1 Samuel 23:6

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, [that] he came down [with] an ephod in his hand.

Complete Jewish Bible:

When Avyatar the son of Achimelekh fled to David in Ke'ilah, he had brought a ritual vest with him.

Berean Standard Bible:

(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

American Standard Version:

And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And it came to pass, when Abiathar^{H54} the son^{H1121} of Ahimelech^{H288} fled^{H1272} to David^{H1732} to Keilah^{H7084}, that he came down^{H3381} with an ephod^{H646} in his hand^{H3027}.

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Commentary for 1 Samuel 23:6

1 Samuel 23:6 is set within the broader narrative of David's flight from King Saul, who sought to kill him out of jealousy and fear of David's growing popularity and God's favor towards him. At this point in the story, David has been anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel, but Saul remains on the throne, relentlessly pursuing David to secure his own dynasty.

In this verse, Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, flees to David in the city of Keilah. Abiathar was a priest and the only survivor of Saul's massacre of the priests at Nob (1 Samuel 22:18-19), where his father Ahimelech had aided David with food and the sword of Goliath. The ephod that Abiathar brings with him is significant; it was a garment worn by priests when they inquired of God, often used for divination purposes to discern God's will in specific situations.

The presence of the ephod with Abiathar as he joins David indicates a few key themes: first, it symbolizes the continuity of the priesthood and the legitimate transfer of religious authority, despite Saul's attempts to eradicate it. Second, it shows the alliance between the priestly line and David, foreshadowing the religious and political unity that would eventually be realized under David's reign. Third, the ephod's role in seeking God's guidance underscores the theme of trusting in divine providence rather than human might, which is a recurring motif in David's life.

Historically, this event reflects the turbulent transition of power from Saul to David, a period marked by conflict, intrigue, and the intersection of political and religious power. Abiathar's role as a priest who escapes to David and brings the ephod is a pivotal moment, reinforcing David's legitimacy as Saul's successor and highlighting the importance of seeking divine counsel during times of crisis.

*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: H54
   There are 3292 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶבְיָתָר
   Transliteration: ʼEbyâthâr
   Pronunciation: ab-yaw-thawr'
   Description: contracted from אָב and יָתַר; father of abundance (i.e. liberal); Ebjathar, an Israelite; Abiathar.
   
2. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
3. Strong's Number: H288
   There are 173 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲחִימֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: ʼĂchîymelek
   Pronunciation: akh-ee-meh'-lek
   Description: from אָח and מֶלֶךְ; brother of (the) king; Achimelek, the name of an Israelite and of a Hittite; Ahimelech.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1272
   There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּרַח
   Transliteration: bârach
   Pronunciation: baw-rakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to bolt, i.e. figuratively, to flee suddenly; chase (away); drive away, fain, flee (away), put to flight, make haste, reach, run away, shoot.
   
5. 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.
   
6. 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.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3381
   There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָרַד
   Transliteration: yârad
   Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
   Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.
   
8. Strong's Number: H646
   There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵפוֹד
   Transliteration: ʼêphôwd
   Pronunciation: ay-fode'
   Description: rarely אֵפֹד; probably of foreign derivation; a girdle; specifically the ephod or highpriest's shoulder-piece; also generally, an image; ephod.
   
9. 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.