King James Version
1 Samuel 23
1Then they toldוַיַּגִּ֥דוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046Davidלְדָוִ֖דle.da.VidH1732,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,Behold, the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּים֙fe.lish.TimH6430fightנִלְחָמִ֣יםnil.cha.MimH3898against Keilahבִּקְעִילָ֔הbik.'i.LahH7084,and they robשֹׁסִ֥יםsho.SimH8154the threshingfloorsהַגֳּרָנֽוֹת׃ha.go.ra.NotH1637.
2Therefore Davidדָּוִ֤דda.VidH1732enquiredוַיִּשְׁאַ֨לvai.yish.'AlH7592of the Lordבַּֽיהוָה֙ba.Yah.wehH3068,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Shall I goH3212and smiteוְהִכֵּ֔יתִיve.hi.Kei.tiH5221these Philistinesבַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםba.pe.lish.TimH6430?And the Lordיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Davidדָּוִ֗דda.VidH1732,GoH3212,and smiteוְהִכִּ֣יתָve.hi.Ki.taH5221the Philistinesבַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםva.pe.lish.TimH6430,and saveוְהוֹשַׁעְתָּ֖ve.ho.sha'.TaH3467Keilahקְעִילָֽה׃ke.'i.LahH7084.
3And David’sדָוִד֙da.VidH1732menאַנְשֵׁ֤י'an.SheiH582saidוַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559unto him, Behold, we be afraidיְרֵאִ֑יםye.re.'ImH3373here in Judahבִּֽיהוּדָ֖הbi.hu.DahH3063:how much more then if we comeH3212to Keilahקְעִלָ֔הke.'i.LahH7084against the armiesמַֽעַרְכ֖וֹתma.'ar.KhotH4634of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ סpe.lish.TimH6430?
4Then Davidדָּוִד֙da.VidH1732enquiredלִשְׁאֹ֣לlish.'OlH7592of the Lordבַּֽיהוָ֔ה סba.Yah.wehH3068yet againוַיּ֨וֹסֶףvai.Yo.sefH3254.And the Lordיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068answeredוַֽיַּעֲנֵ֖הוּvai.ya.'a.Ne.huH6030him and saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Ariseק֚וּםkumH6965,go downרֵ֣דredH3381to Keilahקְעִילָ֔הke.'i.LahH7084;for I will deliverנֹתֵ֛ןno.TenH5414the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםpe.lish.TimH6430into thine handבְּיָדֶֽךָ׃be.ya.De.khaH3027.
5So Davidדָּוִד֩da.VidH1732and his menוַאֲנָשָׁ֨יוva.'in.shovH582wentH3212to Keilahקְעִילָ֜הke.'i.LahH7084,and foughtוַיִּלָּ֣חֶםvai.yi.La.chemH3898with the Philistinesבַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֗יםba.pe.lish.TimH6430,and brought awayוַיִּנְהַג֙vai.yin.HagH5090their cattleמִקְנֵיהֶ֔םmik.nei.HemH4735,and smoteוַיַּ֥ךְvai.YakhH5221them with a greatגְדוֹלָ֑הge.do.LahH1419slaughterמַכָּ֣הma.KahH4347.So Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732savedוַיֹּ֣שַׁעvai.Yo.sha'H3467the inhabitantsיֹשְׁבֵ֥יyo.she.VeiH3427of Keilahקְעִילָֽה׃ סke.'i.LahH7084.
6And it came to pass, when Abiatharאֶבְיָתָ֧ר'ev.ya.TarH54the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ahimelechאֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ'a.chi.Me.lekhH288fledבִּ֠בְרֹחַBiv.ro.achH1272to Davidדָּוִ֖דda.VidH1732to Keilahקְעִילָ֑הke.'i.LahH7084, thathe came downיָרַ֥דya.RadH3381withan ephodאֵפ֖וֹד'e.FodH646in his handבְּיָדֽוֹ׃be.ya.DoH3027.
