1 Samuel 23 28

1 Samuel 23:28 kjv

Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.

1 Samuel 23:28 nkjv

Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape.

1 Samuel 23:28 niv

Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.

1 Samuel 23:28 esv

So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.

1 Samuel 23:28 nlt

So Saul quit chasing David and returned to fight the Philistines. Ever since that time, the place where David was camped has been called the Rock of Escape.

1 Samuel 23 verses

1 Samuel 23 28 Meaning

This verse details a pivotal moment in David's life, where his pursuit by King Saul was suddenly and providentially interrupted. It signifies a divine intervention where God, through the strategic timing of a Philistine invasion, rescued David from imminent capture by Saul. The subsequent naming of the location, Sela Hammahlekoth, "Rock of Divisions" or "Rock of Escapes," perpetually marked this supernatural deliverance, underscoring God's faithful protection over His anointed.

1 Samuel 23 28 Context

1 Samuel 23 depicts Saul's escalating, relentless pursuit of David, whom he viewed as a rival and threat to his throne, despite David's continued loyalty. David had recently sought refuge in the wilderness, after protecting Keilah from the Philistines. Saul, hearing of David's location, surrounded him, intent on capture. David, through the ephod, sought God's guidance multiple times. Just as Saul and his forces were closing in on David, cornering him in the wilderness of Maon, news suddenly arrived of a significant Philistine raid into the land of Israel. This grave external threat diverted Saul's attention and forced him to abandon his immediate pursuit of David, allowing David and his men to escape.

1 Samuel 23 28 Word analysis

• So Saul (וַיָּשָׁב שָׁאוּל - vayyashav Sha'ul): "And Saul returned." "Saul" is the reigning but increasingly troubled king, obsessed with eliminating David. The verb "returned" (שָׁב - shav) highlights a definitive reversal of direction, indicating an action he did not willingly choose for himself concerning David.

• went back (וַיָּשָׁב - vayyashav): The verb "shav" implies a change of mind or direction, often under external influence. Here, it is an unwilling turning back from his determined path to destroy David, highlighting a force greater than his own will at play.

• from pursuing (מֵרְדֹף - me'rədof): "from chasing." The word "radaph" (רָדַף) denotes an active, relentless, even hostile pursuit. It emphasizes Saul's fierce, consuming drive to apprehend David.

• David (דָּוִיד - David): God's anointed successor, whose life God consistently protected, showing divine providence overcoming human malice.

• and went against (וַיֵּלֶךְ לִקְרַאת - vayyeleḵ liqrat): "And he went toward/to meet." This phrase shows a redirection of focus and effort. Saul was forced to confront an external threat that overshadowed his personal vendetta.

• the Philistines (פְלִשְׁתִּים - Pelishtim): Israel's perpetual enemies, often serving as instruments, either of God's judgment or, in this case, paradoxically, of David's deliverance. Their invasion represents a pressing national crisis overriding Saul's personal vendetta.

• Therefore (עַל־כֵּן - al-ken): "Because of this," a consequential marker linking Saul's diversion directly to the place name, underscoring the divine cause-and-effect.

• they called (קָרְאוּ - qar'u): "They called/named." This refers to the people, or those involved, bestowing a name upon a significant location to commemorate an event.

• that place (לַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא - lammaqôm hahū'): Indicates a specific, identifiable geographic point forever linked to this event.

• Sela Hammahlekoth (סֶלַע הַמַּחְלְקוֹת - Sela HaMahlekoth):

  • Sela (סֶלַע): Means "rock," "crag," "cliff." It refers to a prominent geographical feature in the arid wilderness, often providing shelter or, in this case, becoming a symbol of an impasse or point of decision.
  • Hammahlekoth (הַמַּחְלְקוֹת): This word is key. It's from the root חָלַק (chalaq), meaning "to divide," "to distribute," "to escape," "to separate." Interpretations vary, but all convey significance:
    • "Rock of Divisions/Separations": Reflects the place where Saul and David were forcibly divided/separated by God's intervention.
    • "Rock of Escapes": David's escape from what seemed certain capture.
    • "Rock of Slippery/Smoothness": Suggests the precariousness of the terrain or David's "slipping away."The most common and biblically fitting interpretation is "Rock of Divisions/Partings," emphasizing the divine separation of pursuer and pursued, and God's role in creating that division.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "So Saul went back from pursuing David": This phrase signifies the failure of human malice against divine protection. Saul's relentless, ungodly will to destroy David is abruptly curtailed, not by David's strength, but by external circumstances orchestrated by God. It highlights a critical turn of events.
  • "and went against the Philistines": This shows a forced redirection of focus. Saul, driven by personal vendetta, is compelled by a national emergency to prioritize Israel's common enemy. It paradoxically uses the very enemy of God's people to serve God's redemptive purposes for David.
  • "Therefore they called that place Sela Hammahlekoth": The naming of the place solidifies the memory of this specific, divinely orchestrated intervention. It served as a permanent witness to God's providence, marking the spot where human efforts were divided and frustrated, and where His anointed one found miraculous escape. The name itself memorializes the "division" or "separation" that occurred, affirming God's direct involvement.

1 Samuel 23 28 Bonus section

The immediate and pressing danger from the Philistines underscores the severity of Saul's internal conflict and misplaced priorities. He was so consumed by envy and personal vendetta that he initially disregarded the critical security of his kingdom against a historical enemy. The timing of the Philistine attack—precisely when Saul had "hemmed in" David, almost guaranteeing his capture—is presented as overtly providential. This was a critical test of faith for David, who had sought divine counsel through Abiathar (1 Sam 23:9-12), and God answered decisively. The "rock" metaphor here could also subtly reinforce God Himself as David's rock and fortress (Ps 18:2), indicating that true refuge is found not in hiding places, but in God's protecting hand.

1 Samuel 23 28 Commentary

This concise verse presents a powerful demonstration of divine providence. At the precipice of David's capture by Saul, when humanly speaking, there seemed no escape, God intervened through a Philistine raid. The sudden arrival of this national crisis forced Saul to abandon his personal, vengeful mission against David and return to defend Israel. This was not mere coincidence but God's specific action to protect His chosen king, aligning with His unchanging plan for David to ascend the throne. The naming of the site, "Sela Hammahlekoth," the "Rock of Divisions," permanently etched this moment of separation and deliverance into the landscape, serving as a constant reminder that God is the ultimate Mover and Defender, capable of using even the actions of Israel's enemies to secure His purposes. It assures that no human pursuit, however fierce, can thwart God's sovereign will for His people.