1 Samuel 23 11

1 Samuel 23:11 kjv

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.

1 Samuel 23:11 nkjv

Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant." And the LORD said, "He will come down."

1 Samuel 23:11 niv

Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? LORD, God of Israel, tell your servant." And the LORD said, "He will."

1 Samuel 23:11 esv

Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD, the God of Israel, please tell your servant." And the LORD said, "He will come down."

1 Samuel 23:11 nlt

Will the leaders of Keilah betray me to him? And will Saul actually come as I have heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell me." And the LORD said, "He will come."

1 Samuel 23 verses

1 Samuel 23 11 Meaning

First Samuel 23:11 records David's urgent and desperate plea for divine guidance through the high priestly ephod. He asks two specific questions critical for his survival: first, if the men of Keilah, whom he had just delivered, would betray him into Saul's hand; and second, whether Saul would indeed come down to Keilah, as David had previously heard. This interaction demonstrates David's complete reliance on the LORD amidst grave danger and God's active involvement in guiding His anointed servant.

1 Samuel 23 11 Context

First Samuel chapter 23 recounts David's precarious life as a fugitive from King Saul. Having recently fled from Saul, David hears that the Philistines are attacking Keilah, a fortified city in Judah. Despite his vulnerable position, David consults the LORD and is instructed to go and save Keilah (23:2). After his men's initial reluctance and a second consultation, God reaffirms the command, and David delivers Keilah from the Philistines (23:5). Following this victory, David receives intelligence that Saul plans to attack Keilah to capture him, prompting David's urgent plea to God in verse 11. David's saving of Keilah puts him in a seemingly secure location, but it also alerts Saul to his whereabouts, transforming the situation into a trap. This verse thus stands at a critical juncture, where David must determine whether the people he just delivered would betray him and if Saul would act on his intelligence.

1 Samuel 23 11 Word analysis

• הֲיַסְגִּרוּנִי (Ha-yasgiruni):

  • Word: "Will they surrender me?" (from סגר, sagar, to shut up, close; Hiphil - to cause to be delivered up). The prefix הֲ (ha) is an interrogative particle, turning the verb into a direct question.
  • Significance: Highlights David's pressing concern about betrayal. The verb's Hiphil form emphasizes the deliberate act of handing over, suggesting active treachery rather than passive non-resistance. It shows David anticipating specific hostile action from the citizens.

• בַּעֲלֵי קְעִילָה (ba'alei Keilah):

  • Word: "Masters of Keilah" or "Men of Keilah." בעל (ba'al) denotes owner, master, or citizen of a place.
  • Significance: Refers to the leading inhabitants or authorities of the city responsible for its defense and policies. Their potential action held significant weight for David's fate, highlighting the ethical dilemma of civic leaders who might prioritize their own safety over protecting one who had just rescued them.

• בְיָדוֹ (b'yado):

  • Word: "Into his hand." יד (yad) means hand, often representing power or control.
  • Significance: Signifies being delivered completely under Saul's authority and control, implying capture, imprisonment, or even execution.

• הֲיֵרֵד (Ha-yered):

  • Word: "Will he come down?" (from ירד, yarad, to descend). Again, the interrogative הֲ (ha) is present.
  • Significance: Refers to Saul's movement from his likely elevated stronghold to Keilah, a city typically described as being in a lower geographic position, or simply describing a military expedition from a central command.

• שָׁאוּל (Sha'ul):

  • Word: "Saul."
  • Significance: The current anointed king of Israel, now God's rejected choice and David's relentless persecutor. His identity clarifies the source of the direct and existential threat to David.

• כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁמַע (ka'asher shama'):

  • Word: "Just as [your servant] heard" or "according to what [your servant] heard." שמע (shama') means to hear.
  • Significance: Indicates David had already received intelligence or an initial premonition/warning about Saul's impending arrival (as noted in 1 Sam 23:10). His question here is a plea for divine confirmation and certainty, not entirely new information regarding Saul's intent. This distinguishes it from the question about Keilah's betrayal, which might be a newer concern.

• עַבְדֶּךָ (avdekha):

  • Word: "Your servant." עבד (eved) means servant or slave. The suffix -ךָ (ekha) means 'your'.
  • Significance: David's humble self-identification before God, even though he is God's anointed successor to the throne. It highlights his complete submission and dependence on God, acknowledging God's absolute sovereignty and his own subordinate role.

• יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (YHWH Elohei Yisra'el):

  • Word: "LORD, God of Israel." YHWH is God's covenant name; אֱלֹהֵי (Elohei) is "God of"; ישראל (Yisrael) is "Israel."
  • Significance: This divine title is a potent appeal to God's covenant faithfulness and His special relationship with His chosen people. David calls upon God as the sovereign ruler over Israel and its ultimate protector, implicitly appealing to God's responsibility for His anointed and His people. It distinguishes YHWH from all other deities and emphasizes His supreme authority and power to act in human affairs, specifically within Israel.

• הַגֵּד נָא (Hagged na):

  • Word: "Please tell." הַגֵּד (Hagged) is a Hiphil imperative from נגד (nagad), to declare, to tell; נָא (na) is a particle of entreaty or politeness, like "please" or "I pray you."
  • Significance: David's earnest and humble plea for direct and clear divine communication. He is not demanding but earnestly seeking God's definite pronouncement on a matter of life and death.

• לְעַבְדֶּךָ (l'avdekha):

  • Word: "To your servant." לְ (le) is "to," עבְדֶּךָ (avdekha) is "your servant."
  • Significance: Reiteration of David's humble position, emphasizing his dependence on God for guidance and his readiness to obey God's word. It highlights the direct personal relationship between God and His chosen leader.

• Words-group by Words-group analysis:

  • "Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand?": This phrase reveals David's deepest anxiety: the threat of betrayal from those he just saved. It speaks to the human element of self-preservation potentially overriding gratitude or loyalty. It also implies God's absolute knowledge of human intent and future actions, a crucial point David trusts.
  • "Will Saul come down, just as your servant has heard?": This confirms David's intelligence sources were active and functional. However, the addition of "just as your servant has heard" emphasizes that while David has heard a report, he seeks definitive divine confirmation for such a grave matter. It illustrates that human intelligence, however reliable, is insufficient for major decisions when divine guidance is available.
  • "O LORD, God of Israel, please tell your servant.": This plea is both reverent and urgent. David's address to "LORD, God of Israel" grounds his appeal in God's covenant relationship and ultimate authority over His people and events. The repeated "your servant" underlines David's humility and complete submission, creating a clear channel for God's revealed will.

1 Samuel 23 11 Bonus section

• The passage implies that God has perfect foreknowledge of both general movements (Saul coming down) and the free-will decisions of individuals (Keilah's men). This reinforces God's sovereignty over all aspects of creation, including human choices, without nullifying human responsibility.
• This reliance on the Ephod (and Urim/Thummim) highlights a key aspect of God's interaction with His people under the Old Covenant. It provided direct, authoritative answers to pressing questions. While specific methods of divine guidance changed with the New Covenant (e.g., the indwelling Holy Spirit, scripture, prayer), David's unwavering pursuit of God's will remains a timeless model.
• The situation for the men of Keilah presents a stark ethical dilemma: loyalty to their deliverer David vs. self-preservation in the face of King Saul's power. God's pre-disclosure of their intent allows David to make a life-saving decision based on divine truth rather than human expectation or potential naive trust.

1 Samuel 23 11 Commentary

First Samuel 23:11 is a powerful demonstration of faithful leadership during extreme duress. David, surrounded by enemies and potential betrayers, does not rely on his military acumen, human intelligence alone, or brute force, but immediately turns to the LORD. This recourse via the high priestly ephod (likely involving the Urim and Thummim, God's established means of revelation for national guidance) underscores David's total dependence on God for specific, practical direction. His two distinct questions – concerning the betrayal by the men of Keilah and the certainty of Saul's attack – show his desperate need for clear answers to formulate an escape plan. This episode starkly contrasts David's consistent seeking of God with Saul's repeated failures to consult the LORD, ultimately leading to Saul's downfall. It illustrates God's active involvement in the lives of His faithful, providing concrete answers for genuine challenges. For David, God's answer was not merely theological reassurance but actionable intelligence that saved his life. It teaches that even when human sources seem reliable, divine confirmation is essential for major steps, revealing God's absolute sovereignty and knowledge over future events and human hearts.