TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
Complete Jewish Bible
David left there and took refuge in the Cave of 'Adulam. When his brothers and the rest of his father's family heard of it, they went down to see him there.
Berean Standard Bible
So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.
American Standard Version
David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him.
World English Bible Messianic
David therefore departed there, and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Dauid therefore departed thence, and saued him selfe in the caue of Adullam: and when his brethren and all his fathers house heard it, they went downe thither to him.
Young's Literal Translation
And David goeth thence, and is escaped unto the cave of Adullam, and his brethren hear, and all the house of his father, and go down unto him thither;
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Commentary on 1 Samuel 22 verses 1–5
1 ¶ David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
3 And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.
4 And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
5 And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
Here, I. David shelters himself in the cave of Adullam, Sa1 22:1. Whether it was a natural or artificial fastness does not appear; it is probable that the access to it was so difficult that David thought himself able, with Goliath's sword, to keep it against all the forces of Saul, and therefore buried himself alive in it, while he was waiting to see (and he says here, Sa1 22:3) what God would do with him. The promise of the kingdom implied a promise of preservation to it, and yet David used proper means for his own safety, otherwise he would have tempted God. He did not do any thing that aimed to destroy Saul, but only to secure himself. He that might have done great service to his country as a judge or general is here shut up in a cave, and thrown by as a vessel in which there was no pleasure. We must not think it strange if sometimes shining lights be thus eclipsed and hidden under a bushel. Perhaps the apostle refers to this instance of David, among others, when he speaks of some of the Old Testament worthies that wandered in deserts, in dens and caves of the earth, Heb 11:38. It was at this time that David penned Psa 142:1-7, which is entitled, A prayer when David was in the cave; and there he complains that no man would know him and that refuge failed him, but hopes that shortly the righteous would compass him about.
II. Thither his relations flocked to him, his brethren and all his father's house, to be protected by him, to give assistance to him, and to take their lot with him. A brother is born for adversity. Now, Joab, and Abishai, and the rest of his relations, came to him, to suffer and venture with him, in hopes shortly to be advanced with him; and they were so. The first three of his worthies were those that first owed him when he was in the cave, Ch1 11:15, etc.
III. Here he began to raise forces in his own defence, Sa1 22:2. He found by the late experiments he had made that he could not save himself by flight, and therefore was necessitated to do it by force, wherein he never acted offensively, never offered any violence to his prince nor gave any disturbance to the peace of the kingdom, but only used his forces as a guard to his own person. But, whatever defence his soldiers were to him, they did him no great credit, for the regiment he had was made up not of great men, nor rich men, nor stout men, no, nor good men, but men in distress, in debt, and discontented, men of broken fortunes and restless spirits, that were put to their shifts, and knew not well what to do with themselves. When David had fixed his headquarters in the cave of Adullam, they came and enlisted themselves under him to the number of about 400. See what weak instruments God sometimes makes use of, by which to bring about his own purposes. The Son of David is ready to receive distressed souls, that will appoint him their captain and be commanded by him.
IV. He took care to settle his parents in a place of safety. No such place could he find in all the land of Israel while Saul was so bitterly enraged against him and all that belonged to him for his sake; he therefore goes with them to the king of Moab, and puts them under his protection, Sa1 22:3, Sa1 22:4. Observe here, 1. With what a tender concern he provided for his aged parents. It was not fit they should be exposed either to the frights or to the fatigues which he must expect during his struggle with Saul (their age would by no means bear such exposure); therefore the first thing he does is to find them a quiet habitation, whatever became of himself. Let children learn from this to show pity at home and requite their parents (Ti1 5:4), in every thing consulting their ease and satisfaction. Though ever so highly preferred, and ever so much employed, let them not forget their aged parents. 2. With what a humble faith he expects the issue of his present distresses: Till I know what God will do for me. He expresses his hopes very modestly, as one that had entirely cast himself upon God and committed his way to him, expecting a good issue, not from his own arts, or arms, or merits, but from what the wisdom, power, and goodness of God would do for him. Now David's father and mother forsook him, but God did not, Psa 27:10.
