1 Samuel 23 שְׁמוּאֵל א פרק כ״ג

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open 1 Samuel 23 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיַּגִּדוּand-they-toldלְדָוִדDavidלֵאמֹרsayingהִנֵּהbeholdפְלִשְׁתִּיםthe-Philistinesנִלְחָמִיםfightingבִּקְעִילָהagainst-Keilahוְהֵמָּהand-theyשֹׁסִיםrobאֶת־הַגֳּרָנוֹת׃the-threshing-floors

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

2. 2

   וַיִּשְׁאַלand-askedדָּוִדDavidבַּיהֹוָהin-the-LORDלֵאמֹרsayingהַאֵלֵךְshall-I-goוְהִכֵּיתִיand-smiteבַּפְּלִשְׁתִּיםthese-Philistinesהָאֵלֶּהtheseוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidיְהֹוָהthe-LORDאֶל־דָּוִדto-Davidלֵךְgoוְהִכִּיתָand-smiteבַפְּלִשְׁתִּיםthe-Philistinesוְהוֹשַׁעְתָּand-saveאֶת־קְעִילָה׃Keilah

   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.

3. 3

   וַיֹּאמְרוּand-saidאַנְשֵׁיthe-men-ofדָוִדDavidאֵלָיוto-himהִנֵּהbeholdאֲנַחְנוּweפֹהhereבִּיהוּדָהin-Judahיְרֵאִיםare-afraidוְאַףhow-much-moreכִּי־נֵלֵךְthen-if-we-comeקְעִלָהto-Keilahאֶל־מַעַרְכוֹתagainst-the-armies-ofפְּלִשְׁתִּים׃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?

4. 4

   וַיּוֹסֶףthen-againעוֹדany-moreדָּוִדDavidלִשְׁאוֹלenquiredבַּיהֹוָהin-the-LORDוַיַּעֲנֵהוּand-answered-himיְהֹוָהthe-LORDוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidקוּםariseרֵדgo-downקְעִילָהto-Keilahכִּי־אֲנִיthat-I-amנֹתֵןwill-deliverאֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּיםthe-Philistinesבְּיָדֶךָ׃into-your-hand

   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.

5. 5

   וַיֵּלֶךְand-wentדָּוִדDavidוַאֲנָשָׁוand-his-menקְעִילָהKeilahוַיִּלָּחֶםand-he-foughtבַּפְּלִשְׁתִּיםwith-the-Philistinesוַיִּנְהַגand-brought-awayאֶת־מִקְנֵיהֶםtheir-cattleוַיַּךְand-he-smoteבָּהֶםthemמַכָּהwith-a-slaughterגְדוֹלָהgreatוַיֹּשַׁעso-savedדָּוִדDavidאֵת־יֹשְׁבֵיthe-inhabitants-ofקְעִילָה׃Keilah

   So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6. 6

   וַיְהִיand-it-came-to-passבִּבְרֹחַwhen-fledאֶבְיָתָרAbiatharבֶּן־אֲחִימֶלֶךְson-of-Ahimelechאֶל־דָּוִדto-Davidקְעִילָהto-Keilahאֵפוֹדan-ephodיָרַדhe-came-down-withבְּיָדוֹ׃in-his-hand

   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.

7. 7

   וַיֻּגַּדand-it-was-toldלְשָׁאוּלSaulכִּי־בָאthat-cameדָוִדDavidקְעִילָהto-Keilahוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidשָׁאוּלSaulנִכַּרhas-deliveredאֹתוֹhimאֱלֹהִיםGodבְּיָדִיinto-my-handכִּיforנִסְגַּרhe-is-shut-inלָבוֹאby-enteringבְּעִירinto-a-town-that-hasדְּלָתַיִםgatesוּבְרִיחַ׃and-bars

   And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

8. 8

   וַיְשַׁמַּעand-called-togetherשָׁאוּלSaulאֶת־כׇּל־הָעָםall-the-peopleלַמִּלְחָמָהto-warלָרֶדֶתto-go-downקְעִילָהto-Keilahלָצוּרto-besiegeאֶל־דָּוִדto-Davidוְאֶל־אֲנָשָׁיו׃and-his-men

   And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

9. 9

   וַיֵּדַעand-knewדָּוִדDavidכִּיthatעָלָיוagainst-himשָׁאוּלSaulמַחֲרִישׁsecretly-practisedהָרָעָהmischiefוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאֶל־אֶבְיָתָרto-Abiatharהַכֹּהֵןthe-priestהַגִּישָׁהbring-hereהָאֵפוֹד׃the-ephod

   And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.

10. 10

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidדָּוִדDavidיְהֹוָהthe-LORDאֱלֹהֵיthe-God-ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelשָׁמֹעַsurelyשָׁמַעhas-heardעַבְדְּךָyour-servantכִּי־מְבַקֵּשׁthat-seeksשָׁאוּלSaulלָבוֹאto-comeאֶל־קְעִילָהto-Keilahלְשַׁחֵתto-destroyלָעִירthe-cityבַּעֲבוּרִי׃for-my-sake

    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.

