Useful Bible Studies > 1 Samuel Commentary > chapter 23
In Ecclesiastes 9:13-16, Solomon records how a wise man once saved a city from its enemies. However afterwards, nobody remembered that wise man. In other words, nobody cared about him. When he needed help, the citizens of that city would not help him.
David had a similar experience at Keilah. He had only just saved that town from Philistia’s army. However, Saul then heard that he was there. So he decided to come with an army, in order to arrest David.
If the inhabitants of Keilah were willing to protect David, he could have been safe there. The town had strong walls that surrounded it. Israel’s soldiers would not want to attack one of their own towns.
Saul was bringing a large army in order to frighten Keilah’s inhabitants. However, a large army cannot remain in the same place for a long time. If Keilah’s inhabitants were willing to wait, perhaps both they and David would be safe. If Saul’s army did not destroy Keilah, it would soon have to leave that place.
David could not trust Keilah’s inhabitants, but he trusted God. As soon as he heard the reports about Saul, he began to pray. He asked God to show him what would happen. He asked God whether Saul was really coming with his army. He also asked whether Keilah’s inhabitants would hand him over.
God answered David by means of two brief messages that he (God) gave to Abiathar the priest. David was not safe in Keilah. Saul really was coming; and David must not trust Keilah’s inhabitants.
So, David left Keilah. The number of men with him had increased by this time from 400 to 600 (compare 1 Samuel 22:2 with 1 Samuel 23:13).
Next part: Life in the deserts of Israel (1 Samuel 23:14)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.