David Delivers Keilah and Inquires of God
1 Samuel 23:1-6
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1 S.23.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויגדו: VERB,piel,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- לדוד: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- הנה: PART
- פלשתים: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- נלחמים: VERB,qal,ptcp,3,m,pl
- בקעילה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והמה: PRON,3,m,pl
- שסים: VERB,qal,part,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- הגרנות: DEF+NOUN,f,pl,def
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 23:2 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: David inquires of the LORD about the Philistine attack on Keilah (same episode, decision-making motif).
- 1 Samuel 23:5 (structural): Direct result of the report: David rescues the inhabitants of Keilah and defeats the raiders (same event, resolution of the threat to the town and its harvest).
- 1 Samuel 30:1-6 (thematic): Ziklag is raided and spoil taken; like Keilah, a town and its produce/families are attacked, prompting David to respond to recover people and goods (theme of raiding and David's protective leadership).
- 2 Samuel 5:17-25 (thematic): Philistines attack David after he becomes king; David consults God and wins—parallels the Philistine threat and reliance on divine guidance in battle against Israel.
- Judges 6:11-15 (thematic): Midianite raiding devastates Israel’s crops and threshing floors; Gideon’s hidden threshing of grain and the theme of enemies plundering harvests resonate with the Keilah raid imagery.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it was told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are plundering the threshing floors.
- And it was told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines are fighting at Keilah, and they are raiding the threshing floors.
1 S.23.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישאל: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ביהוה: PREP+PN,sg
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- האלך: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- והכיתי: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- בפלשתים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- והכית: VERB,qal,perf,2,ms,sg
- בפלשתים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,def
- והושעת: VERB,hiphil,impf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- קעילה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 5:19 (verbal): David asks the LORD whether to go up against the Philistines and whether they will be delivered into his hand; the LORD answers and gives direction—close verbal parallel about consulting Yahweh before fighting the Philistines.
- 1 Chronicles 14:10 (structural): Chronicle’s retelling of 2 Samuel 5:19; repeats the motif of David inquiring of the LORD about attacking the Philistines and receiving divine permission and guidance.
- 1 Samuel 30:8 (thematic): David inquires of the LORD whether he should pursue the Amalekite raiders and is told to pursue; parallels the pattern of seeking divine guidance for military action and receiving a clear yes/no response.
- 1 Samuel 23:11 (structural): Within the same narrative unit: David asks the LORD whether the men of Keilah will surrender him to Saul, and the LORD answers; shows the recurring episode-structure of inquiry and divine reply in the Keilah episode.
- Judges 6:36-40 (thematic): Gideon seeks a sign/confirmation from the LORD before undertaking military action; thematically parallels the leader’s practice of seeking divine assurance before engaging in combat.
Alternative generated candidates
- And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and strike these Philistines? And the LORD said to David, Go; strike the Philistines and save Keilah.
- And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and strike these Philistines? And the LORD said to David, Go; strike the Philistines and save Keilah.
1 S.23.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- אנשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- הנה: PART
- אנחנו: PRON,1,pl
- פה: ADV
- ביהודה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יראים: ADJ,m,pl
- ואף: CONJ+ADV
- כי: CONJ
- נלך: VERB,qal,impf,1,pl
- קעלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- מערכות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- פלשתים: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
Parallels
- 1 Sam 23:4-5 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: David's men express fear about Philistine garrisons here, and in the next verses David inquires of YHWH and acts to save Keilah—contrast between the men's fear and David's reliance on God.
- 1 Sam 27:2-7 (thematic): David later seeks refuge among the Philistines and resides with Achish; parallels the idea of considering or using Philistine strongholds as a refuge from Saul's pursuit.
- 1 Sam 21:10-15 (verbal): David flees to a Philistine city (Gath) and interacts with Philistine officials; thematically similar language of turning to Philistine territory for safety and the dangers involved.
- 1 Sam 30:6 (thematic): When David's men are distressed (after the Ziklag raid) they talk of harming him; the passage parallels the motif of David's followers showing fear or despair and David responding by strengthening himself in the Lord.
Alternative generated candidates
- And David's men said to him, Behold, we are here in Judah and we are afraid; how then can we go down to Keilah against the forces of the Philistines?
