The big picture
1 Samuel 23 opens in verse 1 with “Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 15 with “And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness…”, and closes in verse 29 with “And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.” Repeated or prominent terms include David, Saul, Keilah, LORD, hand. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Samuel · King James Version · 291 Samuel 23:1-8
1–8: They told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah…
1 Samuel 23:1–8 opens with “Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the…” and reaches “And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Samuel 23 develops its own movement around David, Saul, Keilah, LORD, hand, with particular weight carried by David, Keilah, Philistines.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.” Naming David and Keilah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
1 Samuel 23:1-8
King James Version1Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
2Therefore David enquired of the LORD , saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
3And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
4Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
5So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
8And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
1 Samuel 23:9-16
9–16: David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he…
1 Samuel 23:9–16 opens with “And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the…” and reaches “And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Samuel 23 develops its own movement around David, Saul, Keilah, LORD, hand, with particular weight carried by David, Saul, Keilah.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the…” Naming Abiathar and Bring keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
1 Samuel 23:9-16
King James Version9And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
10Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh 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 thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.
12Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.
13Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
14And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
15And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
16And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
1 Samuel 23:17-24
17–24: He said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not…
1 Samuel 23:17–24 opens with “And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou…” and reaches “And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Samuel 23 develops its own movement around David, Saul, Keilah, LORD, hand, with particular weight carried by Saul, David, father.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD ; for ye have compassion on me.” Naming Blessed and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Samuel 23:17-24
King James Version17And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
18And they two made a covenant before the LORD : and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
19Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
20Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.
21And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD ; for ye have compassion on me.
22Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.
23See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
24And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
1 Samuel 23:25-29
25–29: Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore…
1 Samuel 23:25–29 opens with “Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock…” and reaches “And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Samuel 23 develops its own movement around David, Saul, Keilah, LORD, hand, with particular weight carried by David, Saul, haste.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the…” Naming David and Maon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Samuel 23:25-29
King James Version25Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
27But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.
29And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Samuel 23:1 begins with “Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.”
Where the chapter turns
1 Samuel 23:13 forms a natural hinge: “Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that…”
The final note
1 Samuel 23:29 leaves the reader with “And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words David, Saul, Keilah, LORD, hand, Philistines help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why repeat the details of the property?
The description establishes a recognized, witnessed holding for the family.
How do grief and promise coexist?
Abraham mourns fully while securing a burial place in the land associated with the promise.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.