At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.
Parallel translations
- WEB David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
- KJV And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
- NKJV David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
- NASB David was then in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
- NLT David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.
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 was in the stronghold while a Philistine garrison occupied his hometown of Bethlehem.
Overview
The enemy's hold on Bethlehem, David's birthplace, deepens the poignancy of his longing in the next verses. Bethlehem, here under enemy occupation, would one day be the birthplace of David's greater Son, the true King who comes to reclaim what sin had seized.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Sam 22:4–5So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.
- 1 Sam 24:22So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
- 1 Sam 13:4And all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked an outpost of the Philistines, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines!” Then the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
- 1 Sam 13:23And a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Michmash.
- 1 Sam 14:6Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
- 1 Sam 10:5After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.
- 1 Sam 22:1So 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.
- 1 Chr 12:16Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 23:14 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.