1 Samuel 23 - Printer Friendly

What does 1 Samuel 23 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

David and his men are on the run from King Saul. Saul was very good at protecting his people from the Philistines, but David is better. Ever since David killed Goliath, Saul has become more resentful of David's popularity. With the help of Saul's son and daughter and an unwitting priest, David escaped and fled into the wilderness. Overcome by rage and an evil spirit, Saul killed the priest, the priest's family, and their entire town. Only one of the priest's sons, Abiathar, escaped and ran to David. This chapter begins and ends with an attack by the Philistines, although the chapter is not really about the Philistines, at all. It's about Saul's continued hunt to capture and kill David and God's continued protection of the one He has chosen to be Israel's next king.

David and his men are hiding out when local people bring a warning. The Philistines are attacking the city of Keilah and looting grain. Either they ask David for his protection, or David feels compelled to defend his fellow Israelites. Yet David doesn't act before asking the Lord whether he should defend the city (1 Samuel 23:1–2).

God tells David to attack the Philistines and save the city. David's men don't think it's a good idea to fight the Philistines while they're hiding from their own king. Respecting their hesitation, David asks God again whether he should attack. The Lord again approves, saying He will give David victory. David and his men defeat the Philistines and save the people (1 Samuel 23:2–5).

Meanwhile, Saul hears that David has taken refuge inside the walled city of Keilah. Saul thinks David has trapped himself inside the city. The king immediately begins planning a siege, believing falsely that God is giving David into his hands. David knows Saul is up to something and asks Abiathar to pray about what they should do. God confirms Saul is coming and the people of Keilah will give David up to Saul. David and his men, now some 600 strong, leave Keilah. When Saul hears this, he calls off the attack (1 Samuel 23:7–13).

David leads his men to new hiding places in the rugged wilderness of Ziph. He knows Saul is hunting him, but he receives an unexpected visitor. Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1–4) arrives with a reminder. Jonathan assures David that Saul will never kill him. This is an expression of Jonathan's faith in God and His plans. He adds that David will become king over Israel and anticipates becoming second-in-command. Jonathan declares that even Saul understands this. The two renew their covenant promises to each other before Jonathan returns home (1 Samuel 23:14–18).

The people of Ziph send messengers to the king promising to reveal David's location. Saul thinks David is too wily to be captured and promises to come soon to help the people of Ziph find him. Saul and his army return and chase David's army around a mountain. As the king closes in on David, however, he receives an urgent message that the Philistines are raiding the land. Saul calls off the chase and returns to defend the nation. David and his men travel to a new hiding place at Engedi. This is the second time God arranged events so that David doesn't have to fight the king who wants him dead (1 Samuel 23:19–29).

When Saul is finished with the Philistines, he will return to hunting David. In the process, the king walks right into the cave where David and some of his men are hiding. David will have a chance to kill Saul. But he will refuse to kill the man who was rightfully ordained as king. David intends to leave his rise to power in God's hands. Saul will be chastened and goes home: the third meeting in which David and Saul don't fight (1 Samuel 24).

First Samuel 23:1–5 describes how David learns his purpose. Since David fled Saul, David has managed to gather about 600 men and their families, people who are in debt and discouraged (1 Samuel 22:1–2; 23:13; 30:3). Now, David knows why. The Philistines are attacking an Israelite city and stealing their grain. After seeking guidance from God twice, David and his men drive out the Philistines and save the city. Unfortunately, Saul hears. God warns David that the city will turn him over to the king, so he and his people flee to the wilderness (1 Samuel 23:6–14).

First Samuel 23:6–14 echoes the saying that "no good deed goes unpunished." He and his 600 men have saved the city of Keilah from Philistines who were stealing grain. When Saul hears, he plots to trap David in the city. God warns David that the residents will turn him over to the king, so David takes his army and flees into the wilderness. With the help of other locals, Saul finds David and chases him around a mountain. Just when Saul's army is about to take David's, the king hears the Philistines are attacking again and withdraws (1 Samuel 15–29).

First Samuel 23:15–18 records David receiving an unexpected visitor. King Saul has been chasing David and his people around the wilderness of Ziph. Jonathan—Saul's son and David's best friend (1 Samuel 18:1–4)—finds David and brings encouragement. Jonathan is sure that David will be king and that Saul will not kill him. Jonathan expects to be David's second-in-command. The friends don't have much time. Saul has heard where David is hiding and is on his way (1 Samuel 23:19–29). Sadly, Jonathan's last prediction won't come true (1 Samuel 31:2), but his covenant with David will remain when David protects Jonathan's son Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9).

First Samuel 23:19–23 describes Saul finding the loyalty he's been seeking . The king is distraught that the people, including his servants, seem to love David more than him (1 Samuel 22:6–8). The people who live in the wilderness of Ziph contact their king to say David is near and they'll get him. Saul comes with his army and chases David and his men around a mountain. David is nearly surrounded when Saul receives news: the Philistines are attacking again. Saul hurries away, and David finds a new hiding spot (1 Samuel 24:29).

First Samuel 23:24–29 shows once again that God will protect David from having to fight his own king. The first time, God warned David that the people he'd just rescued were going to turn him over to Saul (1 Samuel 6:14). In this second time, Saul is about to capture David when he hears the Philistines have launched an attack, so he must leave. God will intervene so David doesn't need to battle his king once more. David will refuse to kill Saul twice (1 Samuel 24; 26; 29). When David takes the throne, no one can say he rebelled against the Lord's anointed.

Chapter Summary:

First Samuel 23 describes God's protection of David from Saul. God tells David and his men to save the city of Keilah from the Philistines. When Saul plans to trap David and his army in the city, God warns David the people will betray them. Jonathan visits and encourages David. More locals offer to betray David to Saul, but just as the king draws near, he hears the Philistines are attacking. Jonathan is right that God is protecting David.

Chapter Context:

David had been the hero of the people. He still is, in some ways. But he's had to run from his murderous king. He's been forced to feign madness to escape the Philistines. Recently, he has learned that Saul destroyed everyone in the city of the priest who helped David (1 Samuel 18—23). Now, David is responsible for 600 desperate men and their families, and Saul is hunting him. Twice, God saves David without making him fight Saul (1 Samuel 23). Next, David will refuse to kill Saul (1 Samuel 24). David is on the run, but God is keeping him safe.

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

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