1 Samuel 22 3

1 Samuel 22:3 kjv

And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.

1 Samuel 22:3 nkjv

Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me."

1 Samuel 22:3 niv

From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, "Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?"

1 Samuel 22:3 esv

And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and my mother stay with you, till I know what God will do for me."

1 Samuel 22:3 nlt

Later David went to Mizpeh in Moab, where he asked the king, "Please allow my father and mother to live here with you until I know what God is going to do for me."

1 Samuel 22 verses

1 Samuel 22 3 Meaning

David, fleeing King Saul's persecution, sought refuge for his vulnerable parents with the king of Moab. This action demonstrates his deep concern for his family's safety and his active trust in God to reveal His future will and provide guidance. It highlights David's dependency on divine direction during a period of great uncertainty and his recognition that his destiny was in God's hands.

1 Samuel 22 3 Context

The verse finds David in a precarious position, on the run from King Saul, who is relentlessly pursuing him to kill him (1 Sam 19-21). David has already feigned madness at Gath (1 Sam 21) and is now a fugitive, having gathered a motley group of followers at the cave of Adullam (1 Sam 22:1-2). His immediate concern in this chapter shifts from his own survival to the safety of his elderly parents, who would be vulnerable to Saul's wrath by association. Mizpah of Moab represents a geographically and historically significant location. Moab was a neighboring kingdom east of the Dead Sea, historically both kin (through Lot, Gen 19) and rival to Israel. Importantly, David had Moabite ancestry through his great-grandmother, Ruth (Ruth 4:21-22). This familial tie likely influenced his decision to seek asylum there, offering a potentially safer haven for his parents than within Israel under Saul's reach.

1 Samuel 22 3 Word analysis

• And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab:
  • David: דָּוִד (Dāwiḏ). The anointed of God, already facing extreme opposition from Saul, despite his divine calling.
  • from there: From the cave of Adullam (1 Sam 22:1-2), a temporary refuge, now too dangerous for his vulnerable family.
  • Mizpah of Moab: מִצְפֵּה מוֹאָב (Mitspēh Mōʾāḇ). "Mizpah" literally means "watchtower" or "outlook," often denoting a elevated, defensible location. "Moab" (מוֹאָב – Mōʾāḇ) refers to the ancient kingdom east of the Jordan. Choosing Moab was strategic, potentially relying on ancient kinship ties (through Lot and Ruth) despite the usual Israelite-Moabite hostility. This suggests a desperate but calculated move for refuge.
• and he said to the king of Moab:
  • said: וַיֹּאמֶר (waYyoʾmer). Implies direct address and negotiation.
  • king of Moab: מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב (Melek Mōʾāḇ). This indicates a formal request for asylum, requiring permission from the sovereign ruler of the land. It shows David humbling himself to ask for help from a foreign king, a testament to the urgency of his situation.
• 'Please let my father and my mother come with you:
  • Please: יֵצֵא־נָא (yētsēʾ-nāʾ). The "naʾ" (נָא) particle expresses polite request or entreaty, "please, I pray."
  • my father and my mother: אָבִי וְאִמִּי (ʾāḇî wəʾimmî). Highlights David's filial piety and deep concern for his aged parents. They would have been especially vulnerable and unable to accompany him on a nomadic, fugitive existence. This also hints at David's deep commitment to family care, a characteristic often found in godly leaders.
  • come with you: אִתְּכֶם (ʾittəkem). Implies staying under the king's care and protection within the kingdom of Moab, a request for hospitality and safe passage.
• until I know what God will do for me.':
  • until I know: עַד אֲשֶׁר אֵדַע (ʿaḏ ʾašer ʾēḏaʿ). "Know" (אֵדַע – ʾēḏaʿ) here signifies not merely intellectual understanding but experiencing or receiving clear revelation regarding God's will and purpose for his life. This expresses David's reliance on divine guidance rather than human planning.
  • what God will do for me: מַה יַּעֲשֶׂה לִּי אֱלֹהִים (mah yaʿaśeh lî ʾĕlōhîm). This crucial phrase underscores David's deep faith and surrender to God's sovereign plan. He does not know his future, but he trusts God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, the generic yet supreme God) to unfold it. He is waiting on God's active intervention and leading, seeking clarity on his path and ultimate destiny. It's an expression of spiritual dependence.

1 Samuel 22 3 Bonus section

The seemingly amicable relationship between David and the king of Moab in this verse is temporary and pragmatic. Later, after David establishes his kingdom, he goes to war with Moab and conquers them, demonstrating his dominance and perhaps settling scores for some unspecified slight or betrayal (2 Sam 8:2). This highlights that David's act in 1 Samuel 22:3 was one of dire necessity and temporary expediency, not a sign of lasting political alliance. It emphasizes that in times of extreme need, biblical figures sometimes had to seek refuge in unlikely places or form temporary, non-ideal associations, while remaining ultimately devoted to God's will. The decision to send his parents to Moab was a protective measure rooted in ancient Near Eastern traditions of hospitality for exiles, but it did not define David’s ultimate relationship with the Moabite nation.

1 Samuel 22 3 Commentary

1 Samuel 22:3 presents a profound illustration of faith and filial devotion amidst extreme adversity. David, the anointed king, finds himself reduced to a desperate fugitive, yet his first priority after securing his immediate retinue is the protection of his vulnerable parents. Sending them to Moab was a practical act born of necessity, possibly leveraging old kinship ties despite the general animosity between Israel and Moab. This demonstrates responsible leadership and personal piety; David ensures his family's safety even as he remains exposed to danger. More significantly, David’s statement, "until I know what God will do for me," reveals the core of his spiritual reliance. He is not making long-term plans based on his own strategies but explicitly awaiting God’s clear direction. This showcases a pattern of humble dependence that characterized David's walk with God, emphasizing that even when taking human action (like seeking refuge), ultimate trust rests on divine revelation and sovereignty. It underscores that godly leadership does not mean knowing all the answers, but constantly looking to the Lord for guidance, trusting that He will make His will known in due time. This brief verse encapsulates David's blending of pragmatic action with profound, patient trust in God's unfolding plan, even in the darkest of times.