### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻĂdullâm**, represented by `{{H5725}}`, refers to **Adullam, a place in Palestine**. It appears **8 times** across **8 unique verses** in the Bible. The name designates both a city and a specific cave that played a significant role in the life of David.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H5725}}` is first mentioned as a city whose king was conquered by Joshua [[Joshua 12:15]] and was later listed as a city in the territory of Judah [[Joshua 15:35]]. However, it is most famously known as the location of a cave that served as a refuge for David when he fled from Saul. It was to the cave of **Adullam** that David escaped, and where his family and followers joined him [[1 Samuel 22:1]]. This same location is where three of his mighty men later came to him while the Philistines were camped in a nearby valley [[2 Samuel 23:13]]. The prophet Micah also references the site, stating "he shall come unto **Adullam** the glory of Israel" [[Micah 1:15]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller context for the significance of Adullam:
* `{{H4631}}` **mᵉʻârâh** (cave): This word is explicitly linked to Adullam, defining it as a place of hiding and refuge. David's escape was specifically "to the **cave** Adullam" [[1 Samuel 22:1]].
* `{{H1732}}` **Dâvid** (David): The story of Adullam is inseparable from **David**, for whom it served as a critical sanctuary and a place where his followers gathered [[1 Chronicles 11:15]].
* `{{H3381}}` **yârad** (to descend): This verb describes the action of going to Adullam, suggesting its location in a lower region. David's family and his chief captains had to "**go down**" to reach him at the cave ([[1 Samuel 22:1]], [[2 Samuel 23:13]]).
* `{{H6697}}` **tsûwr** (rock): In one account, David's captains "went down to the **rock** to David, into the cave of Adullam," emphasizing the location's rugged and defensible nature [[1 Chronicles 11:15]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5725}}` is primarily centered on its role as a place of divine protection and the formation of a faithful community.
* **A Place of Refuge:** Adullam symbolizes a place of safety provided in a time of great peril. For David, the anointed but not yet recognized king, the cave of Adullam was a sanctuary where he was preserved [[1 Samuel 22:1]].
* **A Gathering Point:** It was at Adullam that the foundation of David's future kingdom began to assemble. His "brethren and all his father's house" gathered to him there, forming a community of loyalty and support [[1 Samuel 22:1]].
* **Prophetic Significance:** The location is elevated beyond a mere historical site in the prophecy of Micah, which connects **Adullam** with the future coming of "the glory of Israel" [[Micah 1:15]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5725}}` is a significant place name in Scripture. While listed as a city in administrative records ([[Joshua 15:35]], [[Nehemiah 11:30]]), its lasting identity is as the cave of Adullam. It stands as a powerful symbol of refuge, a place where God protects His chosen leader and where a faithful remnant gathers in a time of trial, giving it a significance that extends into prophetic understanding.
TRV