1 Samuel 23:12

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver [thee] up.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then David asked, "Will the men of Ke'ilah hand me and my men over to Sha'ul?"ADONAI said, "They will hand you over."

Berean Standard Bible:

So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD.

American Standard Version:

Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver up me and my men into the hand of Saul? And Jehovah said, They will deliver thee up.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Then said^{H559} David^{H1732}, Will the men^{H1167} of Keilah^{H7084} deliver^{H5462} me and my men^{H582} into the hand^{H3027} of Saul^{H7586}? And the LORD^{H3068} said^{H559}, They will deliver thee up^{H5462}.

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Commentary for 1 Samuel 23:12

1 Samuel 23:12 is a verse set within the broader narrative of David's rise to kingship and his flight from King Saul, who sought to kill him out of jealousy and fear of David's growing popularity. The historical context is the transition period between the judges and the monarchy in Israel, with Samuel having anointed David as the future king, though Saul remained on the throne.

In this verse, David is in the town of Keilah, having just rescued it from the Philistines. Despite his heroic act, David is acutely aware of the ongoing threat Saul poses to him and his followers. The verse captures a moment of vulnerability and uncertainty for David, as he questions whether the people of Keilah will protect him from Saul or betray him to the king. The themes present here include loyalty, fear, and the precariousness of political alliances.

David's question to God reflects his recognition of human fallibility and his reliance on divine guidance in a treacherous political landscape. The Lord's response, affirming that the men of Keilah will indeed deliver David into Saul's hands, underscores the theme of divine sovereignty overruling human plans and the importance of heeding God's warnings. This divine insight allows David to escape from Keilah before he can be captured, illustrating the interplay between divine providence and human agency that is a recurring motif throughout the books of Samuel. The verse also highlights the complexity of leadership and the challenges faced by those called to lead under God, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
2. Strong's Number: H1732
   There are 911 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּוִד
   Transliteration: Dâvid
   Pronunciation: daw-veed'
   Description: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1167
   There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּעַל
   Transliteration: baʻal
   Pronunciation: bah'-al
   Description: from בָּעַל; a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense); [phrase] archer, [phrase] babbler, [phrase] bird, captain, chief man, [phrase] confederate, [phrase] have to do, [phrase] dreamer, those to whom it is due, [phrase] furious, those that are given to it, great, [phrase] hairy, he that hath it, have, [phrase] horseman, husband, lord, man, [phrase] married, master, person, [phrase] sworn, they of.
   
4. Strong's Number: H7084
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קְעִילָה
   Transliteration: Qᵉʻîylâh
   Pronunciation: keh-ee-law'
   Description: perhaps from קָלַע in the sense of enclosing; citadel; Keilah, a place in Palestine; Keilah.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5462
   There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סָגַר
   Transliteration: çâgar
   Pronunciation: saw-gar'
   Description: a primitive root; to shut up; figuratively, to surrender; close up, deliver (up), give over (up), inclose, [idiom] pure, repair, shut (in, self, out, up, up together), stop, [idiom] straitly.
   
6. Strong's Number: H582
   There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ
   Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh
   Pronunciation: en-oshe'
   Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
8. Strong's Number: H7586
   There are 335 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁאוּל
   Transliteration: Shâʼûwl
   Pronunciation: shaw-ool'
   Description: passive participle of שָׁאַל; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites; Saul, Shaul.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.