1 Samuel 23:4

1 Samuel 23:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
• New International Version (NIV)Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, "Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then David inquired of the Lord once again. And the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

Context of 1 Samuel 23:4

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?” David 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. 6When Ahimelech’s son Abiathar fled to David at Keilah, Abiathar brought a priestly ephod with him.

1 Samuel 23:4 word by word

וַיּ֨וֹסֶף ע֤וֹד דָּוִד֙ לִשְׁאֹ֣ל בַּֽיהוָ֔ה ס וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֖הוּ יְהוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר ק֚וּם רֵ֣ד קְעִילָ֔ה כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י נֹתֵ֛ן אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• enquiredשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• yet againיָסַףyâsaph · to add: againH3254
• answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• him and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Ariseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• go downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
• to Keilahקְעִילָהqe‛îylâh · KeilahH7084
• for I will deliverנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• into thine handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 23:4

• 1 Samuel 28:6He prayed to the Lord, but the Lord didn’t answer him through dreams, the Urim, or prophets.
• Judges 6:39Then Gideon said to God, “Don’t be angry with me. But let me ask one more thing. Let me make one more test with the wool. Let the wool be dry while all the ground is covered with dew.”
• Joshua 8:7you come out of hiding and capture the city. The Lord your God will hand it over to you.
• Judges 7:7Then the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped water I will save you and hand Midian over to you. All the other men should go home.”
• 2 Samuel 5:19David asked the Lord, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord answered David, “Attack! I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you.”
• 2 Kings 3:18The Lord considers that an easy thing to do. In addition, he will put Moab at your mercy.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 23:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4David inquired of the Lord yet again - This was to satisfy his men, who made the strong objections mentioned in the preceding verse.Read the comment
• 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. 4David asked the Lord for guidance, either by praying directly or by using the ephod (a priestly garment used to seek God’s will), as described in 1 Samuel 23:6, 9; 2 Samuel 2:1; and 2 Samuel 5:23–24. God’s answers were a sign of his blessing and protection (compare 1 Samuel 28:6).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 23:4

• Armies
• David
• Keilah

In the dictionaries

• David
• Philistines
• High priest
• Keilah
• Town
• Palestine
• Samuel, Books of
• Urim and Thummim
• Shunem

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