1 Samuel 23:1-6

1 They told David, saying, Behold, the Pelishtim are fighting against Ke`ilah, and are robbing the threshing floors.

2 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and strike these Pelishtim? the LORD said to David, Go, and strike the Pelishtim, and save Ke`ilah.

3 David's men said to him, Behold, we are afraid here in Yehudah: how much more then if we go to Ke`ilah against the armies of the Pelishtim?

4 Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. The LORD answered him, and said, Arise, go down to Ke`ilah; for I will deliver the Pelishtim into your hand

5 David and his men went to Ke`ilah, and fought with the Pelishtim, and brought away their cattle, and killed them with a great slaughter. So David save the inhabitants of Ke`ilah.

6 It happened, when Avyatar the son of Achimelekh fled to David to Ke`ilah, that he came down with an efod in his hand.

1 Samuel 23:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 23

This chapter gives an account of David's relieving Keilah, when it had like to have fallen into the hands of the Philistines, 1Sa 23:1-6; and of Saul's design to surprise him there, which David having notice of, and inquiring of the Lord, departed from thence; which when Saul heard of, he forbore to come forth, 1Sa 23:7-13; and of David's being in the wilderness of Ziph, where, in a wood there, he had an interview with Jonathan, 1Sa 23:14-18; and of the Ziphites offering to deliver him up to Saul, for which he commends them, and gives them instructions how they should behave to him in that affair, 1Sa 23:19-23; and of his seeking him in the wilderness of Maon, where David and his men were in great danger of being taken; which was prevented by the news of the Philistines invading the land coming to Saul just at the nick of time, 1Sa 23:24-29.