1 Samuel 23:2

1 Samuel 23:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therefore 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.
• New International Version (NIV)he inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" And the Lord said to David, "Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”

Context of 1 Samuel 23:2

1They told David, “The Philistines are fighting in Keilah and are looting the threshing floors.” So David asked the Lord, “Should I go and strike down these Philistines?” The Lord said to David, “Go, strike down the Philistines and deliver Keilah.” 3But David’s men said to him, “We are afraid while we are still here in Judah! What will it be like if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” 4So David asked the Lord once again. But again the Lord replied, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.”

1 Samuel 23:2 word by word

וַיִּשְׁאַ֨ל דָּוִ֤ד בַּֽיהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַאֵלֵ֣ךְ וְהִכֵּ֔יתִי בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה ס וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד לֵ֚ךְ וְהִכִּ֣יתָ בַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וְהוֹשַׁעְתָּ֖ אֶת־קְעִילָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Therefore Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• enquiredשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Shall I goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• and smiteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• these Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• and saveיָשַׁעyâsha‛ · to saveH3467
• Keilahקְעִילָהqe‛îylâh · KeilahH7084

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 23:2

• 1 Samuel 23:4So David asked the Lord once again. But again the Lord replied, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.”
• 1 Samuel 30:8David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Should I pursue this raiding band? Will I overtake them?” He said to him, “Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them and carry out a rescue!”
• Numbers 27:21And he will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the Lord by the decision of the Urim. At his command they will go out, and at his command they will come in, he and all the Israelites with him, the whole community.”
• Joshua 9:14The men examined some of their provisions, but they failed to ask the Lord’s advice.
• Judges 1:1After Joshua died, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who should lead the invasion against the Canaanites and launch the attack?”
• 2 Samuel 5:19So David asked the Lord, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to David, “March up, for I will indeed hand the Philistines over to you.”
• 1 Chronicles 14:10David asked God, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to him, “March up! I will hand them over to you!”
• Psalms 32:8I will instruct and teach you about how you should live. I will advise you as I look you in the eye.
• Proverbs 3:5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.
• Jeremiah 10:23Lord, we know that people do not control their own destiny. It is not in their power to determine what will happen to them.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 23:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Therefore David inquired of the Lord - In what way David made this inquiry we are not told, but it was probably by means of Abiathar; and therefore I think, with Houbigant that the sixth verse should be read immediately after the first. The adventure mentioned here was truly noble. Had not David loved his country, and been above all motives of private and personal revenge, he would have rejoiced in this invasion of Judah as producing a strong diversion in…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. 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 23:2

• Armies
• David
• Keilah

In the dictionaries

• David
• Philistines
• High priest
• Keilah
• Town
• Army
• Samuel, Books of
• Urim and Thummim
• War; Warfare

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