1 Samuel 23

“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.

“Therefore David enquired of the LORD , saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David…” 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 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.

“Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will…” Naming Arise and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is…” Naming Saul and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.” 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 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.

“Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to…” Naming David 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.

“Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will…” 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.

“Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they…” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.” Naming David and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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.

“And they two made a covenant before the LORD : and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“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.

“Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“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.

“Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is…” The line’s distinctive content terms include dealeth, haunt, know. Its relationship to verses 21 and 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on…” Naming David and Jeshimon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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.

“And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste…” Naming David and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.” Naming Haste and Philistines keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.