11. 11

    הֲיַסְגִּרֻנִיwill-deliver-me-upבַעֲלֵיthe-men-ofקְעִילָהKeilahבְיָדוֹin-his-handהֲיֵרֵדwill-come-downשָׁאוּלSaulכַּאֲשֶׁרasשָׁמַעhas-heardעַבְדֶּךָyour-servantיְהֹוָהthe-LORDאֱלֹהֵיthe-God-ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelהַגֶּד־נָאtell-I-pray-youלְעַבְדֶּךָto-your-servantוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidיְהֹוָהthe-LORDיֵרֵד׃he-will-come-down

    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.

12. 12

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidדָּוִדDavidהֲיַסְגִּרוּwill-deliver-upבַּעֲלֵיthe-men-ofקְעִילָהKeilahאֹתִיmeוְאֶת־אֲנָשַׁיand-my-menבְּיַד־שָׁאוּלin-the-hand-of-Saulוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidיְהֹוָהthe-LORDיַסְגִּירוּ׃they-will-deliver-you-up

    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.

13. 13

    וַיָּקׇםand-aroseדָּוִדDavidוַאֲנָשָׁיוand-his-menכְּשֵׁשׁ־מֵאוֹתwere-about-six-hundredאִישׁmenוַיֵּצְאוּand-they-departedמִקְּעִלָהfrom-Keilahוַיִּתְהַלְּכוּand-wentבַּאֲשֶׁרwhereverיִתְהַלָּכוּthey-could-goוּלְשָׁאוּלand-Saulהֻגַּדit-was-toldכִּי־נִמְלַטthat-had-escapedדָּוִדDavidמִקְּעִילָהfrom-Keilahוַיֶּחְדַּלand-he-forboreלָצֵאת׃to-go-forth

    Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

14. 14

    וַיֵּשֶׁבand-dweltדָּוִדDavidבַּמִּדְבָּרin-the-wildernessבַּמְּצָדוֹתin-the-strongholdsוַיֵּשֶׁבand-remainedבָּהָרin-a-mountainבְּמִדְבַּר־זִיףin-the-wilderness-of-Ziphוַיְבַקְשֵׁהוּand-sought-himשָׁאוּלSaulכׇּל־הַיָּמִיםall-the-daysוְלֹא־נְתָנוֹbut-delivered-him-notאֱלֹהִיםGodבְּיָדוֹ׃in-his-hand

    And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.

15. 15

    וַיַּרְאand-sawדָּוִדDavidכִּי־יָצָאthat-had-come-outשָׁאוּלSaulלְבַקֵּשׁto-seekאֶת־נַפְשׁוֹhis-lifeוְדָוִדand-Davidבְּמִדְבַּר־זִיףin-the-wilderness-of-Ziphבַּחֹרְשָׁה׃in-Horesh

    And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

16. 16

    וַיָּקׇםand-aroseיְהוֹנָתָןJonathanבֶּן־שָׁאוּלson-of-Saulוַיֵּלֶךְand-wentאֶל־דָּוִדto-Davidחֹרְשָׁהto-Horeshוַיְחַזֵּקand-he-strengthenedאֶת־יָדוֹhis-handבֵּאלֹהִים׃in-God

    And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

17. 17

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאֵלָיוto-himאַל־תִּירָאbe-not-afraidכִּיforלֹאnotתִמְצָאֲךָshall-find-youיַדthe-hand-ofשָׁאוּלSaulאָבִיmy-fatherוְאַתָּהand-youתִּמְלֹךְshall-be-kingעַל־יִשְׂרָאֵלover-Israelוְאָנֹכִיyet-Iאֶהְיֶה־לְּךָshall-be-to-youלְמִשְׁנֶהnext-to-youוְגַם־שָׁאוּלand-also-Saulאָבִיmy-fatherיֹדֵעַknowsכֵּן׃thus

    And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.

18. 18

    וַיִּכְרְתוּand-they-madeשְׁנֵיהֶםboth-of-themבְּרִיתa-covenantלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהֹוָהthe-LORDוַיֵּשֶׁבand-dweltדָּוִדDavidבַּחֹרְשָׁהin-Horeshוִיהוֹנָתָןand-Jonathanהָלַךְwentלְבֵיתוֹ׃to-his-house

    And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

19. 19

    וַיַּעֲלוּthen-came-upזִפִיםthe-Ziphimאֶל־שָׁאוּלto-Saulהַגִּבְעָתָהto-Gibeahלֵאמֹרsayingהֲלוֹאis-it-notדָוִדDavidמִסְתַּתֵּרhides-himselfעִמָּנוּwith-usבַמְּצָדוֹתin-the-strongholdsבַּחֹרְשָׁהin-Horeshבְּגִבְעַתin-the-hill-ofהַחֲכִילָהHachilahאֲשֶׁרwhichמִימִיןon-the-south-ofהַיְשִׁימוֹן׃Jeshimon

    Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

20. 20

    וְעַתָּהand-nowלְכׇל־אַוַּתto-all-the-desire-ofנַפְשְׁךָyour-soulהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingלָרֶדֶתto-come-downרֵדcome-downוְלָנוּand-our-part-shall-beהַסְגִּירוֹto-deliver-him-upבְּיַדin-the-hand-ofהַמֶּלֶךְ׃the-king

    Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.

