God’s Word Translation
1 Samuel 23:3
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 23:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
- New International Version (NIV)But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”
- English Standard Version (ESV)But David's men said to him, "Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
Context of 1 Samuel 23:3
1David 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.” David’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?” 4David asked the Lord again, and the Lord answered him. He said, “Go to Keilah. I’m giving you the power to defeat the Philistines.” 5David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines, drove off their livestock, and decisively defeated them. So David rescued the people who lived in Keilah.
Read all of 1 Samuel 231 Samuel 23:3 word by word
וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י דָוִד֙ אֵלָ֔יו הִנֵּ֨ה אֲנַ֥חְנוּ פֹ֛ה בִּֽיהוּדָ֖ה יְרֵאִ֑ים וְאַף֙ כִּֽי־נֵלֵ֣ךְ קְעִלָ֔ה אֶל־מַֽעַרְכ֖וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And David’sדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto him, Behold, we be afraidיָרֵאyârê' · afraidH3373
- here in Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
- how much more then if we comeיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- to Keilahקְעִילָהqe‛îylâh · KeilahH7084
- against the armiesמַעֲרָכָהma‛ărâkâh · rankH4634
- of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 23:3
- 1 Samuel 23:15David was afraid because Saul had come to kill him at Horesh in the desert of Ziph.
- Psalms 11:1I have taken refuge in the Lord. How can you say to me: “Flee to your mountain like a bird?
- Jeremiah 12:5“If you have raced against others on foot, and they have tired you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in open country, how can you live in the jungle along the Jordan River?
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 23:3
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2-4Verses 2-4 If Gad was with David at the forest of Hareth 1 Samuel 22:5, and there inquired for him of the Lord 1Samuel 23:2,1 Samuel 23:4, but did not accompany him to Keilah, and if Abiathar‘s flight occurred at the time of David‘s being at Keilah, we have an additional striking instance of God‘s watchful providential care of David in thus sending Abiathar to supply the place of Gad at so critical a moment.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-29Because Saul received reports from informants, he was able to continue pursuing David (1 Samuel 23:7,13). David also had informants, which helped him stay ahead of Saul (1 Samuel 23:1, 9, 15, 25). David’s greatest advantage was that he could seek guidance and help from God, which Saul did not have (1 Samuel 23:2, 4, 12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-52-5. David inquired of the Lord--most probably through Gad (2Sa 24:11; 1Ch 21:9), who was present in David's camp (1Sa 22:5), probably by the recommendation of Samuel. To repel unprovoked assaults on unoffending people who were engaged in their harvest operations, was a humane and benevolent service. But it was doubtful how far it was David's duty to go against a public enemy without the royal commission; and on that account he asked, and obtained, the…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 23:3
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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