1 Samuel 23:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition.

NIV: So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.

NASB: Then David and his men, about six hundred, rose up and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the pursuit.

CSB: So David and his men, numbering about six hundred, left Keilah at once and moved from place to place. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition.

NLT: So David and his men — about 600 of them now — left Keilah and began roaming the countryside. Word soon reached Saul that David had escaped, so he didn’t go to Keilah after all.

KJV: 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 David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

NKJV: So David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. Then it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah; so he halted the expedition.

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 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.

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.