21. 21

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidשָׁאוּלSaulבְּרוּכִיםblessed-beאַתֶּםyou-areלַיהֹוָהto-the-LORDכִּיforחֲמַלְתֶּםyou-have-compassionעָלָי׃on-me

    And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.

22. 22

    לְכוּ־נָאgo-I-pray-youהָכִינוּprepare-yetעוֹדany-moreוּדְעוּand-knowוּרְאוּand-seeאֶת־מְקוֹמוֹhis-placeאֲשֶׁרwhichתִּהְיֶהisרַגְלוֹhis-hauntמִיwhoרָאָהוּhas-seen-himשָׁםthereכִּיforאָמַרsaidאֵלַיto-meעָרוֹםsurelyיַעְרִםhe-deals-craftilyהוּא׃he

    Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.

23. 23

    וּרְאוּand-seeוּדְעוּand-knowמִכֹּלof-allהַמַּחֲבֹאִיםthe-hiding-placesאֲשֶׁרwhichיִתְחַבֵּאhe-hides-himselfשָׁםthereוְשַׁבְתֶּםand-come-againאֵלַיto-meאֶל־נָכוֹןwith-certaintyוְהָלַכְתִּיand-I-will-goאִתְּכֶםwith-youוְהָיָהand-beאִם־יֶשְׁנוֹif-he-beבָאָרֶץin-the-landוְחִפַּשְׂתִּיand-I-will-search-him-outאֹתוֹhimבְּכֹלin-allאַלְפֵיthe-thousands-ofיְהוּדָה׃Judah

    See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.

24. 24

    וַיָּקוּמוּand-they-aroseוַיֵּלְכוּand-they-wentזִיפָהto-ZiphלִפְנֵיbeforeשָׁאוּלSaulוְדָוִדand-Davidוַאֲנָשָׁיוand-his-menבְּמִדְבַּרin-the-wilderness-ofמָעוֹןMaonבָּעֲרָבָהin-the-Arabahאֶלtoיְמִיןthe-south-ofהַיְשִׁימוֹן׃Jeshimon

    And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.

25. 25

    וַיֵּלֶךְand-wentשָׁאוּלSaulוַאֲנָשָׁיוand-his-menלְבַקֵּשׁto-seekוַיַּגִּדוּand-they-toldלְדָוִדof-Davidוַיֵּרֶדand-he-came-downהַסֶּלַעto-a-rockוַיֵּשֶׁבand-abodeבְּמִדְבַּרin-the-wilderness-ofמָעוֹןMaonוַיִּשְׁמַעand-heardשָׁאוּלSaulוַיִּרְדֹּףand-he-pursuedאַחֲרֵי־דָוִדafter-Davidמִדְבַּרthe-wilderness-ofמָעוֹן׃Maon

    Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.

26. 26

    וַיֵּלֶךְand-wentשָׁאוּלSaulמִצַּדon-one-side-ofהָהָרthe-mountainמִזֶּהon-the-one-sideוְדָוִדand-Davidוַאֲנָשָׁיוand-his-menמִצַּדon-one-side-ofהָהָרthe-mountainמִזֶּהon-the-other-sideוַיְהִיand-wasדָוִדDavidנֶחְפָּזmade-hasteלָלֶכֶתto-goמִפְּנֵיfor-fear-ofשָׁאוּלSaulוְשָׁאוּלand-Saulוַאֲנָשָׁיוand-his-menעֹטְרִיםcompassed-roundאֶל־דָּוִדto-Davidוְאֶל־אֲנָשָׁיוand-his-menלְתׇפְשָׂם׃to-take-them

    And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.

27. 27

    וּמַלְאָךְbut-a-messengerבָּאcameאֶל־שָׁאוּלto-Saulלֵאמֹרsayingמַהֲרָהmake-hasteוְלֵכָהand-comeכִּי־פָשְׁטוּfor-have-invadedפְלִשְׁתִּיםthe-Philistinesעַל־הָאָרֶץ׃the-land

    But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.

28. 28

    וַיָּשׇׁבand-returnedשָׁאוּלSaulמִרְדֹףfrom-pursuingאַחֲרֵיafterדָוִדDavidוַיֵּלֶךְand-wentלִקְרַאתagainstפְּלִשְׁתִּיםthe-Philistinesעַל־כֵּןthereforeקָרְאוּthey-calledלַמָּקוֹםthat-placeהַהוּאthatסֶלַעSela-הַמַּחְלְקוֹת׃hammahlekoth

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