1 Samuel 23:17

17 Thus he said to him, "¹Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and ²Saul my father knows that also."

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 Now David became aware that Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.

16 And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God.

17 Thus he said to him, "Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also."

18 So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD ; and David stayed at Horesh while Jonathan went to his house.

19 Then Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is David not hiding with us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 27:1, 3; Psalms 118:6; Isaiah 54:17; Hebrews 13:6
• 2. 1 Samuel 20:31; 1 Samuel 24:20