1 Samuel 23:5

So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

So David {H1732} and his men {H582} went {H3212} to Keilah {H7084}, and fought {H3898} with the Philistines {H6430}, and brought away {H5090} their cattle {H4735}, and smote {H5221} them with a great {H1419} slaughter {H4347}. So David {H1732} saved {H3467} the inhabitants {H3427} of Keilah {H7084}.

David and his men went to Ke'ilah and fought the P'lishtim. They defeated them in a great slaughter and led away their livestock. Thus David saved the inhabitants of Ke'ilah.

Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, and carried off their livestock, striking them with a mighty blow. So David saved the people of Keilah.

And David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and slew them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

Commentary

Context of 1 Samuel 23:5

This verse describes a pivotal moment in David's life while he was on the run from King Saul. The Philistines, a perennial enemy of Israel, were raiding Keilah, a city in Judah, and plundering their threshing floors. David, despite his own precarious position as a fugitive, sought the Lord's guidance regarding intervention. This act of seeking divine counsel is highlighted in 1 Samuel 23:2 and 1 Samuel 23:4, demonstrating David's deep reliance on God's direction rather than purely human strategy. Despite his men's fears of confronting the Philistines and Saul, David obeyed the Lord's clear instruction.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Guidance and Obedience: David's decisive victory was a direct result of his diligent inquiry of the Lord and his subsequent obedience. This illustrates the principle that trusting in the Lord with all your heart and following His leading leads to success.
  • David as Deliverer: This act establishes David's character as a protector and deliverer of his people, even before he officially became king. He risked his life and the lives of his men for strangers, foreshadowing his future role as Israel's shepherd and champion against its enemies.
  • God's Faithfulness: The Lord fulfilled His promise to deliver the Philistines into David's hand, demonstrating His faithfulness to those who seek and obey Him. God used David as His instrument to bring salvation to the inhabitants of Keilah.
  • Justice and Victory: The defeat of the Philistines and the recovery of the cattle signify a victory for God's people and a setback for their oppressors, upholding justice and providing relief.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "smote them with a great slaughter" is a strong Hebrew idiom (makkeh gedolah) emphasizing the completeness and decisiveness of David's victory. It signifies not just a skirmish, but a devastating defeat inflicted upon the Philistines, highlighting the overwhelming nature of God's intervention through David's hand.

Practical Application

1 Samuel 23:5 offers several timeless lessons for believers today. It encourages us to seek God's will diligently through prayer and His Word, especially when facing difficult decisions or dangerous situations. David's willingness to act in faith, despite fear and opposition, reminds us that God often calls us to step out of our comfort zones to serve others or confront injustice. This verse also reassures us of God's faithfulness to deliver and protect those who trust in Him, reminding us that He is a mighty deliverer in our lives.

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Cross-References

No cross-references found.

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