1 Samuel 23:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, "God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars."

NIV: Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, "God has delivered him into my hands, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars."

NASB: When it was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, 'God has handed him over to me, for he shut himself in by entering a city with double gates and bars.'

CSB: When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, "God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates."

NLT: Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah. 'Good!' he exclaimed. 'We’ve got him now! God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself in a walled town!'

KJV: And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

NKJV: And Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. So Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.”

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.