David learns from the LORD that King Saul will indeed come to Keilah, which warns him to depart the city and remain vigilant under God’s watchful care.
“Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.” (v.11)
In this verse, David is hiding in the city of Keilah, located in the lowland region of Judah known as the Shephelah. Though David has been anointed as Israel’s future king, he is still fleeing from King Saul, who has become jealous and is determined to kill him. Saul was Israel’s first monarch, reigning from approximately 1050 BC to 1010 BC, while David would eventually rule from around 1010 BC to 970 BC. Fearing that the people of Keilah might betray him to Saul, David inquires of the LORD using a priestly method of discernment commonly believed to involve the ephod (1 Samuel 23:9). In response, God plainly affirms that Saul will indeed press his pursuit, forcing David to flee once again.
By asking, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me?” David acknowledges the danger of human betrayal and underscores his deep reliance on God’s guidance for each decision he makes. Despite being chosen by God, David continuously seeks the LORD’s will rather than relying on his own strength or cunning. His plight foreshadows many of the psalms he composes—songs that declare God as a fortress in times of peril (Psalm 18:2). Much like believers who look to the Lord in seasons of hardship, David’s example shows that divine guidance can be found when we humble ourselves and genuinely ask for the LORD’s direction (James 1:5).
David’s sense of peril also prefigures Christ in the New Testament, who was likewise rejected by many of His own people, yet depended on the Father’s will (John 6:38). God’s answer to David in this short verse reminds readers that our circumstances, even dire ones, do not escape His knowledge or control. The LORD’s reply is both warning and protection, showing that while the king of Israel may threaten God’s anointed, it is ultimately the eternal King who governs all outcomes.
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1 Samuel 23:11 meaning
“Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.” (v.11)
In this verse, David is hiding in the city of Keilah, located in the lowland region of Judah known as the Shephelah. Though David has been anointed as Israel’s future king, he is still fleeing from King Saul, who has become jealous and is determined to kill him. Saul was Israel’s first monarch, reigning from approximately 1050 BC to 1010 BC, while David would eventually rule from around 1010 BC to 970 BC. Fearing that the people of Keilah might betray him to Saul, David inquires of the LORD using a priestly method of discernment commonly believed to involve the ephod (1 Samuel 23:9). In response, God plainly affirms that Saul will indeed press his pursuit, forcing David to flee once again.
By asking, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me?” David acknowledges the danger of human betrayal and underscores his deep reliance on God’s guidance for each decision he makes. Despite being chosen by God, David continuously seeks the LORD’s will rather than relying on his own strength or cunning. His plight foreshadows many of the psalms he composes—songs that declare God as a fortress in times of peril (Psalm 18:2). Much like believers who look to the Lord in seasons of hardship, David’s example shows that divine guidance can be found when we humble ourselves and genuinely ask for the LORD’s direction (James 1:5).
David’s sense of peril also prefigures Christ in the New Testament, who was likewise rejected by many of His own people, yet depended on the Father’s will (John 6:38). God’s answer to David in this short verse reminds readers that our circumstances, even dire ones, do not escape His knowledge or control. The LORD’s reply is both warning and protection, showing that while the king of Israel may threaten God’s anointed, it is ultimately the eternal King who governs all outcomes.