1Sa 23:1-12 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Sam 23:1-29: 23:1-29 Thanks to informants (23:7 , 13 ), Saul was able to stay on David’s trail. David also had informants, allowing him to keep one step ahead of Saul (23:1 , 9 , 15 , 25 ). David’s chief advantage was access to divine guidance and resources (23:2 , 4 , 12 ), which Saul lacked. 23:1 Keilah was near Adullam (22:1 ) at the western edge of Judah, not far from the Philistine border (see Josh 15:44 ; Neh 3:17-18 ).

Summary for 1Sam 23:1-29: 23:1-29 ^a Thanks to informants (23:7 ^b, 13 ^c), Saul was able to stay on David’s trail. David also had informants, allowing him to keep one step ahead of Saul (23:1 ^d, 9 ^e, 15 ^f, 25 ^g). David’s chief advantage was access to divine guidance and resources (23:2 ^h, 4 ⁱ, 12 ^j), which Saul lacked. 23:1 ^k Keilah was near Adullam (22:1 ^l) at the western edge of Judah, not far from the Philistine border (see Josh 15:44 ^m; Neh 3:17-18 ⁿ).
23:4 ^o David asked the Lord either directly in prayer or by using the ephod (see 23:6 ^p, 9 ^q; 2 Sam 2:1 ^r; 5:23-24 ^s). God’s answers were a sign of his blessing and protection (cp. 1 Sam 28:6 ^t).
23:6 ^u the ephod: Saul had slain eighty-five priests who were wearing their ephods (22:18 ^v; see study note on 2:18), but the priest who escaped had the high priest’s ephod, which contained the Urim and Thummim.
23:7 ^w God has handed him over to me: To the contrary, see 23:14 ^x.