1 Samuel 23:1

1 Samuel 23:1 in other versions

• 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.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)One day news came to David that the Philistines were at Keilah stealing grain from the threshing floors.

Context of 1 Samuel 23:1

Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. 2Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. 3And 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?

1 Samuel 23:1 word by word

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

• 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 15:44And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:
• Nehemiah 3:17After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part.
• Leviticus 26:16I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
• Deuteronomy 28:33The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:
• Judges 6:4And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
• Micah 6:15Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

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