1 Samuel 23:11, commentary and pictures

David, while loyal yet hunted by Saul near the close of Saul's reign, asked about the danger at Keilah through the high priest's ephod and breastplate bearing the urim and thummim, and received a brief, definite, direct answer that Saul would come down. The answer foretold both that Saul would come down and that if David stayed the men of Keilah would hand him over to him, describing what would happen if events continued as they were. That prediction was conditional rather than an unchangeable decree fixed regardless of human choice, and it left the decision to David, who was free and not made a mere machine. Because David and his men acted on the warning and left Keilah, Saul did not come there and the threatened outcome did not occur, as salvation or ruin still turns on whether men accept and use God's freely offered grace.

Setting and Manner of Answer

The inquiry belongs to the rising career of David set against the downward course of Saul, with divine providence shaping events through that period. It falls at the close of Saul's reign, a reign that might have been so different, when Saul sought to kill David although David had never lifted his hand against him and had always been loyal to him. The surrounding narrative is of interest for its important lessons, throwing light and new suggestions on the way, though the great main lines of history are covered without it.

When danger threatened at Keilah, guidance about it was sought through the high priest's ephod and jeweled breastplate bearing the urim and thummim, the appointed means for receiving answers from God to weighty personal questions. David's inquiry about Saul's coming and about the actions of the men of Keilah is an example of that use. The priestly oracle gave a brief, definite, direct answer limited to the question asked, stating that Saul would come down, but it did not tell David what course to take. The answer revealed what would happen yet left the decision to David, who had to decide for himself how to act on the information.

The response came through the ephod or breastplate, with the priest repeating the words made known to him. This differed from a prophet's message, which came through the Spirit dwelling within the prophet and was expressed in the prophet's own style and imagery.

Conditional Foreknowledge and Freedom

God answered David's inquiry by foretelling that Saul would come down to Keilah, and that if David stayed the men of Keilah would hand him over to Saul. That answer described what would happen if events continued as they were, depending on David remaining at Keilah. The prediction of threatened events was conditional rather than an unchangeable decree, and did not mean the events were fixed regardless of human choice. Because David and his men left Keilah, Saul did not come there and the predicted outcome did not occur, showing that David's action changed the predicted outcome. God's foreknowledge did not force David to remain or make him a mere machine; he was free to act on the warning and leave, and Saul's coming depended on that choice.

The answer revealed what would happen but left the decision to David, who had to decide for himself how to act on the information, since it was limited to the question asked and did not tell him what course to take. It is safe to commit one's cause into the hands of God. As David was free to leave, so people can accept and use God's freely offered grace, and their salvation or damnation turns on whether they do so.