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 them?” “Yes, go and save Keilah,” the Lord told him. 3But David’s men said, “We’re afraid even here in Judah. We certainly don’t want to go to Keilah to fight the whole Philistine army!” So David asked the Lord again, and again the Lord replied, “Go down to Keilah, for I will help you conquer the Philistines.” 5So David and his men went to Keilah. They slaughtered the Philistines and took all their livestock and rescued the people of Keilah. 6Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he brought the 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 asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets.
• Judges 6:39Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.”
• Joshua 8:7you will jump up from your ambush and take possession of the town, for the Lord your God will give it to you.
• Judges 7:7The Lord told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.”
• 2 Samuel 5:19So David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”
• 2 Kings 3:18But this is only a simple thing for the Lord, for he will make you victorious over the army of Moab!

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