I Samuel 23

שמואל א׳ פרק כ״ג

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: I Samuel | Chapter: 23 of 31 | Day: 68 of 742

Date: April 20, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

I Samuel 23 is one of the most dramatically charged chapters in the entire David narrative, a breathless account of flight, betrayal, loyalty, and divine providence set against the harsh terrain of the Judean wilderness. The chapter opens with David acting as a savior-king before he has any crown: when word reaches him that the Philistines are raiding the threshing floors of Keilah (קעילה), he consults God not once but twice before marching to rescue the town. The double inquiry — first receiving a command to go, then asking again after his men express fear — reveals both David’s spiritual dependence on divine guidance and his sensitivity to the morale of his followers. Rashi notes that David’s men were understandably terrified: if they were already afraid in the heartland of Judah, how much more so in a fortified town where Saul could trap them. Yet God’s second answer is emphatic and reassuring: “March down at once to Keilah, for I am going to deliver the Philistines into your hands” (כי אני נתן את פלשתים בידך).

The rescue of Keilah introduces a critical instrument in David’s fugitive toolkit: the ephod (אפוד) brought by Abiathar the priest, sole survivor of the Nob massacre. Verse 6 connects Abiathar’s arrival to the events of chapter 22, and from this point forward David possesses a legitimate means of inquiring of God — a privilege that Saul, who slaughtered the priestly city, has forfeited. The irony is piercing: Saul interprets David’s entry into Keilah as God delivering him into a walled trap (נכר אותו אלהים בידי), yet it is David, not Saul, who actually receives divine communication. When David asks whether the citizens of Keilah will hand him over to Saul, God answers with devastating directness: “They will” (יסגירו). Radak observes that God’s response reflects what the people of Keilah would do if given the opportunity, not a decree of inevitability — and David, armed with this foreknowledge, escapes before the betrayal can materialize. The episode raises profound questions about gratitude and political calculation: the very people David saved would surrender him to curry favor with the sitting king.

The chapter’s emotional center is the brief, luminous encounter between David and Jonathan at Horesh (חורשה) in the wilderness of Ziph. This is their final meeting in the biblical narrative, and the text distills it to its essence: Jonathan “strengthened his hand in God” (ויחזק את ידו באלהים). The phrase is remarkable — Jonathan does not merely comfort David with human sympathy but actively reinforces David’s trust in the divine promise. Jonathan’s words are both generous and heartbreaking: “You are going to be king over Israel and I shall be second to you; and even my father Saul knows this is so.” Metzudat David explains that Jonathan was acknowledging a reality he had already accepted, offering David not just encouragement but a political covenant. That Saul himself “knows this” (גם שאול אבי יודע כן) underscores the tragic futility of Saul’s pursuit — he chases a man whose kingship he recognizes as inevitable.

The chapter’s final movement plunges David back into mortal danger. The Ziphites (זפים), inhabitants of David’s own tribal territory of Judah, volunteer to betray him to Saul — a second betrayal after Keilah, this time from his own kinsmen. Saul blesses them and dispatches them to conduct detailed surveillance before he commits his forces. The pursuit narrows to a single hill in the wilderness of Maon, with Saul circling one side and David fleeing around the other — the Hebrew text conveys the claustrophobic intensity of the chase with rapid, breathless verbs. Just as capture seems certain, a messenger arrives with news that the Philistines have invaded, and Saul is forced to break off. The narrator records that the place was named Sela-Hammahlekot (סלע המחלקות), the “Rock of Separation” or “Rock of Division,” memorializing the razor-thin margin of David’s escape. Radak and other commentators see in this last-moment deliverance the hand of providence: God did not allow Saul to capture David (verse 14: ולא נתנו אלהים בידו), and the Philistine raid was the instrument of that protection. The chapter thus forms a tightly woven theological argument: David’s repeated consultations of God, Jonathan’s affirmation of God’s promise, and the providential rescue at Maon all testify that the divine plan for David’s kingship cannot be thwarted by human treachery or royal power.

פרק כ״ג · Chapter 23

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

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

English:

David was told: “The Philistines are raiding Keilah and plundering the threshing floors.”

