1 Samuel 23:3
1 Samuel 23:3 in Multiple Translations
But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
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?
And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we are afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
And David's men said to him, Even here in Judah we are full of fear: how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
But David's men told him, “Even here in Judah we feel afraid. If we went to Keilah to fight the Philistine armies we'd be absolutely terrified!”
And Dauids men said vnto him, See, we be afrayde here in Iudah, howe much more if we come to Keilah against the hoste of ye Philistims?
And David's men say unto him, 'Lo, we here in Judah are afraid; and how much more when we go to Keilah, unto the ranks of the Philistines?'
David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
And David's men said to him, Behold, we are afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
And the men that were with David, said to him: Behold we are in fear here in Judea, how much more if we go to Ceila against the hands of the Philistines?
But David’s men said to him, “We are afraid that Saul will attack us here in Judah. We will be more afraid if we go to Keilah where the Philistia army is!”
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Samuel 23:3
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1 Samuel 23:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Samuel 23:3
Study Notes — 1 Samuel 23:3
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Samuel 23:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 23:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 23:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:3
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:3
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 23:3
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:3
- Sermons on 1 Samuel 23:3
Context — David Delivers Keilah
3But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
4Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” 5Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, and carried off their livestock, striking them with a mighty blow. So David saved the people of Keilah.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 12:5 | “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan? |
| 2 | Psalms 11:1 | In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain! |
| 3 | 1 Samuel 23:15 | While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. |
| 4 | 1 Samuel 23:26 | Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them. |
| 5 | 1 Samuel 23:23 | Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.” |
1 Samuel 23:3 Summary
In 1 Samuel 23:3, David's men are afraid to go to Keilah because they feel vulnerable and outnumbered by the Philistines. This shows that even in the midst of following God's plan, we can still experience fear and doubt, but as believers, we should seek to trust in God's power and sovereignty, just like David did, as seen in 1 Samuel 23:2. By trusting in God's faithfulness and seeking His guidance, we can overcome our fears and follow His will, as encouraged in Joshua 1:9. We can also remember that God is our rock and our salvation, as seen in Psalms 62:6, and trust in His promise to deliver us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were David's men afraid to go to Keilah against the Philistines?
David's men were afraid because they felt vulnerable in Judah, and going to Keilah would put them in greater danger against a larger and more powerful enemy, as seen in 1 Samuel 23:3, which highlights their fear and lack of faith in God's power to deliver them, unlike David's trust in God as seen in 1 Samuel 23:2.
Did David's men doubt God's ability to deliver them?
Yes, it seems that David's men doubted God's ability to deliver them, as they expressed their fear of going to Keilah, despite God's previous promises to David, such as in 1 Samuel 23:2, where God instructed David to attack the Philistines and save Keilah, demonstrating God's power and faithfulness as seen in Psalms 27:1-3.
How did David respond to his men's fear?
David responded to his men's fear by inquiring of the Lord again, seeking reassurance and guidance, as seen in 1 Samuel 23:4, which shows David's trust in God's sovereignty and his desire to follow God's will, rather than relying on his own strength or the opinions of others, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6.
What can we learn from David's men's fear and David's response?
We can learn that fear and doubt are natural human emotions, but as believers, we should seek to trust in God's power and sovereignty, rather than our own abilities, and follow David's example of seeking guidance from God, as seen in Psalms 119:105, and trusting in His faithfulness, as seen in Hebrews 11:6.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I am letting fear hold me back from trusting God, and how can I apply the lesson from 1 Samuel 23:3 to those situations?
- How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's power and sovereignty, like David, and seek guidance from Him in times of uncertainty?
- In what ways can I, like David, seek to follow God's will and guidance, even when it seems daunting or uncertain, and trust in His promise to deliver me, as seen in 2 Timothy 4:18?
- What are some promises from God's Word that I can cling to when faced with fear or uncertainty, such as 1 Samuel 23:4, and how can I apply those promises to my life?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 23:3
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 23:3
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:3
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:3
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:3
Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 23:3
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:3
Sermons on 1 Samuel 23:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Stone of Salvation or Destruction by Horatius Bonar | Horatius Bonar explores the multifaceted significance of the 'stone' in Matthew 21:44, emphasizing its role as a symbol of Christ. He discusses how this stone represents rejection, |
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Through Jordan by William Booth | William Booth emphasizes the challenges faced in life, comparing them to running with footmen and contending with the swelling of Jordan, symbolizing trials and tribulations. He en |
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(Through the Bible) Jeremiah 11-15 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher tells a story about three men who find a genie and are granted three wishes each. The first man wishes to be back in London, the second wishes to be ba |
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Be Strong in the Lord by Steve Mays | In this sermon, Steve Mays emphasizes the importance of standing strong in the face of spiritual warfare. He highlights the fact that many believers are walking away from God in th |
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Contrasting Picture of Life and Death by Ian Paisley | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the challenges and struggles of life, comparing them to footmen in a race. He emphasizes that everyone will face disappointments, sickness, s |
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A Test of Faith by Arthur John Gossip | Arthur John Gossip emphasizes the importance of having a steadfast and unwavering faith in God, comparing the challenges faced in life to running with footmen and contending with h |
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Great Tribulation Travails by E.A. Adeboye | E.A. Adeboye emphasizes the importance of not delaying in serving God, especially in the face of increasing corruption and challenges in the world. He warns against compromising on |