7And it was toldוַיֻּגַּ֣דvai.yu.GadH5046Saulלְשָׁא֔וּלle.sha.'UlH7586that Davidדָוִ֖דda.VidH1732was comeבָ֥אva'H935to Keilahקְעִילָ֑הke.'i.LahH7084.And Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430hath deliveredנִכַּ֨רni.KarH5234him into mine handבְּיָדִ֔יbe.ya.DiH3027;for he is shut inנִסְגַּ֣רnis.GarH5462,by enteringלָב֔וֹאla.Vo'H935into a townבְּעִ֖ירbe.'IrH5892that hath gatesדְּלָתַ֥יִםde.la.Ta.yimH1817and barsוּבְרִֽיחַ׃u.ve.Ri.achH1280.
9And Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732knewוַיֵּ֣דַעvai.Ye.da'H3045that Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586secretly practisedמַחֲרִ֣ישׁma.cha.RishH2790mischiefהָרָעָ֑הha.ra.'AhH7451against him; and he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559to Abiatharאֶבְיָתָ֣ר'ev.ya.TarH54the priestהַכֹּהֵ֔ןha.ko.HenH3548,Bring hitherהַגִּ֖ישָׁהha.Gi.shahH5066the ephodהָאֵפֽוֹד׃ סha.'e.FodH646.
10Then saidוַיֹּאמֶר֮vai.yo.MerH559Davidדָּוִד֒da.VidH1732,O Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,thy servantעַבְדְּךָ֔'av.de.KhaH5650hath certainlyשָׁמֹ֤עַsha.Mo.a'H8085heardשָׁמַע֙sha.Ma'H8085that Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586seekethמְבַקֵּ֥שׁme.va.KeshH1245to comeלָב֣וֹאla.Vo'H935to Keilahקְעִילָ֑הke.'i.LahH7084,to destroyלְשַׁחֵ֥תle.sha.ChetH7843the cityלָעִ֖ירla.'IrH5892for my sake.
11Will the menבַעֲלֵי֩va.'a.LeiH1167of Keilahקְעִילָ֨הke.'i.LahH7084deliver me upהֲיַסְגִּרֻ֣נִיha.yas.gi.Ru.niH5462into his handבְיָד֜וֹve.ya.DoH3027?will Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586come downהֲיֵרֵ֣דha.ye.RedH3381,as thy servantעַבְדֶּ֔ךָ'av.De.khaH5650hath heardשָׁמַ֣עsha.Ma'H8085?O Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,I beseech thee, tellהַגֶּד־ha.ged-H5046thy servantלְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ סle.'av.De.khaH5650.And the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,He will come downיֵרֵֽד׃ye.RedH3381.
12Then saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732,Will the menבַּעֲלֵ֧יba.'a.LeiH1167of Keilahקְעִילָ֛הke.'i.LahH7084deliverהֲיַסְגִּ֜רוּha.yas.Gi.ruH5462me and my menאֲנָשַׁ֖י'a.na.ShaiH582into the handבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027of Saulשָׁא֑וּלsha.'UlH7586?And the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, They will deliver theeupיַסְגִּֽירוּ׃ סyas.Gi.ruH5462.
13Then Davidדָּוִ֨דda.VidH1732and his menוַאֲנָשָׁ֜יוva.'a.na.ShavH582, which wereabout sixכְּשֵׁשׁ־ke.shesh-H8337hundredמֵא֣וֹת אִ֗ישׁme.'ot 'IshH376H3967,aroseוַיָּקָם֩vai.ya.KamH6965and departedוַיֵּצְאוּ֙vai.ye.tze.'UH3318out of Keilahמִקְּעִלָ֔הmi.ke.'i.LahH7084,and wentוַיִּֽתְהַלְּכ֖וּvai.yit.ha.le.KhuH1980whithersoeverבַּאֲשֶׁ֣רba.'a.SherH834they could goיִתְהַלָּ֑כוּyit.ha.La.khuH1980.And it was toldהֻגַּ֗דhu.GadH5046Saulוּלְשָׁא֣וּלu.le.sha.'UlH7586that Davidדָּוִד֙da.VidH1732was escapedנִמְלַ֤טnim.LatH4422from Keilahמִקְּעִילָ֔הmi.ke.'i.LahH7084;and he forbareוַיֶּחְדַּ֖לvai.yech.DalH2308to go forthלָצֵֽאת׃la.TzetH3318.
