1 Samuel Chapter 23 — David’s Escape and Deliverance
David saves the city of Keilah from Philistine raiders, escapes Saul's pursuit through divine guidance, and receives encouragement from Jonathan.
1David was told, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and are robbing the threshing floors.”
2Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and strike these Philistines?”
3David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
4Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. The LORD answered him, and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
5David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their livestock, and killed them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7Saul was told that David had come to Keilah. Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he is shut in by entering into a town that has gates and bars.”
8Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him. He said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
10Then David said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.
11Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? LORD, the God of Israel, I beg you, tell your servant.”
12Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?”
13Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah and went wherever they could go. Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah; and he gave up going there.
14David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God didn’t deliver him into his hand.
15David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the woods.
16Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.
17He said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for the hand of Saul my father won’t find you; and you will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.”
18They both made a covenant before the LORD. Then David stayed in the woods and Jonathan went to his house.
19Then the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the desert?
20Now therefore, O king, come down. According to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part will be to deliver him up into the king’s hand.”
21Saul said, “You are blessed by the LORD, for you have had compassion on me.
22Please go make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there; for I have been told that he is very cunning.
23See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself; and come again to me with certainty, and I will go with you. It shall happen, if he is in the land, that I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”
24They arose, and went to Ziph before Saul; but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of the desert.
25Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told, he went down to the rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.
26Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David hurried to get away for fear of Saul, for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them.
27But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land!”
28So Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place Sela Hammahlekoth.*“Sela Hammahlekoth” means “rock of parting”.
29David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
1 Samuel 23:14
“David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God didn’t deliver him into his hand.”
This verse emphasizes God's sovereign protection over David despite Saul's persistent efforts to capture him.
1 Samuel 23:16
“Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.”
It highlights the deep bond of friendship and spiritual support between Jonathan and David during a time of crisis.
1 Samuel 23:27
“But a messenger came to Saul, saying, 'Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land!'”
This unexpected intervention serves as a clear example of divine providence sparing David at the last possible moment.
Chapter Summary
In 1 Samuel 23, David hears that the Philistines are attacking the city of Keilah. After inquiring of the Lord twice for confirmation, David and his six hundred men defeat the Philistines and save the city. However, Saul learns of David's location and prepares to trap him there. Using the ephod brought by the priest Abiathar, David asks the Lord if the people of Keilah will hand him over to Saul; the Lord reveals they will. David flees to the wilderness of Ziph, where Jonathan visits him to strengthen his faith and reaffirm their covenant. The Ziphites later betray David's location to Saul, leading to a tense pursuit in the wilderness of Maon. Just as Saul's army surrounds David, a messenger reports a Philistine raid on Israelite territory, forcing Saul to abandon the chase. David then moves to the strongholds of En Gedi for safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
David went to Keilah because he heard the Philistines were attacking the city and robbing the threshing floors. Despite his men's fears, he obeyed God's instruction to deliver the city.
The ephod was a priestly garment used by David to seek specific guidance from God. It allowed David to know that Saul was coming and that the people of Keilah would betray him.
Sela Hammahlekoth means 'the rock of parting' or 'the rock of escape.' It was named to commemorate the moment Saul had to stop his pursuit of David to fight the Philistines.
Jonathan went to find David in the woods of Ziph to encourage him. He assured David that he would eventually be king and that Saul would not succeed in finding him.
Study Note
The use of the ephod by David marks a distinct contrast to Saul, who was increasingly isolated from divine communication, while David sought God's counsel for every major decision.
Continue in the App
Get the full experience — immersive audio, instant explanations, highlights, notes, and reading plans.