I Samuel 23:25-28 · Bible study
1 Samuel 23:25-28 Commentary: Sela Hammahlekoth
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Commentary on the near-capture of David and the providential interruption that named the Rock of Divisions.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God delivers David from certain capture at the last moment, as Saul is forced to divert his attention to a Philistine raid.
- Key words: Pursue (H7291 radaph), surround (H5849 atar), messenger (H4397 malak), Sela Hammahlekoth (H5555, rock of divisions/escapes).
- Main debate: Whether the place name means 'rock of divisions' (Saul and David separated) or 'rock of escapes' (David slipped away).
- Theological theme: Providence, God uses ordinary events (a raid) at the precise moment to save his anointed.
- Best use: A sermon on God's timing or a midweek study on trusting God when hope seems lost.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
25and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there.
26Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.
27Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!”
28So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth.
WEB World English Bible 2000
25Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told, he went down to the rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.
26Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David hurried to get away for fear of Saul, for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them.
27But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land!”
28So Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place Sela Hammahlekoth.
KJV King James Version 1769
25Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
27But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela–hammahlekoth.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
25And Saul and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heardthat, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
27But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have made a raid upon the land.
28So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
25And Saul and his men go to seek, and they declare to David, and he goeth down the rock, and abideth in the wilderness of Maon; and Saul heareth, and pursueth after David to the wilderness of Maon.
26And Saul goeth on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain, and David is hastened to go from the face of Saul, and Saul and his men are compassing David and his men, to catch them.
27And a messenger hath come in unto Saul, saying, `Haste, and come, for the Philistines have pushed against the land.'
28And Saul turneth back from pursuing after David, and goeth to meet the Philistines, therefore they have called that place `The Rock of Divisions.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
25And Saul and his men went to seek [him]. And they told David; and he came down from the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And Saul heard [that], and he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David made haste to get away from Saul; and Saul and his men sought to surround David and his men to take them.
27But there came a messenger to Saul, saying, Haste thee and come; for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.
28And Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines; therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
25Then Saul and his men went to seek him: and it was told David, and forthwith he went down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon: and when Saul had heard of it, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26And Saul went on this side of the mountain: and David and his men were on the other side of the mountain: and David despaired of being able to escape from the face of Saul: and Saul and his men encompassed David and his men round about, to take them.
27And a messenger came to Saul, saying: Make haste to come, for the Philistines have poured in themselves upon the land.
28Wherefore Saul returned, leaving the pursuit of David, and went to meet the Philistines. For this cause they called that place the rock of division.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 23:25
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
All commentators recognize this passage as a clear demonstration of divine providence. Adam Clarke emphasizes the precise timing: the Philistine invasion occurred just as David was about to be captured, and God had prepared it. Keil and Delitzsch note the Hebrew syntax where the main action does not follow until verse 28, showing the tension, David was almost caught, but a messenger arrived. The Cambridge Bible calls it 'Man's extremity is God's opportunity.' The naming of the place Sela Hammahlekoth (rock of divisions or escapes) by the people marks the event as unforgettable. Wesley's Explanatory Notes summarize: 'The wisdom of God is never at a loss for ways and means to preserve his people.' This consensus underscores that God intervenes at the last moment to rescue his anointed.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Rock of divisions (separation): The place name Sela Hammahlekoth is translated as 'rock of divisions' by the Targum and some older translations, emphasizing that here Saul and David were separated.
- Rock of escapes (slipping away): The Hebrew root chalaq can mean 'to be smooth,' suggesting a place of escape; Keil and Delitzsch argue this explanation is 'better supported.'
