1 Samuel 23 · Verse 2

1 Samuel 23:2

Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
1 Samuel 23:2, King James Version

1 Samuel 23:2 in other translations

BSBSo David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
WEBTherefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and strike these Philistines?” The LORD said to David, “Go strike the Philistines, and save Keilah.”
ASVTherefore David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And Jehovah said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
YLTAnd David asketh at Jehovah, saying, ‘Do I go? --and have I smitten among these Philistines?' And Jehovah saith unto David, ‘Go, and thou hast smitten among the Philistines, and saved Keilah.'
DARBYAnd David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And Jehovah said to David, Go and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
BBESo David, questioning the Lord, said, Am I to go and make an attack on these Philistines? And the Lord said to David, Go and make an attack on the Philistines so that Keilah may be kept from falling into their hands.
WebsterTherefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said to David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

What does 1 Samuel 23:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 23:2-5
2-5. David inquired of the Lord--most probably through Gad (2Sa 24:11; 1Ch 21:9), who was present in David's camp (1Sa 22:5), probably by the recommendation of Samuel. To repel unprovoked assaults on unoffending people who were engaged in their harvest operations, was a humane and benevolent service. But it was doubtful how far it was David's duty to go against a public enemy without the royal commission; and on that account he asked, and obtained, the divine counsel. A demur on the part of his men led David to renew the consultation for their satisfaction; after which, being fully assured of his duty, he encountered the aggressors and, by a signal victory, delivered the people of Keilah from further molestation.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Therefore David inquired of the Lord - In what way David made this inquiry we are not told, but it was probably by means of Abiathar; and therefore I think, with Houbigant that the sixth verse should be read immediately after the first. The adventure mentioned here was truly noble. Had not David loved his country, and been above all motives of private and personal revenge, he would have rejoiced in this invasion of Judah as producing a strong diversion in his favor, and embroiling his inveterate enemy. In most cases a man with David's wrongs would have joined with the enemies of his country, and avenged himself on the author of his adversities; but he thinks of nothing but succouring Keilah, and using his power and influence in behalf of his brethren! This is a rare instance of disinterested heroism. The Lord said - Go and smite - He might now go with confidence, being assured of success. When God promises success, who need be afraid of the face of any enemy?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:1-6

When princes persecute God's people, let them expect vexation on all sides. The way for any country to be quiet, is to let God's church be quiet in it: if Saul fight against David, the Philistines fight against his country. David considered himself the protector of the land. Thus did the Saviour Jesus, and left us an example. Those are unlike David, who sullenly decline to do good, if they are not rewarded for…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 23:1-6 →

1 Samuel 23:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּשְׁאַ֨לvai.yish.'Aland he enquiredH7592
דָּוִ֤דda.VidDavidH1732
בַּֽיהוָה֙ba.Yah.wehby YahwehH3068
לֵאמֹ֔רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
הַאֵלֵ֣ךְha.'e.Lekh¿ will I goH1980
וְהִכֵּ֔יתִיve.hi.Kei.tiand will I strike?H5221
בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםba.pe.lish.Tim<in> the PhilistinesH6430
הָאֵ֑לֶּה\ \סha.'E.leh<the> theseH428
וַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
יְהוָ֜הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶל\־'el-toH413
דָּוִ֗דda.VidDavidH1732
לֵ֚ךְlekhgoH1980
וְהִכִּ֣יתָve.hi.Ki.taand you will strikeH5221
בַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםva.pe.lish.Tim<in> the PhilistinesH6430
וְהוֹשַׁעְתָּ֖ve.ho.sha'.Taand you will deliverH3467
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
קְעִילָֽה\׃ke.'i.LahKeilahH7084

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 23:2

  • 1 Samuel 23:4

    Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

  • 2 Samuel 5:23

    And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

  • 2 Samuel 5:19

    And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

  • Joshua 9:14

    And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.

  • 1 Samuel 23:9-12

    And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. 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. 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. Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up.

  • 1 Samuel 23:6

    And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

  • Jeremiah 10:23

    O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

  • 1 Samuel 30:8

    And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

  • 1 Chronicles 14:10

    And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand.

  • Judges 1:1

    Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?

  • Proverbs 3:5-6

    Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

  • Numbers 27:21

    And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
enquired.In what way David made this enquiry we are not told; but it was probably by means of Abiathar; and therefore it would seem, that with Houbigant, we should read the sixth verse immediately after the first.--This adventure was truly noble and patriotic. Had not David loved his country, and been above all motives of private and personal revenge, he would have rejoiced in this invasion of Judea, as producing a strong diversion in his favour, and embroiling his inveterate enemy. In most cases, a man with David's wrongs would have joined with the enemies of his country, and avenged himself on the author of his calamities; but he thinks of nothing but succouring Keilah, and using his power and influence in behalf of his brethren.
4,6,9-12; 30:8; Nu 27:21; Jos 9:14; Jud 1:1; 2Sa 5:19,23
1Ch 14:10; Ps 32:8; Pr 3:5,6; Jer 10:23

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 23:1

    Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.

  • 1 Samuel 23:2

    Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

  • 1 Samuel 23:3

    And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

Read all of 1 Samuel 23

1 Samuel 23:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y David consultó á Jehová, diciendo: ¿Iré á herir á estos Filisteos? Y Jehová respondió á David: Ve, hiere á los Filisteos, y libra á Keila.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et David interrogea l’ Éternel, disant: Irai-je, et frapperai-je ces Philistins? Et l’ Éternel dit à David: Va, et tu frapperas les Philistins, et tu sauveras Kehila.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und David befragte Jehova und sprach: Soll ich hinziehen und diese Philister schlagen? Und Jehova sprach zu David: Ziehe hin, und schlage die Philister und rette Kehila.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Consuluit ergo David Dominum, dicens: Num vadam, et percutiam Philisthæos istos? Et ait Dominus ad David: Vade, et percuties Philisthæos, et Ceilam salvabis.