### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Qᵉʻîylâh**, represented by `{{H7084}}`, refers to **Keilah**, a place in Palestine. The name itself possibly suggests a **citadel**, derived from a root meaning to enclose. It appears **18 times** in **16 unique verses**, primarily chronicling a specific series of events in the life of David.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H7084}}` is the central location for a dramatic episode. The Philistines attack Keilah and **rob** `{{H8154}}` its threshingfloors [[1 Samuel 23:1]]. In response, David inquires of the Lord and is commanded to go and **save** `{{H3467}}` the city [[1 Samuel 23:2]]. After David defeats the Philistines, King Saul sees an opportunity, believing David is **shut in** `{{H5462}}` a town with gates and bars [[1 Samuel 23:7]], and plans to **besiege** `{{H6696}}` him there [[1 Samuel 23:8]]. When David learns that the men of Keilah will **deliver** `{{H5462}}` him to Saul, he and his men **escaped** `{{H4422}}` from the city [[1 Samuel 23:12-13]]. Keilah is also mentioned as a city in Joshua's time [[Joshua 15:44]] and as a site of reconstruction after the exile [[Nehemiah 3:17-18]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are key to understanding the events at Keilah:
* `{{H3467}}` **yâshaʻ** (to free or succor): This word defines David's primary mission. The Lord commands him to **save** Keilah from the Philistines [[1 Samuel 23:2]], and he successfully **saved** its inhabitants [[1 Samuel 23:5]].
* `{{H5462}}` **çâgar** (to shut up; figuratively, to surrender): This term captures the dual threat David faced. Saul wrongly believed David was **shut in** [[1 Samuel 23:7]], while the Lord revealed that the men of Keilah would indeed **deliver** him up to Saul [[1 Samuel 23:12]].
* `{{H6696}}` **tsûwr** (to besiege): This denotes Saul's military strategy against David. Upon hearing David was in the city, Saul prepared to go down to Keilah to **besiege** him and his men [[1 Samuel 23:8]].
* `{{H7843}}` **shâchath** (to ruin or destroy): This highlights the potential devastation of Saul's pursuit, as David fears Saul is coming to **destroy** the city on his account [[1 Samuel 23:10]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of the Keilah narrative is significant. It serves as a case study in divine guidance and human fallibility.
* **Seeking Divine Will:** The account highlights David's dependence on God. He **enquired** of the LORD before going to save the city and again before deciding to flee, demonstrating a pattern of seeking direction in crisis ([[1 Samuel 23:4]], [[1 Samuel 23:11]]).
* **God's Providence and Foreknowledge:** The LORD's responses to David are not vague promises but specific intelligence. He reveals Saul's plan to **come down** `{{H3381}}` and the precise intention of Keilah's men to **deliver** `{{H5462}}` David up, enabling his escape [[1 Samuel 23:11-12]].
* **Salvation and Betrayal:** The city of Keilah becomes a stage for a profound lesson. David acts as a temporal savior for its people, fighting for them and bringing away their **cattle** `{{H4735}}` from the enemy [[1 Samuel 23:5]]. Yet, the very inhabitants he saved were willing to betray him, contrasting human disloyalty with the faithful guidance of God.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7084}}` **Qᵉʻîylâh** is more than just a geographical location; it is a **citadel** central to a critical episode of conflict and divine intervention. The story of David in Keilah serves as a powerful illustration of seeking God's will in the face of imminent danger. It showcases the contrast between a deliverer's righteous action and the subsequent betrayal by those who were saved, highlighting themes of divine foreknowledge, guidance, and ultimate preservation.
TRV