 Samuel 23:2

2 Da fragte David den HERRN und sprach: Soll ich hingehen und diese Philister schlagen? Und der HERR sprach zu David: Gehe hin! du wirst die Philister schlagen und Kegila erretten.

1 Samuel 23:2 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 23:2

Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, shall I go and
smite these Philistines?
&c.] For though David was well disposed to serve his country, and was desirous of freeing them from their enemies the Philistines, he might have some doubts in his mind whether it would be right for him to engage with them now; partly because he could not act under a commission from his prince, Saul the king; and partly because he had such a small number of forces with him, that it might be hazardous for him to attack the armies of the Philistines with them, and attempt to raise the siege of Keilah; and therefore he thought it advisable, as doubtless it was, to inquire of the Lord what was his mind and will in this matter: how and by what means he inquired it is not said, very probably it was by the prophet Gad, who was with him, ( 1 Samuel 22:5 ) ; for as for Abiathar, he was not yet come with the ephod, the Urim and Thummim, to inquire by them, ( 1 Samuel 23:6 ) ; though some think that is observed there to show in what way David did inquire, namely, by Urim and Thummim; and so Kimchi and Abarbinel understand it; and it is supposed that he came to David when he was about Keilah, and near unto it, and so before he came thither, and time enough for him to inquire by him whether he should go thither or not:

and the Lord said unto David, go, and smite the Philistines, and save
Keilah;
which was not only giving him leave to go, and signifying it was his mind and will he should; but that he should be successful, and rout the Philistines, and raise the siege of Keilah, and save the city from falling into their hands.

1 Samuel 23:2 In-Context

1 Und es ward David angesagt: Siehe, die Philister streiten wider Kegila und berauben die Tennen.

2 Da fragte David den HERRN und sprach: Soll ich hingehen und diese Philister schlagen? Und der HERR sprach zu David: Gehe hin! du wirst die Philister schlagen und Kegila erretten.

3 Aber die Männer bei David sprachen zu ihm: Siehe, wir fürchten uns hier in Juda, und wollen hingehen gen Kegila zu der Philister Heer?

4 Da fragte David wieder den HERRN, und der HERR antwortete ihm und sprach: Auf, zieh hinab gen Kegila! denn ich will die Philister in deine Hände geben

5 Also zog David samt seinen Männern gen Kegila und stritt wider die Philister und trieb ihnen ihr Vieh weg und tat eine große Schlacht an ihnen. Also errettete David die zu Kegila.