1 Samuel 23:1

1 Samuel 23:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
• 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.”

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 Yhwh, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And Yhwh 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 donkey.
• 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