V. He had the advice and assistance of the prophet Gad, who probably was one of the sons of the prophets that were brought up under Samuel, and was by him recommended to David for his chaplain or spiritual guide. Being a prophet, he would pray for him and instruct him in the mind of God; and David, though he was himself a prophet, was glad of his assistance. He advised him to go into the land of Judah (Sa1 22:5), as one that was confident of his own innocency, and was well assured of the divine protection, and was desirous, even in his present hard circumstances, to do some service to his tribe and country. Let him not be ashamed to own his own cause nor decline the succours that would be offered him. Animated by this word, there he determined to appear publicly. Thus are the steps of a good man ordered by the Lord.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–5. Public domain.
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Athanasius of AlexandriaAD 373
DEFENSE OF HIS FLIGHT 8
For if it is a bad thing to flee, it is much worse to persecute. The one party hides himself to escape death, the other persecutes with a desire to kill. It is written in the Scriptures that we ought to flee; but he that seeks to destroy transgresses the law and also is himself the occasion of the other’s flight. If then they [the Arians] reproach me with my flight, let them be more ashamed of their own persecution. Let them cease to conspire, and those who flee will immediately cease to do so. But they, instead of giving up their wickedness, are employing every means to obtain possession of my person, not perceiving that the flight of those who are persecuted is a strong argument against those who persecute. For no one flees from the gentle and the humane, but from the cruel and the evil-minded.“Every one that was in distress and every one that was in debt” fled from Saul and took refuge with David. But this is the reason why these men [those persecuting Athanasius] desire to cut off those who are in concealment, that there may be no evidence forthcoming of their own wickedness. But in this their minds seem to be blinded with their usual error. For the more the flight of their enemies becomes known, so much the more notorious will be the destruction or the banishment which their treachery has brought upon them. So whether they kill them outright, their death will be the more loudly noised abroad against them, or whether they drive them into banishment, they will but be sending forth everywhere monuments of their own iniquity.
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
FLIGHT FROM THE WORLD 5.28
For the just engage in many struggles. Does an athlete contend only once? How often, after he has won many victor’s crowns, is he overcome in another contest! How often it happens that one who has frequently gained the victory sometimes hesitates and is held fast in uncertainty! And it frequently comes to pass that a brave man is contending with brave men and greater struggles arise, where proofs of strength are greater. Thus, when David sought to flee to avoid the adversary, he also did not find his wings. He was driven here and there in an uncertain struggle.… But David is still in the cave—that is, in the flesh—in the cavern of his body, as it were, as he fights with King Saul, the son of hardness, and with the power of that spiritual prince who is not visible but is comprehensible.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Samuel
(1 Samuel 22:1) Therefore David departed thence and fled to the cave of Adullam. Adullam is interpreted as “their testimony”; and the Lord, fleeing the hearts of the proud, enters as a welcome inhabitant into the spirits of the humble who possess nothing of earthly height or glory. Their very humility is a faithful testimony that they are worthy to receive Christ. Or certainly, it is the testimony of those from whom, in their pride, God flees; they are called humble, whereby their testimony convinces that they could also have pleased God and received Him if they had wished.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Samuel
When his brothers heard this, they went down, etc. With Christ remaining among the humble, all the elect descend to Him by humbling themselves; or men, who are His brothers, because He Himself became man; or angels, who are most particularly the house of His Father and the place of His glory’s dwelling. All those also come who, depressed by the consciousness of their sins, desire to be cleansed with the bitter tears of repentance, and to be freed from alien air, that is, the debt of sin which the devil has imposed; hoping, under the leadership and guidance of Christ, to be advanced to the joys of the kingdom.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
1 Samuel 22:1 marks a pivotal moment in David's tumultuous life, depicting his desperate flight from King Saul's relentless pursuit and his subsequent escape to the strategically vital cave of Adullam. This verse initiates the unexpected formation of a loyal, albeit diverse, band of followers, beginning with his own immediate and extended family, transforming a period of profound vulnerability and isolation into the nascent stages of a new leadership and the genesis of his future kingdom.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices that enrich its meaning. Symbolism is prominent, with the "cave Adullam" serving as a powerful symbol of refuge and sanctuary from persecution. It also functions as a crucible, a hidden place where David's future kingdom would begin to be forged from a disparate collection of outcasts and loyal family members. The narrative also uses Foreshadowing, as this seemingly desperate moment—David's lowest point—sets the stage for the formation of his elite fighting force and his eventual rise to kingship, hinting at the unexpected ways God works through adversity to fulfill His purposes. Furthermore, there is an implicit Contrast between Saul's increasingly isolated and paranoid reign, built on fear and coercion, and David's burgeoning, albeit unconventional, community, which is built on loyalty, shared hardship, and a common recognition of David's divine anointing.