14And Davidדָּוִ֤דda.VidH1732abodeוַיֵּ֨שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּר֙ba.mid.BarH4057in strong holdsבַּמְּצָד֔וֹתba.me.tza.DotH4679,and remainedוַיֵּ֥שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427in a mountainבָּהָ֖רba.HarH2022in the wildernessבְּמִדְבַּר־be.mid.bar-H4057of Ziphזִ֑יףZifH2128.And Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586soughtוַיְבַקְשֵׁ֤הוּvay.vak.She.huH1245him every dayהַיָּמִ֔יםhai.ya.MimH3117,but Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430deliveredנְתָנ֥וֹne.ta.NoH5414him not into his handבְּיָדֽוֹ׃be.ya.DoH3027.
15And Davidדָוִ֔דda.VidH1732sawוַיַּ֣רְאvai.Yar'H7200that Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586was come outיָצָ֥אya.Tza'H3318to seekלְבַקֵּ֣שׁle.va.KeshH1245his lifeנַפְשׁ֑וֹnaf.ShoH5315:and Davidוְדָוִ֥דve.da.VidH1732wasin the wildernessבְּמִדְבַּר־be.mid.bar-H4057of Ziphזִ֖יףzifH2128in a woodבַּחֹֽרְשָׁה׃ סba.Cho.re.shahH2793.
17And he saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, Fearתִּירָ֗אti.Ra'H3372not: for the handיַ֚דyadH3027of Saulשָׁא֣וּלsha.'UlH7586my fatherאָבִ֔י'a.ViH1shall not findתִֽמְצָאֲךָ֙tim.tza.'a.KhaH4672thee; and thou shalt be kingתִּמְלֹ֣ךְtim.LokhH4427over Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and I shall be nextלְמִשְׁנֶ֑הle.mish.NehH4932unto thee; and that also Saulשָׁא֥וּלsha.'UlH7586my fatherאָבִ֖י'a.ViH1knowethיֹדֵ֥עַyo.De.a'H3045.
18And they twoשְׁנֵיהֶ֛םshe.nei.HemH8147madeוַיִּכְרְת֧וּvai.yikh.re.TuH3772a covenantבְּרִ֖יתbe.RitH1285beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440the Lordיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068:and Davidדָּוִד֙da.VidH1732abodeוַיֵּ֤שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427in the woodבַּחֹ֔רְשָׁהba.Cho.re.shahH2793,and Jonathanוִיהוֹנָתָ֖ןvi.ho.na.TanH3083wentהָלַ֥ךְha.LakhH1980to his houseלְבֵיתֽוֹ׃ סle.vei.ToH1004.
19Then came upוַיַּעֲל֤וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927the Ziphitesזִפִים֙zi.FimH2130to Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586to Gibeahהַגִּבְעָ֖תָהha.giv.'A.tahH1390,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,Doth not Davidדָ֠וִדDa.vidH1732hideמִסְתַּתֵּ֨רmis.ta.TerH5641himself with us in strong holdsבַמְּצָדוֹת֙va.me.tza.dOtH4679in the woodבַּחֹ֔רְשָׁהba.Cho.re.shahH2793,in the hillבְּגִבְעַת֙be.giv.'AtH1389of Hachilahהַֽחֲכִילָ֔הha.cha.khi.LahH2444, which ison the southמִימִ֥יןmi.MinH3225of Jeshimonהַיְשִׁימֽוֹן׃hay.shi.MonH3452?
20Now therefore, O kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,come downלָרֶ֖דֶתla.Re.detH3381according to all the desireאַוַּ֨ת'a.VatH185of thy soulנַפְשְׁךָ֥naf.she.KhaH5315to come downרֵ֑דRedH3381; and our part shall beto deliverהַסְגִּיר֖וֹhas.gi.RoH5462him into the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428handבְּיַ֥דbe.YadH3027.
22GoH3212,I pray you, prepareהָכִ֣ינוּha.Khi.nuH3559yet, and knowוּדְע֤וּu.de.'UH3045and seeוּרְאוּ֙u.re.'UH7200his placeמְקוֹמוֹ֙me.ko.MoH4725where his hauntרַגְל֔וֹrag.LoH7272is, andwho hath seenרָאָ֖הוּra.'A.huH7200him there: for it is toldאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559me thathe dealeth veryעָר֥וֹםa.RomH6191subtillyיַעְרִ֖םya'.RimH6191.
