1 Samuel 23:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.

NIV: While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life.

NASB: Now David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph, at Horesh.

CSB: David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life.

NLT: One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him.

KJV: And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

NKJV: So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in a forest.

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 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.

Accessed 8/20/2025 3:26:33 PM