# 1 Samuel 23 đź“–: David Rescues Keilah
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### David Delivers the City of Keilah
[[#Verse 01.]] They told David, “The Philistines are fighting in Keilah and are looting the threshing floors.”
[[#Verse 02.]] So David asked the Lord, “Should I go and strike down these Philistines?” The Lord said to David, “Go, strike down the Philistines and deliver Keilah.”
[[#Verse 03.]] But David’s men said to him, “We are afraid while we are still here in Judah. What will it be like if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”Â
[[#Verse 04.]] So David asked the Lord once again. But again the Lord replied, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.”
[[#Verse 05.]] So David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. He took away their cattle and thoroughly defeated them. David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.
### David Eludes Saul Again
[[#Verse 06.]]Â Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech had fled to David at Keilah, he had brought with him an ephod.
[[#Verse 07.]] When Saul was told that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has boxed himself into a corner by entering a city with two barred gates.”
[[#Verse 08.]]Â So Saul mustered all his army to go down to Keilah and besiege David and his men.
[[#Verse 09.]] When David realized that Saul was planning to harm him, he told Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”Â
[[#Verse 10.]] Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, your servant has clearly heard that Saul is planning to come to Keilah to destroy the city because of me.Â
[[#Verse 11.]] Will the leaders of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, please inform your servant.” Then the Lord said, “He will come down.”Â
[[#Verse 12.]] David asked, “Will the leaders of Keilah deliver me and my men into Saul’s hand?” The Lord said, “They will deliver you over.”
[[#Verse 13.]] So David and his men, who numbered about 600, set out and left Keilah; they moved around from one place to another. When told that David had escaped from Keilah, Saul called a halt to his expedition.Â
[[#Verse 14.]] David stayed in the strongholds that were in the desert and in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. Saul looked for him all the time, but God did not deliver David into his hands.Â
[[#Verse 15.]] David realized that Saul had come out to seek his life; at that time David was in Horesh in the wilderness of Ziph.
[[#Verse 16.]] Then Jonathan son of Saul left and went to David at Horesh. He encouraged him through God.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] He said to him, “Don’t be afraid! For the hand of my father Saul cannot find you. You will rule over Israel, and I will be your second in command. Even my father Saul realizes this.”Â
[[#Verse 18.]] When the two of them had made a covenant before the Lord, David stayed at Horesh, but Jonathan went to his house.
[[#Verse 19.]] Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Isn’t David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon?
[[#Verse 20.]] Now at your own discretion, O king, come down. Delivering him into the king’s hand will be our responsibility.”
[[#Verse 21.]] Saul replied, “May you be blessed by the Lord, for you have had compassion on me.
[[#Verse 22.]] Go and make further arrangements. Determine precisely where he is and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning.
[[#Verse 23.]] Locate precisely all the places where he hides and return to me with dependable information. Then I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will find him among all the thousands of Judah.”
[[#Verse 24.]] So they left and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the rift valley to the south of Jeshimon.
[[#Verse 25.]] Saul and his men went to look for him. But David was informed and went down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard about it, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.Â
[[#Verse 26.]]Â Saul went on one side of the mountain, while David and his men went on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul, but Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to capture them.
[[#Verse 27.]] But a messenger came to Saul saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!”
[[#Verse 28.]]Â So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines. Therefore that place is called Sela Hammahlekoth.Â
[[#Verse 29.]]Â (24:1)Â Then David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En Gedi.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
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## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Keilah was a fortified town in the lowlands of Judah, near the Philistine border.
2. Abiathar brought the ephod with him when he fled to David (23:6), so David could ask the Lord for guidance.
3. The people of Keilah would have handed David over to Saul, even after he rescued them (23:12).
4. David's band had grown to about six hundred men (23:13).
5. The meeting at Horesh (23:16-18) is the last time the Bible records David and Jonathan together.
6. Jonathan expected to be second to David in the kingdom (23:17), showing he accepted God's choice.
7. The people of Ziph, from David's own tribe of Judah, offered to betray him (23:19-20). The heading of Psalm 54 connects that psalm to this event.
8. At Maon, Saul was on one side of the mountain and David on the other (23:26).
9. The place was named the Rock of Escape (23:28), remembering how David narrowly escaped.
10. En-gedi (23:29) is an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea, with fresh springs and many caves.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Savior who rescues even those who would turn Him away. David saved Keilah, though its people would have handed him over (23:5, 12), and Christ died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. David asked the Lord before acting, and then asked again when his men were afraid (23:2-4). How do you seek God's direction before making decisions?
2. Jonathan helped David find strength in God (23:16). Who has strengthened you in God, and who can you strengthen?
3. Saul was close to catching David when a report called him away (23:26-28). How have you seen God's timing protect you?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 2: David asks the Lord whether he should go and attack the Philistines.
- đź“– verse 14: Saul searched for David every day, but God did not hand him over.
- đź“– verse 16: Jonathan goes to David and encourages him in God.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Psalm 54#Verse 01.|Psalm 54:1-7]] - God is my helper.
- đź”— [[Proverbs 03#Verse 05.|Proverbs 3:5-6]] - Trust in the Lord and He will direct your paths.
- đź”— [[1 Thessalonians 05#Verse 11.|1 Thessalonians 5:11]] - Encourage one another and build each other up.
- đź”— [[Psalm 31#Verse 15.|Psalm 31:15]] - My times are in Your hands.
- đź”— [[Romans 05#Verse 08.|Romans 5:8]] - Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[1 Samuel 23 - SOAP|God Will Save You]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes