The Way
Rescuing Keilah
When the town he saved was ready to shut its gates
Story
News came that the Philistines were attacking Keilah and looting the grain from its threshing floors. David asked the Lord, “Shall I go and attack them?” The Lord answered, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” But his men shook their heads: “Even hiding here in Judah we are afraid. And you want us to go all the way to Keilah to fight the Philistine army?”
David asked again. This time the Lord's answer was even clearer: “Get up and go down to Keilah. I will give the Philistines into your hand.” David and his men went down, struck the Philistines hard and carried off their livestock. The people of Keilah were saved. Around that time Abiathar, the priest who alone had survived at Nob, came to David bringing the ephod.
When Saul heard the news, he exclaimed with delight, “David has walked right into a town with gates and bars and shut himself in!” Before the ephod, David asked, “Will Saul come down?” The Lord answered, “He will come down.” David asked again, “Will the people of Keilah hand me over?” The Lord said, “They will hand you over.” David and his men, about six hundred of them, left Keilah and wandered wherever they could go. Saul called off the expedition.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of God and David
Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.
Get up and go down to Keilah. I will give the Philistines into your hand.
Lord, God of Israel, your servant has clearly heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me.
They will hand you over.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: 1 Sam 23:1–13
Background
Keilah was a town in the Shephelah south of Adullam, about 13 km northwest of Hebron, identified today with Khirbet Qila. Threshing floors lay outside the town walls, making them an easy target for raiders at harvest.
Pause and Reflect
Can I do good even to someone who will not be grateful?