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁאַ֨ל דָּוִ֤ד בַּֽיהֹוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַאֵלֵ֣ךְ וְהִכֵּ֔יתִי בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה {ס}        וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד לֵ֚ךְ וְהִכִּ֣יתָ בַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וְהוֹשַׁעְתָּ֖ אֶת־קְעִילָֽה׃

English:

David consulted GOD, “Shall I go and attack those Philistines?” And GOD said to David, “Go; attack the Philistines and you will save Keilah.”

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י דָוִד֙ אֵלָ֔יו הִנֵּ֨ה אֲנַ֥חְנוּ פֹ֛ה בִּיהוּדָ֖ה יְרֵאִ֑ים וְאַף֙ כִּֽי־נֵלֵ֣ךְ קְעִלָ֔ה אֶל־מַעַרְכ֖וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ {ס}        

English:

But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah, how much more if we go to Keilah against the forces of the Philistines!”

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַיּ֨וֹסֶף ע֤וֹד דָּוִד֙ לִשְׁא֣וֹל בַּיהֹוָ֔ה וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֖הוּ יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר ק֚וּם רֵ֣ד קְעִילָ֔ה כִּי־אֲנִ֥י נֹתֵ֛ן אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃

English:

So David consulted GOD again, and GOD answered him, “March down at once to Keilah, for I am going to deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִד֩ וַאֲנָשָׁ֨ו קְעִילָ֜ה וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיִּנְהַג֙ אֶת־מִקְנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיַּ֥ךְ בָּהֶ֖ם מַכָּ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣שַׁע דָּוִ֔ד אֵ֖ת יֹשְׁבֵ֥י קְעִילָֽה׃ {ס}        

English:

David and his men went to Keilah and fought against the Philistines; he drove off their cattle and inflicted a severe defeat on them. Thus David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֗י בִּ֠בְרֹ֠חַ אֶבְיָתָ֧ר בֶּן־אֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד קְעִילָ֑ה אֵפ֖וֹד יָרַ֥ד בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

English:

When Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he brought down an ephod with him.ahe brought down an ephod with him Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיֻּגַּ֣ד לְשָׁא֔וּל כִּי־בָ֥א דָוִ֖ד קְעִילָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֗וּל נִכַּ֨ר אֹת֤וֹ אֱלֹהִים֙ בְּיָדִ֔י כִּ֚י נִסְגַּ֣ר לָב֔וֹא בְּעִ֖יר דְּלָתַ֥יִם וּבְרִֽיחַ׃

English:

Saul was told that David had come to Keilah, and Saul thought, “God has deliveredbdelivered Meaning of Heb. uncertain. him into my hands, for he has shut himself in by entering a town with gates and bars.”

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיְשַׁמַּ֥ע שָׁא֛וּל אֶת־כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה לָרֶ֣דֶת קְעִילָ֔ה לָצ֥וּר אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד וְאֶל־אֲנָשָֽׁיו׃

English:

Saul summoned all the troops for war, to go down to Keilah and besiege David and his men.

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֣דַע דָּוִ֔ד כִּ֣י עָלָ֔יו שָׁא֖וּל מַחֲרִ֣ישׁ הָרָעָ֑ה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־אֶבְיָתָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן הַגִּ֖ישָׁה הָאֵפֽוֹד׃ {ס}        

English:

When David learned that Saul was planningcplanning Meaning of Heb. uncertain. to harm him, he told the priest Abiathar to bring the ephod forward.

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֘אמֶר֮ דָּוִד֒ יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שָׁמֹ֤עַ שָׁמַע֙ עַבְדְּךָ֔ כִּֽי־מְבַקֵּ֥שׁ שָׁא֖וּל לָב֣וֹא אֶל־קְעִילָ֑ה לְשַׁחֵ֥ת לָעִ֖יר בַּעֲבוּרִֽי׃

English:

And David said, “O ETERNAL God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me.

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

הֲיַסְגִּרֻ֣נִי בַעֲלֵי֩ קְעִיל��֨ה בְיָד֜וֹ הֲיֵרֵ֣ד שָׁא֗וּל כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ שָׁמַ֣ע עַבְדֶּ֔ךָ יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַגֶּד־נָ֖א לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ {ס}        וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה יֵרֵֽד׃ {ס}        

English:

Will the citizens of Keilah deliver me into his hands? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O ETERNAL God of Israel, tell Your servant!” And GOD said, “He will.”