What is clear: God delivered David from Saul's grasp at this location, and the event was memorialized in a place name that indicates a decisive separation.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Divine providence in the rescue | All traditions affirm that God orchestrated the events to save David, using the Philistine raid as the means. | Some stress direct supernatural intervention (angelic messenger, as in Jewish tradition), while others emphasize natural circumstances (a human messenger with timely news). Both see God's hand. |
| Meaning of Sela Hammahlekoth | The name commemorates an event in which David escaped from Saul at this rock. | Interpreted as 'rock of divisions' (because here Saul and David were separated) or 'rock of escapes' (from the root chalaq meaning smooth, i.e., David slipped away). The Targum and many early commentators favor 'divisions'; Keil and Delitzsch prefer 'escapes'. |
| The messenger's identity | A messenger (malak) delivered the news of the Philistine raid. | Later Jewish tradition identified this messenger as an angel, but most modern commentators read it as a human messenger from Saul's court or outpost. Both agree the message came at God's timing. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The wilderness of Maon, a rugged region southeast of Hebron, was part of the hill country of Judah. Maon itself was a city, and the surrounding territory provided natural fortresses of cliffs and caves. The rock where David took shelter (verse 25) likely became known as Sela Hammahlekoth, identified by some scholars with the gorge called Wady Malaky, where a narrow valley separates two ridges. This geography explains the dangerous intimacy of Saul and David's movement: Saul on one side of the mountain, David on the other, with only the mountain between them.
Saul's pursuit was driven by obsessive jealousy, escalating after the Ziphites betrayed David's location (23:19-24). David's men had already slipped away from Keilah and the wilderness of Ziph, and now they were cornered. The Philistine threat was constant; their invasions were a recurring pressure on Israel's borders. Saul, as king, was obligated to defend the land. The sudden report of a Philistine raid forced him to abandon his personal vendetta and fulfill his royal duty. The place name, Sela Hammahlekoth, 'the rock of divisions' or 'rock of escapes', captured both the physical separation that occurred and the spiritual significance of God dividing Saul from his prey.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note one significant variant. The Cambridge Bible observes that the Septuagint reads 'which is in the wilderness of Maon' in place of 'and abode in the wilderness of Maon' in verse 25. This variant does not change the overall narrative. No other textual variations are mentioned in the supplied materials.
Reception History
Throughout church history, this passage has been read as a paradigm of divine deliverance. Early church fathers saw in David's escape a foreshadowing of Christ's rescue from Herod's pursuit. Medieval commentators often spiritualized the 'rock of division' as the separation between the righteous and the wicked at judgment. Reformers like Martin Luther used the text to teach that God's protection often comes through ordinary means, here, a military report. In the Puritan tradition, Matthew Henry highlighted the providence of God 'never at a loss for ways.' Hymn writers have drawn on the imagery of a rock that becomes a place of safety. The narrative continues to encourage believers to trust God's timing even when escape seems impossible.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The trap closes. Verses 25-26 show Saul's meticulous pursuit and David's desperate flight. The Hebrew verb for 'hurrying' (nechpaz) carries a sense of terror. David is not in control; he is running for his life.
- The divine interruption. Verse 27 introduces the messenger out of nowhere. The word for 'messenger' (malak) can mean human messenger or angel; in either case, the timing is providential. The Philistine raid is God's means of deliverance.
- The rescue and memorial. Verse 28 records Saul's return and the naming of the place. The people recognize God's hand. The rock becomes a monument to a last-moment rescue.
Five-point outline
- Desperate flight. David hurries away, aware of the net closing.
- Surrounding enemy. Saul and his men encircle David and his men, the Hebrew verb 'oteriym implies a crown of soldiers, a complete ring.
- Unexpected message. The messenger bursts into the scene with urgency ('Hurry and come!').
- Reluctant obedience. Saul leaves the pursuit to fight the Philistines. He prioritizes national security over personal revenge.
- Named place. The rock becomes a testimony. Every time the name is spoken, God's deliverance is recalled.
Illustration hooks
- The deadline and the distraction. You are about to miss a critical deadline at work when an unexpected interruption forces you to step back, and later you discover that interruption saved you from a costly mistake.
- The trapped car and the tow truck. You are stuck in a ditch, and as the only help in sight drives away, a stranger passes by with a winch. You had given up, but the help came.
