1 Samuel 23:13Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went wherever they could go. It was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he gave up going there.
The setting
Keilah, ancient Israel, ~1020 BC. Six hundred men with families quickly pack their belongings. They're leaving the safety of city walls for uncertain wilderness. Modern location: West Bank, Palestine.
The emotion here: sad but protective of his people
The original word
nāda' (נדע) — to wander, be restless — the same word describing Cain's punishment
Why it matters
Six hundred men plus families meant roughly 2,000-3,000 people became refugees that day
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 23:13
This wasn't just David fleeing — he made 600 families homeless to keep them safe from his problems
Common misconceptionPeople see this as David running away, but he was actually protecting 600 families from becoming political hostages.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Samuel 23:13
Bible Genome reading
1 Samuel 23:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Samuel 23:13 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. The setting is wilderness. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include obedience, trust. Notable phrases: departed out of Keilah.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does 1 Samuel 23:13 mean to you, today?
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