So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there.
Parallel translations
- WEB David therefore departed from there, and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.
- KJV David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him.
- BSB So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.
- NKJV David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.
- NASB So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard about it, they went down there to him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David escapes to the cave of Adullam, where his family joins him.
Overview
Leaving Gath, David finds refuge in the cave of Adullam, and his brothers and father's household come to him, likely fearing Saul's reach. This gathering marks the beginning of David's band of followers and his role as their leader in the wilderness. Psalms 57 and 142 are traditionally associated with David's cave experiences, voicing trust in God amid distress.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ps 57:1–11For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed.
- Ps 34:1By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.
- Ps 142:1–7A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. I cry with my voice to Yahweh. With my voice, I ask Yahweh for mercy.
- 1 Chr 11:15Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
- Heb 11:38(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
- Josh 12:15the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;
- Mic 1:3For, behold, Yahweh comes out of his place, and will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.
- Mic 1:15I will yet bring to you, inhabitant of Mareshah. He who is the glory of Israel will come to Adullam.
- 1 Sam 21:10–15David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
- 2 Sam 23:13–14Three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
- Josh 15:35Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 22:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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