- The last minute reprieve. A student caught cheating is about to be expelled when the teacher receives a call, the rules have just been changed. The timing seems beyond chance.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God often let things get to the very edge before stepping in?
- Are we missing God's interventions because we are too focused on our anxiety?
- How can I learn to trust God in the 'last moment' rather than panic?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows that God often works in the last moment, using ordinary events to achieve extraordinary rescue. The Philistine raid is not a coincidence; it is God's plan to save David. Yet the narrative does not downplay David's fear or the reality of the danger. It invites us to reflect on how we perceive God's timing in our own lives.
Discussion questions
- What emotions do you see in David and his men in verses 25-26? Why does the writer include the detail that David made haste for fear of Saul?
- The messenger arrives at the exact moment of crisis. How do you think David and Saul each interpreted this timing? Did Saul see it as a divine interruption?
- Why did the people name the place Sela Hammahlekoth? What does naming a space tell us about the importance of remembering God's acts?
- How do you tend to respond when you are trapped or surrounded by circumstances beyond your control? Where do you look for a 'messenger'?
- In your own experience, has an unexpected difficulty ever turned out to be a rescue in disguise? Share an example if you are comfortable.
- How does this story challenge or affirm your view of God's involvement in daily life?
- What is one practical way your group can more intentionally remember God's deliverances, like the memorial at the rock?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Judges 15:8 | He struck them hip and thigh with a great slaughter; and he went down and lived in the cave in Etam’s rock. |
| I Samuel 19:12 | So Michal let David down through the window. He went away, fled, and escaped. |
| I Samuel 20:38 | Jonathan cried after the boy, “Go fast! Hurry! Don’t delay!” Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. |
| II Samuel 15:14 | David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise! Let’s flee, or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” |
| II Samuel 17:21 | After they had departed, they came up out of the well and went and told King David; and they said to David, “Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.” |
| II Samuel 17:22 | Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan. By the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan. |
| II Chronicles 20:12 | Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that comes against us. We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” |
| Psalms 17:9 | from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke emphasizes how God's providence orchestrated events with precise timing: the Philistine invasion was already prepared, and the messenger arrived at the exact moment Saul was about to capture David. This made the deliverance visibly divine, not a stroke of luck.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes identifies Sela-hammahlekoth with a specific narrow and impassable gorge called Malaky, located between El Kolah and Maon. This geographical detail highlights the physical barrier that David's location provided during his escape from Saul.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge commentary notes that the place is called "Rock of divisions" because Saul had to abandon his pursuit of David there. It also notes a variant reading from the Septuagint and suggests a possible modern-day location based on Lieutenant Conder's exploration of the nearby gorge.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes see God's hidden hand in what looked like a desperate coincidence: the Philistine invasion that forced Saul to abandon David's capture was no accident. They name the rock Sela-hammahlekoth, meaning "rock of division," because God divided Saul from his prey at the very moment David was surrounded.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights the precise timing of the Philistine invasion as a clear act of divine providence, saving David when capture seemed certain. He also notes the place was called the rock of divisions not only because the mountain physically separated the two groups, but because Saul's heart was divided between duty and desire.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB gives specific geographical details about the rock where David hid: the hill of Maon and its surrounding wilderness. The mountain plateau ends there, with the ground dropping southeast into a lower tableland known as the plain south of the wilderness.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch highlight the Hebrew sentence structure, which suspends the main action to show David completely surrounded before a messenger suddenly forces Saul to break off pursuit. This escape gave the place its name, “rock of slipping away,” not “rock of divisions.”
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that David repeatedly inquired of the Lord through the high priest's ephod, treating each decision as a matter of prayerful submission to God's will. Saul, by contrast, misinterpreted his own temporary advantage as divine approval, falling into the self-deception that God had abandoned David to him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes the irony that David placed special confidence in the Ziphites because they were his own tribesmen,
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that David first hid in a cave but wisely moved away when Saul approached, showing God is never at a loss to protect his people. The rock was called "the rock of divisions" because there Saul was separated from David, who was almost within his reach.