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The Blue Letter Bible

1 Samuel 23 :: Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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Deliverance at Keilah
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:1 -

It was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and raiding the threshing floors.”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:2 -

So David inquired of the LORD: “Should I launch an attack against these Philistines? ”

The LORD answered David, “Launch an attack against the Philistines and rescue Keilah.”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:3 -

But David’s men said to him, “Look, we’re afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces! ”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:4 -

Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him, “Go at once to Keilah, for I will hand the Philistines over to you.”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:5 -

Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, drove their livestock away, and inflicted heavy losses on them. So David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:6 -

Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:7 -

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.”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:8 -

Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:9 -

When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to the priest Abiathar, “Bring the ephod.”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:10 -

Then David said, “LORD God of Israel, your servant has reliable information that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:11 -

“Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? LORD God of Israel, please tell your servant.”

The LORD answered, “He will come down.”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:12 -

Then David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul? ”

“They will,” the LORD responded.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:13 -

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.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:14 -

David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.

A Renewed Covenant
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:15 -

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

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:16 -

Then Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith[fn] in God,

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:17 -

saying, “Don’t be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I’ll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true.”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:18 -

Then the two of them made a covenant in the LORD’s presence. Afterward, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

David’s Narrow Escape
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:19 -

Some Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Isn’t it true that David is hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon?

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:20 -

“So now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. As for us, we will be glad to hand him over to the king.”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:21 -

“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have shown concern for me.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:22 -

“Go and check again. Investigate[fn] where he goes[fn] and who has seen him there; they tell me he is extremely cunning.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:23 -

“Investigate[fn] all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with accurate information, and I’ll go with you. If it turns out he really is in the region, I’ll search for him among all the clans[fn] of Judah.”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:24 -

So they went to Ziph ahead of Saul.

Now David and his men were in the wilderness near Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon,

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:25 -

and Saul and his men went to look for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David there.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:26 -

Saul went along one side of the mountain and David and his men went along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away from Saul, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:27 -

Then a messenger came to Saul saying, “Come quickly, because the Philistines have raided the land! ”

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:28 -

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

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 23:29 -

From there David went up and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.

CSB Footnotes
Lit and strengthened his hand
Lit Know and see
Lit watch his place where his foot will be
Lit See and know
Or thousands
CSB

Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017, 2020 by Holman Bible Publishers.

Additional information is provided here.

For more information on this translation, see the CSB Preface.

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1 Samuel Chapter 23 — Additional Translations: