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1 Samuel 23:5

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 23:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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 save the inhabitants of Keilah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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 save the inhabitants of Keilah.
1 Samuel 23:5 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2Therefore David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And Jehovah said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
3And David`s men said unto him, Behold, we are afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
4Then David inquired of Jehovah yet again. And Jehovah answered him, and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thy hand.
5And 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 save the inhabitants of Keilah.
6And 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.
7And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
8And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
← 1 Samuel 23:41 Samuel 23:6 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“So David and his men went to Keilah, etc.] Animated by a commission from God, and a promise of success by him: and fought with the Philistines; encamped before Keilah: and brought away their cattle; which they had brought with them for the support of their army; or having routed them, they pursued them into their own country, and brought off their cattle from thence: and smote them with a great slaughter; killed great numbers of them, and put the rest to flight: so David saved the inhabitants of Keilah; from falling into the hands of the Philistines, by timely raising the siege of the city.”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification