Principle
David saved the town of Keilah by defeating the Philistines who were looting and plundering them.
Explanation
1 Samuel [1 Kingdoms, LXX] 23 tells how the Philistines were robbing and looting the town of Keilah. David heard about this and asked GOD whether he should attack. GOD told David to attack and He would give the Philistines into David’s hand.
So David attacked, defeated the Philistines in Keilah, brought back the livestock the Philistines had taken, and saved the citizens of Keilah (see 1 Kingdoms 23:5).
King Saul heard that David had traveled to Keilah and pursued him there. When David heard of Saul’s intentions, David asked GOD if he should leave Keilah. GOD told David Saul would pursue him and that David would be handed over to Saul if he stayed in Keilah.
So, David and his men—about 400 as of that time (see 1 Kingdoms 23:12)—escaped to the dry mountain of Ziph. Saul sought David daily but GOD protected David.
While David hid in Ziph, Saul’s son Jonathan visited David:
15 Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in New Ziph and strengthened his hands in the Lord. 16 And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.” 17 So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in New Ziph, and Jonathan went to his own house.
1 Kingdoms [1 Samuel] 23:15-17 OSB
Thus, David was comforted in this difficult time.
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