And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
Parallel translations
- WEB David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
- BSB At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at 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 22:4–5And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
- 1 Sam 24:22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
- 1 Sam 13:4And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.
- 1 Sam 13:23And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.
- 1 Sam 14:6And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
- 1 Sam 10:5After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
- 1 Sam 22:1David 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.
- 1 Chr 12:16And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
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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
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