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This pivotal verse underscores God's providential care for His anointed, even when circumstances appear bleak, and human resources are exhausted. David's flight to Adullam is not merely a desperate act of survival but a divinely orchestrated retreat, where God begins to assemble the core of David's future kingdom from the most unlikely individuals. It demonstrates that God often works through weakness and apparent failure, transforming places of desolation into sites of divine formation and community building. This period of hardship was essential for David's character development, refining his reliance on God, and for forging the loyal bonds that would define his reign. It illustrates God's faithfulness in raising leaders and providing refuge for His people, proving that His plans cannot be thwarted by human opposition, but rather advance through unexpected means.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Samuel 22:1 offers profound encouragement for believers navigating their own "caves of Adullam"—seasons of isolation, persecution, profound difficulty, or feeling utterly alone. It reminds us that even when we feel completely abandoned and vulnerable, God is actively at work, providing unexpected refuge and orchestrating divine connections. David's experience teaches us that our deepest trials can become the very training grounds where God refines our character, solidifies our faith, and prepares us for future purposes, often far grander than we can imagine in our present distress. Just as David's family chose solidarity over safety, this passage challenges us to value and cultivate loyal community, recognizing that mutual support and shared burdens are invaluable in times of adversity. It invites us to trust that God's plan unfolds even in the wilderness, transforming our places of retreat into launching pads for His greater work and demonstrating His faithfulness in the midst of our weakness.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was David in the cave Adullam?
Answer: David was in the cave Adullam because he was desperately fleeing from King Saul, who was consumed by jealousy and sought to kill him. After a failed attempt to find refuge with King Achish of Gath, where he had to feign madness to escape (1 Samuel 21:10-15), David found himself utterly alone and with nowhere else to turn. The cave Adullam, located in the Shephelah region of Judah, offered a natural, defensible, and hidden sanctuary from Saul's relentless pursuit, representing a strategic withdrawal from public life into a place of concealment.
Who were "his brethren and all his father's house" that joined David?
Answer: "His brethren" refers to David's immediate brothers, while "all his father's house" (Jesse's household) refers to his broader extended family or clan. Their decision to join David in the cave was a significant act of loyalty and solidarity, demonstrating profound familial bonds. By associating with David, who was now a declared enemy of King Saul, they put their own lives and security at risk, indicating the severity of Saul's persecution and the strong familial ties that compelled them to share David's dangerous fugitive status. This act underscored their recognition of David's legitimate, albeit currently challenged, claim to leadership.
What is the spiritual significance of the cave Adullam?
Answer: The cave Adullam holds deep spiritual significance as a place of refuge, formation, and the unexpected genesis of David's future kingdom. It symbolizes God's ability to provide safety and gather a community even in the most desolate and unlikely circumstances. Though David was at his lowest point, the cave became a crucible where he developed his leadership skills, where his loyal followers gathered (1 Samuel 22:2), and where God began to shape him into the king He intended him to be. It teaches us that God often uses seasons of adversity and isolation to prepare us for His purposes, transforming places of apparent abandonment into sites of divine assembly and strength.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of David in the cave Adullam offers a profound foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, the ultimate rejected King. David, God's anointed, was driven from his rightful place by a jealous king, forced into exile, and became a refuge for the distressed, indebted, and discontented (1 Samuel 22:2). Similarly, Jesus, the true Son of David and the rightful King of Israel, was "despised and rejected by men" (Isaiah 53:3), having "nowhere to lay his head" during His earthly ministry (Matthew 8:20). Yet, it was precisely to Him that the spiritually distressed, those burdened by sin and debt, and those discontent with the world's systems, flocked. Just as David gathered an army of outcasts who would become the foundation of his earthly kingdom, Christ gathers a spiritual army—His Church—composed of those who recognize their need for a Savior, forming a heavenly kingdom that transcends earthly boundaries (John 18:36). The cave of Adullam, a place of humble beginnings and unexpected community forged in adversity, beautifully prefigures the humble birth and radical inclusivity of Christ's kingdom, where the marginalized and outcast find their true refuge, belonging, and rest in Him (Matthew 11:28-30).