- And David's men said to him, Behold, we are here in Judah in fear; how much more, then, if we go down to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?
1 S.23.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויוסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עוד: ADV
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לשאל: VERB,qal,inf
- ביהוה: PREP+PN,sg
- ויענהו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- קום: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- רד: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- קעילה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- פלשתים: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- בידך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff,2,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Sam 23:2 (verbal): Earlier in the same episode David asks the LORD about the Philistines at Keilah and the LORD answers with virtually the same command and promise (go/strike/save Keilah; delivered into your hand).
- 2 Sam 5:19 (verbal): David inquires of the LORD about going against the Philistines and the LORD replies, 'Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand,' echoing the language of divine deliverance into David's hand.
- Judges 7:9 (verbal): The LORD (or his messenger) tells Gideon to 'go down' against the enemy because God has given the camp into his hand — a close verbal and situational parallel (go down; I have delivered into your hand).
- 1 Sam 30:8 (thematic): David again inquires of the LORD before pursuing an enemy force and receives assurance to pursue and recover what was taken — same motif of seeking divine guidance and promise of victory/delivery.
Alternative generated candidates
- And David again inquired of the LORD; and the LORD answered him, Arise, go down to Keilah, for I have given the Philistines into your hand.
- And David again inquired of the LORD; and the LORD answered him, Rise up, go down to Keilah; for I will give the Philistines into your hand.
1 S.23.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואנשיו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:3,m,sg
- קעילה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וילחם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בפלשתים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,def
- וינהג: VERB,qal,imperf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- מקניהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3,m,pl
- ויך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- מכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גדולה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- וישע: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- ישבי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- קעילה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Sam 17:48-50 (thematic): David defeats a Philistine enemy and secures a decisive victory for Israel; parallels David’s martial success against the Philistines and his role as deliverer.
- 1 Sam 14:47-48 (thematic): Saul and Jonathan’s battles with the Philistines that result in slaughter and the taking of livestock/spoil — similar motif of striking the Philistines and recovering their animals.
- 1 Sam 30:16-20 (thematic): David pursues raiders, defeats them, recovers captured livestock and rescues the people of Ziklag — closely parallels the rescue of Keilah’s inhabitants and the recovery of animals.
- 2 Sam 5:17-25 (structural): David’s later encounters with the Philistines (Baal-perazim and the valley) where he defeats them and ascribes victory to Yahweh; echoes the pattern of Philistine conflict and divine deliverance found at Keilah.
Alternative generated candidates
- So David went with his men to Keilah; they fought the Philistines, drove off their livestock, struck them with a great blow, and David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.
- So David went with his men to Keilah, fought with the Philistines, drove off their livestock, struck them with a great slaughter, and David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah.
1 S.23.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בברח: PREP+VERB,qal,ptcp,m,sg
- אביתר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קעילה: NOUN,prop,f,sg
- אפוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ירד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בידו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 21:1-9 (verbal): Ahimelech the priest gives David the ephod at Nob (and other provisions); explains the origin of the ephod that Abiathar later brings to David.
- 1 Samuel 22:20-23 (allusion): A parallel report of Abiathar son of Ahimelech escaping and coming to David after the massacre at Nob; overlaps with the narrative of Abiathar joining David at Keilah.
- 1 Samuel 23:9-12 (structural): Immediately following the arrival of Abiathar and the ephod, David consults the LORD (using the priestly means); this passage presupposes Abiathar's presence with the ephod at Keilah.
- 1 Samuel 30:7-8 (thematic): David commands Abiathar to bring the ephod so he can inquire of the LORD; parallels the ongoing role of Abiathar and the ephod as instruments for divine consultation in David's band.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it came to pass, when Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he brought the ephod in his hand.
- Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he brought the ephod with him.
And it was told David, 'Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are raiding the threshing floors.' And David inquired of the LORD, 'Shall I go and strike these Philistines?' And the LORD said to David, 'Go; strike the Philistines and save Keilah.' And David's men said to him, 'Look, we are here in Judah and we are afraid; if we go to Keilah, shall we go against the armies of the Philistines?' And David continued to inquire of the LORD; and the LORD answered him, 'Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.' So David and his men went to Keilah; he fought the Philistines, drove off their livestock, struck them with a great blow, and David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah. Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, the ephod was with him.