23Seeוּרְא֣וּu.re.'UH7200therefore, and take knowledgeוּדְע֗וּu.de.'UH3045of all the lurking placesהַמַּֽחֲבֹאִים֙ha.ma.cha.vo.'ImH4224where he hidethיִתְחַבֵּ֣אyit.cha.Be'H2244himself, and come ye againוְשַׁבְתֶּ֤םve.shav.TemH7725to me with the certaintyנָכ֔וֹןna.KhonH3559,and I will goוְהָלַכְתִּ֖יve.ha.lakh.TiH1980with you: and it shall come to pass, if he beיֶשְׁנ֣וֹyesh.NoH3426in the landבָאָ֔רֶץva.'A.retzH776,that I will searchוְחִפַּשְׂתִּ֣יve.chi.pas.TiH2664him out throughout all the thousandsאַלְפֵ֥י'al.FeiH505of Judahיְהוּדָֽה׃ye.hu.DahH3063.
24And they aroseוַיָּק֛וּמוּvai.ya.Ku.muH6965,and wentH3212to Ziphזִ֖יפָהZi.fahH2128beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Saulשָׁא֑וּלsha.'UlH7586:but Davidוְדָוִ֨דve.da.VidH1732and his menוַאֲנָשָׁ֜יוva.'a.na.ShavH582werein the wildernessבְּמִדְבַּ֤רbe.mid.BarH4057of Maonמָעוֹן֙ma.'OnH4584,in the plainבָּעֲרָבָ֔הba.'a.ra.VahH6160on the southיְמִ֥יןye.MinH3225of Jeshimonהַיְשִׁימֽוֹן׃hay.shi.MonH3452.
25Saulשָׁא֣וּלsha.'UlH7586also and his menוַאֲנָשָׁיו֮va.'a.na.ShavH582wentH3212to seekלְבַקֵּשׁ֒le.va.KeshH1245him.And they toldוַיַּגִּ֣דוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046Davidלְדָוִ֔דle.da.VidH1732:wherefore he came downוַיֵּ֣רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381into a rockהַסֶּ֔לַעha.Se.la'H5553,and abodeוַיֵּ֖שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427in the wildernessבְּמִדְבַּ֣רbe.mid.BarH4057of Maonמָע֑וֹןma.'onH4584.And when Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֣עvai.yish.Ma'H8085that,he pursuedוַיִּרְדֹּ֥ףvai.yir.DofH7291afterאַחֲרֵֽי־'a.cha.rei-H310Davidדָוִ֖דda.VidH1732in the wildernessמִדְבַּ֥רmid.BarH4057of Maonמָעֽוֹן׃ma.'onH4584.
26And Saulשָׁא֜וּלsha.'UlH7586wentH3212on this sideמִצַּ֤דmi.TzadH6654of the mountainהָהָר֙ha.HarH2022,and Davidוְדָוִ֧דve.da.VidH1732and his menוַאֲנָשָׁ֛יוva.'a.na.ShavH582on that sideמִצַּ֥דmi.TzadH6654of the mountainהָהָ֖רha.HarH2022:and Davidדָוִ֜דda.VidH1732made hasteנֶחְפָּ֤זnech.PazH2648to get awayH3212for fearמִפְּנֵ֣יmi.pe.NeiH6440of Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586;for Saulוְשָׁא֣וּלve.sha.'UlH7586and his menוַאֲנָשָׁ֗יוva.'a.na.ShavH582compassedH5849Davidדָּוִ֥דda.VidH1732and his menאֲנָשָׁ֖יו'a.na.ShavH582round aboutH5849to takeלְתָפְשָֽׂם׃le.ta.fe.SamH8610them.
28Wherefore Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586returnedוַיָּ֣שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725from pursuingמִרְדֹף֙mir.DofH7291afterאַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiH310Davidדָוִ֔דda.VidH1732,and wentH3212againstH7125the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.TimH6430:therefore they calledקָֽרְאוּ֙ka.re.'UH7121that placeלַמָּק֣וֹםla.ma.KomH4725Sela–hammahlekothH5555.
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
King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)
Commentaries