1 Samuel 23:1–29 David Saved the City of Keilah 

[Study Aired June 29, 2026]

Our study for today can be categorized into four sections. The first one relates to David rescuing Keilah from the Philistines. The second part deals with the Lord’s warning and escape from Keilah. The third section of the study is about Jonathan coming to encourage David. Finally, the study concludes with the Ziphites informing Saul about David and David’s narrow escape. This study therefore illustrates the principle that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers us out of them all.

Psa 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. 
Psa 34:20  He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. 

David Rescued Keilah from the Philistines

1Sa 23:1  Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshing floors. 
1Sa 23:2  Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. 

Here in verse 1, David was told that the Philistines were fighting against Keilah and that they were robbing their threshing floors. Keilah means ‘fortress.’ Therefore, what verse 1 signifies is that taking refuge in Christ as our fortress involves being at war against our flesh, denoted by the Philistines. In the Bible, a threshing floor is a flat, hard surface used to separate edible grain from inedible husks and chaff. Because of the intense labor and wind-swept separation involved, it serves as a powerful biblical metaphor for the Lord’s judgment. The threshing floor therefore represents the suffering we go through from the hand of the Lord or the judgment of the Lord. This implies that the Philistines robbing the threshing floor of those in Keilah that when we are of the flesh, we are robbed of the need to go through the Lord’s judgment.

We all, naturally, do not want to suffer. This means that living according to the flesh (Philistines) robs us of the need to suffer. However, if we have taken refuge in Christ, then we are enjoined to suffer, just as our Lord suffered for our sake.

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 

1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 

In verse 2, David enquired of the Lord whether to go to the rescue of the Israelites in Keilah or not. The Lord responded that David should go and destroy the Philistines to save those in Keilah. Verse 2 signifies that it is through enquiring of the Lord through His word we come to know that we must fight the fight of faith against our flesh to save our lives. We must also realize that it is not all those who come to enquire of the Lord who are given to know what the Lord is saying. It is only the Lord’s elect, signified by David, who are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.  

1Sa 23:3  And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? 
1Sa 23:4  Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand. 

As we can see in verse 3, David’s men were afraid of confronting the Philistines in Keilah. This implies that they were not spiritually matured like David. These men were new to the church of the Lord’s elect and were as we were still holding to the mentality that we cannot win the war against our flesh (Philistines). 

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

For the sake of these immature believers, David enquired of the Lord again and came to the same conclusion that the Lord would grant them victory over the Philistines or their flesh. He did not rebuke them for their unbelief, but was very patient with them. We must therefore be patient with our brothers and sisters in the faith. 

1Th 5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 

David enquiring from the Lord again also shows us one of the principles that helps us to be guided when studying the word of the Lord. The number two means a ‘witness’, and therefore David enquiring from the Lord for the second time implies that we must have a witness when we study the word of the Lord. In other words, we are to have at least a second scriptural witness to establish a Scriptural truth or doctrine.

Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 

2Co 13:1  This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 

1Sa 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.  

Through faith in the word of the Lord, David and his men went to Keilah and defeated the Philistines, thus, delivering the inhabitants of Keilah from the hands of the Philistines. What this is showing us is that through faith in the word of the Lord, we shall overcome our flesh.

Heb 11:32  And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 
Heb 11:33  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 
Heb 11:34  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 

1Sa 23:6  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. 

As indicated in the previous study, Abiathar, which means ‘my father is great’, was the only one who escaped from the slaughter of the priests at Nob, to join David and those with him. His escape represents our escape from the church system of this world or Babylon, to join the church of the Lord’s elect or the Heavenly Jerusalem. 

An ephod, on a positive note, signifies the sacred priestly garment. As we are aware, garments in the Bible represent our righteousness, which is of the Lord. In other words, our righteousness is the Lord’s righteousness. 

Exo 28:4  And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. 

Exo 28:6  And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work. 

Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. 

Jer 33:16  In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. 

On a negative note, the ephod represents an idol. This indicates that self-righteousness is an idol of our hearts, which prevents us from knowing the Lord.

Jdg 8:27  And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house. 

Jdg 17:5  And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. 

Going back to verse 6, we can see that Abiathar had not put on the ephod yet after his escape from Nob. This implies that when we came to the church of the Lord’s elect, we were not yet clothed in Christ’s righteousness, since in Babylon, we believed in our own righteousness. However, Abiathar having the ephod in his hand when he came to Keilah in verse 6, signifies that coming to the assembly of the Lord’s elect brings us closer to Christ’s righteousness or it is at hand. In other words, Christ’s righteousness is within our reach through faith. 

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

Divine Warning and Escape from Keilah

1Sa 23:7  And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars. 
1Sa 23:8  And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 

As we can see, the Lord had raised Saul and his men as His instrument of judgment of David and his men. Saul and his men symbolize the people of this world, including our brothers and sisters in Babylon, whom the Lord uses sometimes as His instrument of judgment against the Lord’s elect. In the Bible, the Lord, on some occasions, used some foreign nations to judge His people as shown in the following verses:

Isa 10:5  O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
Isa 10:6  I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.  

In the mind of Saul and his men, they thought they had cornered David and his men and that there was no way of escape. Sometimes we come to situations that we cannot figure out how we can get out of them. In our desperation, we forget that it is the Lord who is in charge. The Lord has given us assurance through His word that we should not fear whatever comes our way in this life, because He is the one in charge.

Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. 

Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 

1Sa 23:9  And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. 
1Sa 23:10  Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. 
1Sa 23:11  Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down. 
1Sa 23:12  Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up. 
1Sa 23:13  Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth. 

As indicated earlier, the ephod represents the Lord’s righteousness which is imputed on us, His elect. David asking Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod in verse 9 means David appealed to the righteousness of the Lord to show him the way forward. 

Verses 10 to 13 show us that as we come before the Lord in our desperation, the Lord hears us and shows us a way out, such that we are able to bear whatever trouble we find ourselves in. 

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 
1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

Comparing scripture with scripture, we can see that verses 10–13 of this study are the same as Psalm 109 where we find ourselves in trouble such that we have no way out. In our desperation, we cry out to the Lord, and in His mercy, the Lord brings us to our safe haven. 

Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. 
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 

Jonathan Encourages David

1Sa 23:14  And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. 
1Sa 23:15  And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. 
1Sa 23:16  And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. 
1Sa 23:17  And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. 
1Sa 23:18  And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

In our time of trial, we need to be strengthened by our brothers and sisters in the Lord as we see Jonathan coming to Ziph to encourage David’s hand in God. This walk with Christ is a lonely journey, and therefore we need to be strengthened in Christ. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest, He was in deep agony as He prayed and was strengthened by an angel. This angel represents us, His elect, as we encourage one another in the Lord especially during times when we are under the judgment of the Lord.

Luk 22:43  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 
Luk 22:44  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

Our Lord Jesus specifically told Peter that after he is converted, he should strengthen his brothers, which emphasizes the fact that we are to strengthen one another in the Lord. 

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 
Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.  

The fact that David and Jonathan made a covenant in verse 18 before the Lord, signifies that we are in a covenant relationship with each other as the Lord’s elect, to strengthen one another both in good times and in bad times. 

1Th 5:11  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (ESV)

Heb 10:24  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 
Heb 10:25  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (ESV)

In essence, what every joint supplies in the body of Christ is to build each other up.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

The Ziphites Inform Saul and David’s Narrow Escape

1Sa 23:19  Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? 
1Sa 23:20  Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand. 
1Sa 23:21  And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me. 
1Sa 23:22  Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly. 
1Sa 23:23  See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah. 

Ziphites means ‘smelters.’ Hence they represent all those that the Lord uses as instruments of His judgment. As instruments of the Lord’s judgment, it is no wonder that these Ziphites went to report to Saul the hiding place of David and his men, to put more fire under David and his men. 

These Ziphites are likened to us when we were in Babylon where we were more interested in pleasing our leaders and persecuting the Lord’s elect.    

Act 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 

Col 3:22  Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 

Here in verse 21, Saul was blessing the Lord for His compassion toward him for being told by the Ziphites where David and his men were. This signifies that there are many who please the Lord with their mouth, but their hearts are far away from Him. 

Isa 29:13  Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 
Isa 29:14  Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. 

1Sa 23:24  And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. 
1Sa 23:25  Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.

Although David and his men did not know that the Ziphites were looking for him and his men to hand them over to Saul, the Lord guided the steps of David and his men to lead them out of Ziph to the wilderness of Maon. Through the guidance of the Lord, our steps are ordered, such that we are kept from being harmed by anyone.

Psa 37:23  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 
Psa 37:24  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.   

We must remember that when Cain killed his brother Abel, the Lord came and told him that as part of his punishment, he shall be a fugitive and a vagabond or wanderer. In response, Cain told the Lord that his punishment was too much and that anyone who finds him would kill him. To this end, the Lord put a mark on Cain such that no one could harm him as he wanders from place to place. If the Lord could protect Cain through a mark on his forehead, how much more would the Lord protect us, His beloved, who cry to Him day and night? He would surely take care of us, just as he protected David from the hand of Saul and his men.  

Gen 4:12  When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Gen 4:13  And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 
Gen 4:14  Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 
Gen 4:15  And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. 

As the Lord’s elect, we also carry on our forehead a mark by the Lord such that no one can harm us in this life.

Eze 9:3  And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side; 
Eze 9:4  And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. 
Eze 9:5  And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

1Sa 23:26  And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them. 
1Sa 23:27  But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. 
1Sa 23:28  Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. 
1Sa 23:29  And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi. 

In verse 26, we see Saul and his men on one side of the mountain and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. It demonstrates the gulf between the Lord’s elect and our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world or Babylon. Coming from Babylon to the church of the firstborn requires climbing a mountain. This mountain is the false doctrines in our heavens which acts as a blockade which separates the Lord’s children from the children of the devil. As we can see from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, there is a great gulf between the Lord’s elect and the people of this world, including our brothers and sisters of this world.  

Luk 16:22  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 
Luk 16:24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 
Luk 16:25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 
Luk 16:26  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 

Verses 27-29 also show us how the Lord diverted the attention of Saul and his men to pursue after the Philistines instead of David and his men. It emphasizes the fact that Lord knows how to take care of His own and has assured us in His word that none can pluck us out of His hand. 

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 
Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 
Joh 10:30  I and my Father are one. 

We thank the Lord for involving us in His wonderful plan of His salvation. May His name be praised. Amen!!