Bible Strands
1 Samuel 23:10
And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David addresses the Lord while consulting the ephod with Abiathar, immediately after learning that Saul has mobilized troops to besiege Keilah. (1 Samuel 23:9-10)
The words — The text emphasizes שָׁמַע (sha.Ma'), "he has heard," and עַבְדּ/ךָ ('av.de./Kha), "your servant," recording David’s precise report of Saul’s movements in the posture of a subordinate updating his commander.
The thread — David’s invocation of the "LORD, God of Israel" mirrors covenantal appeals in Genesis 18:24, and his dread for Keilah’s safety directly follows the historical precedent of Saul’s massacre at Nob in 1 Samuel 22:19.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to observe that faithful inquiry begins with stating confirmed facts to God before requesting a response.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Genesis 18:24 What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there?
- 1 Samuel 22:19 He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.
- 1 Samuel 23:8 Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
- Esther 3:6 And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes.
- Proverbs 28:15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
- Romans 3:15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;