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד הֲיַסְגִּ֜רוּ בַּעֲלֵ֧י קְעִילָ֛ה אֹתִ֥י וְאֶת־אֲנָשַׁ֖י בְּיַד־שָׁא֑וּל וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה יַסְגִּֽירוּ׃ {ס}        

English:

David continued, “Will the citizens of Keilah deliver me and my men into Saul’s hands?” And GOD answered, “They will.”

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֩קׇם֩ דָּוִ֨ד וַאֲנָשָׁ֜יו כְּשֵׁשׁ־מֵא֣וֹת אִ֗ישׁ וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ מִקְּעִלָ֔ה וַיִּֽתְהַלְּכ֖וּ בַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יִתְהַלָּ֑כוּ וּלְשָׁא֣וּל הֻגַּ֗ד כִּֽי־נִמְלַ֤ט דָּוִד֙ מִקְּעִילָ֔ה וַיֶּחְדַּ֖ל לָצֵֽאת׃

English:

So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah at once and moved about wherever they could. And when Saul was told that David had got away from Keilah, he did not set out.

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֨שֶׁב דָּוִ֤ד בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ בַּמְּצָד֔וֹת וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב בָּהָ֖ר בְּמִדְבַּר־זִ֑יף וַיְבַקְשֵׁ֤הוּ שָׁאוּל֙ כׇּל־הַיָּמִ֔ים וְלֹֽא־נְתָנ֥וֹ אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

English:

David was staying in the strongholds of the wilderness [of Judah];din the strongholds of the wilderness [of Judah] Meaning of Heb. uncertain. he stayed in the hill country, in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him constantly, but God did not deliver him into his hands.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֣רְא דָּוִ֔ד כִּֽי־יָצָ֥א שָׁא֖וּל לְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אֶת־נַפְשׁ֑וֹ וְדָוִ֥ד בְּמִדְבַּר־זִ֖יף בַּחֹֽרְשָׁה׃ {ס}        

English:

David was once at Horesh in the wilderness of Ziph, when David learned that Saul had come out to seek his life.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֙קׇם֙ יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן בֶּן־שָׁא֔וּל וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד חֹ֑רְשָׁה וַיְחַזֵּ֥ק אֶת־יָד֖וֹ בֵּאלֹהִֽים׃

English:

And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David at Horesh and encouraged him in [the name of] God.

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו אַל־תִּירָ֗א כִּ֠י לֹ֤א תִֽמְצָאֲךָ֙ יַ֚ד שָׁא֣וּל אָבִ֔י וְאַתָּה֙ תִּמְלֹ֣ךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָנֹכִ֖י אֶהְיֶה־לְּךָ֣ לְמִשְׁנֶ֑ה וְגַם־שָׁא֥וּל אָבִ֖י יֹדֵ֥עַ כֵּֽן׃

English:

He said to him, “Do not be afraid: the hand of my father Saul will never touch you. You are going to be king over Israel and I shall be second to you; and even my father Saul knows this is so.”

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַיִּכְרְת֧וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם בְּרִ֖ית לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב דָּוִד֙ בַּחֹ֔רְשָׁה וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן הָלַ֥ךְ לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃ {ס}        

English:

And the two of them entered into a pact before GOD. David remained in Horesh, and Jonathan went home.

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וַיַּעֲל֤וּ זִפִי��֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל הַגִּבְעָ֖תָה לֵאמֹ֑ר הֲל֣וֹא דָ֠וִ֠ד מִסְתַּתֵּ֨ר עִמָּ֤נוּ בַמְּצָדוֹת֙ בַּחֹ֔רְשָׁה בְּגִבְעַת֙ הַחֲכִילָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר מִימִ֥ין הַיְשִׁימֽוֹן׃

English:

eThe meaning of many parts of 23.19ff. is uncertain. The events described in 23.19–24.22 are partly paralleled in chapter 26, with variations. Some Ziphites went up to Saul in Gibeah and said, “David is hiding among us in the strongholds of Horesh, at the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon.

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וְ֠עַתָּ֠ה לְכׇל־אַוַּ֨ת נַפְשְׁךָ֥ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ לָרֶ֖דֶת רֵ֑ד וְלָ֥נוּ הַסְגִּיר֖וֹ בְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

English:

So if Your Majesty has the desire to come down, come down, and it will be our task to deliver him into Your Majesty’s hands.”

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל בְּרוּכִ֥ים אַתֶּ֖ם לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה כִּ֥י חֲמַלְתֶּ֖ם עָלָֽי׃

English:

And Saul replied, “May you be blessed of GOD for the compassion you have shown me!

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

לְכוּ־נָ֞א הָכִ֣ינוּ ע֗וֹד וּדְע֤וּ וּרְאוּ֙ אֶת־מְקוֹמוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה רַגְל֔וֹ מִ֥י רָאָ֖הוּ שָׁ֑ם כִּ֚י אָמַ֣ר אֵלַ֔י עָר֥וֹם יַעְרִ֖ם הֽוּא׃

English:

Go now and prepare further. Look around and learn what places he sets foot on [and] who has seen him there, for I have been told he is very cunning.

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וּרְא֣וּ וּדְע֗וּ מִכֹּ֤ל הַמַּֽחֲבֹאִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִתְחַבֵּ֣א שָׁ֔ם וְשַׁבְתֶּ֤ם אֵלַי֙ אֶל־נָכ֔וֹן וְהָלַכְתִּ֖י אִתְּכֶ֑ם וְהָיָה֙ אִם־יֶשְׁנ֣וֹ בָאָ֔רֶץ וְחִפַּשְׂתִּ֣י אֹת֔וֹ בְּכֹ֖ל אַלְפֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃

English:

Look around and learn in which of all his hiding places he has been hiding, and return to me when you are certain. I will then go with you, and if he is in the region, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וַיָּק֛וּמוּ וַי��ֵלְכ֥וּ זִ֖יפָה לִפְנֵ֣י שָׁא֑וּל וְדָוִ֨ד וַאֲנָשָׁ֜יו בְּמִדְבַּ֤ר מָעוֹן֙ בָּעֲרָבָ֔ה אֶ֖ל יְמִ֥ין הַיְשִׁימֽוֹן׃

English:

They left at once for Ziph, ahead of Saul; David and his men were then in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah, to the south of Jeshimon.

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ שָׁא֣וּל וַאֲנָשָׁיו֮ לְבַקֵּשׁ֒ וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ לְדָוִ֔ד וַיֵּ֣רֶד הַסֶּ֔לַע וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּמִדְבַּ֣ר מָע֑וֹן וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע שָׁא֔וּל וַיִּרְדֹּ֥ף אַחֲרֵֽי־דָוִ֖ד מִדְבַּ֥ר מָעֽוֹן׃

English:

When Saul and his men came to search, David was told about it; and he went down to the rocky regionfthe rocky region Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. On hearing this, Saul pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ שָׁא֜וּל מִצַּ֤ד הָהָר֙ מִזֶּ֔ה וְדָוִ֧ד וַאֲנָשָׁ֛יו מִצַּ֥ד הָהָ֖ר מִזֶּ֑ה וַיְהִ֨י דָוִ֜ד נֶחְפָּ֤ז לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י שָׁא֔וּל וְשָׁא֣וּל וַאֲנָשָׁ֗יו עֹ֥טְרִ֛ים אֶל־דָּוִ֥ד וְאֶל־אֲנָשָׁ֖יו לְתׇפְשָֽׂם׃

English:

Saul was making his way along one side of a hill, and David and his men were on the other side of the hill. David was trying hard to elude Saul, and Saul and his men were trying to encircle David and his men and capture them,gDavid was trying hard … and Saul and his men were trying to … capture them Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

וּמַלְאָ֣ךְ בָּ֔א אֶל־שָׁא֖וּל לֵאמֹ֑ר מַהֲרָ֣ה וְלֵ֔כָה כִּֽי־פָשְׁט֥וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

English:

when a messenger came and told Saul, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have invaded the land.”

פסוק כ״ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֣שׇׁב שָׁא֗וּל מִרְדֹף֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ לִקְרַ֣את פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים עַל־כֵּ֗ן קָֽרְאוּ֙ לַמָּק֣וֹם הַה֔וּא סֶ֖לַע הַֽמַּחְלְקֽוֹת׃

English:

Saul gave up his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place came to be called the Rock of Separation.hRock of Separation Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

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