1 Samuel 23:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.

NIV: Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.

NASB: So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Division.

CSB: So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to engage the Philistines. Therefore, that place was named the Rock of Separation.

NLT: So Saul quit chasing David and returned to fight the Philistines. Ever since that time, the place where David was camped has been called the Rock of Escape.

KJV: Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.

NKJV: Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape.

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.

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 9/17/2025 1:42:48 AM