1 Samuel 23:1

1 Samuel 23:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
• New International Version (NIV)When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now they told David, "Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then they told David, saying, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.”

Context of 1 Samuel 23:1

David was asked, “Did you know that the Philistines are fighting against Keilah? They are robbing the threshing floors.” 2David asked the Lord, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” “Go,” the Lord told David, “attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.” 3David’s men told him, “We’re afraid of staying here in Judah. How much more ⌞afraid do you think we’ll be⌟ if we go to Keilah against the Philistine army?”

1 Samuel 23:1 word by word

וַיַּגִּ֥דוּ לְדָוִ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֤ה פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ נִלְחָמִ֣ים בִּקְעִילָ֔ה וְהֵ֖מָּה שֹׁסִ֥ים אֶת־הַגֳּרָנֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then they toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Behold, the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• fightלָחַםlâcham · to fightH3898
• against Keilahקְעִילָהqe‛îylâh · KeilahH7084
• and they robשָׁסָהshâsâh shâώâh · to plunderH8154
• the threshingfloorsגֹּ֫רֶןgôren · threshing floorH1637

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 23:1

• Joshua 15:44Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah.
• Nehemiah 3:17After him the Levites, including Rehum (Bani’s son), made repairs. Next to him Hashabiah, the official in charge of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district.
• Leviticus 26:16then this is what I will do to you: I will terrorize you with disease and fever. You will suffer from eye problems and depression. You will plant your crops and get nothing because your enemies will eat them.
• Deuteronomy 28:33People you never knew will eat what your land and your hard work have produced. As long as you live, you will know nothing but oppression and abuse.
• Judges 6:4The enemy used to camp on the land and destroy the crops all the way to Gaza. They left nothing for Israel to live on—not one sheep, cow, or donkey.
• Micah 6:15You will plant, but you won’t harvest. You will crush olives, but you won’t rub the oil on your skin. You will make new wine, but you won’t drink it.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 23:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1The Philistines fight against Keilah - Keilah was a fortified town in the tribe of Judah near to Eleutheropolis, on the road to Hebron. Rob the threshing-floors - This was an ancient custom of the Philistines, Midianites, and others. See Judges 6:4. When the corn was ripe and fit to be threshed, and they had collected it at the threshing-floors, which were always in the open field, then their enemies came upon them and spoiled them of the fruits of their…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1David‘s growing importance, fugitive as he was, is marked by this appeal to him for deliverance from the Philistines. The “threshing floors” were the natural objects of plunder Judges 6:11. Keilah was in the Shephelah (marginal reference), probably close to the Philistine border, but its site is uncertain. Joshua 2:11 Samuel Joshua 23:1 PP1Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1David rescues Keilah. (1-6) God warns him to escape from Keilah. (7-13) Jonathan comforts David. (14-18) He is rescued from Saul by an invasion of the Philistines. (19-29) Verses 1-6 When princes persecute God's people, let them expect vexation on all sides. The way for any country to be quiet, is to let God's church be quiet in it: if Saul fight against David, the Philistines fight against his country. David considered himself the protector of the land…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Keilah was near Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1). It was at the western edge of Judah, near the Philistine border (see Joshua 15:44; Nehemiah 3:17–18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-61Sa 23:1-6. David Rescues Keilah. 1. Then they told David--rather, "now they had told"; for this information had reached him previous to his hearing (1Sa 23:6) of the Nob tragedy. Keilah--a city in the west of Judah (Jos 15:44), not far from the forest of Hareth. and they rob the threshing-floors--These were commonly situated on the fields and were open to the wind (Jud 6:11; Ru 3:2).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 23:1

• David
• Keilah
• Threshing

In the dictionaries

• David
• Philistines
• Keilah
• Town
• Army
• Crime; Crimes
• Palestine
• Samuel, Books of
• Threshing-Floor

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings