Favor · the best way to learn the Bible
1 Samuel 23 Bible study: Into whose hand?
Chapter 23 keeps asking whose hand David will fall into. Saul says God has delivered him into his (23:7), the LORD says Keilah's men would deliver him up (23:12), and the Ziphites promise to (23:20). But "God didn’t deliver him into his hand" (23:14), and Saul's own son comes to David and "strengthened his hand in God" (23:16).
Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the words behind the words, what most readers miss, and how it all leads to Jesus.
First week free, then $10 a month per person
“Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.”
Try it · Did you catch it?
“David saved Keilah from the Philistines, and then the LORD told him its men would deliver him up to Saul.”
Is that in 1 Samuel 23, or not? Make your call.
What's really going on
Into whose hand?
In Hebrew this chapter uses the word hand nine times (tap hand), and most of them ask one question: into whose hand will David fall? The LORD tells David, "I will deliver the Philistines into your hand" (23:4). Saul hears David is in Keilah and says, "God has delivered him into my hand, for he is shut in by entering into a town that has gates and bars" (23:7). David asks, "Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand?" (23:11). The Ziphites promise Saul, "our part will be to deliver him up into the king’s hand" (23:20). Against all of it the chapter sets one sentence: "Saul sought him every day, but God didn’t deliver him into his hand" (23:14). And when Saul's own son comes to David, he "strengthened his hand in God" (23:16).
Where it leads to Jesus
Sought, and not taken
1 Samuel 23:14leads toJohn 7:30
"Saul sought him every day, but God didn’t deliver him into his hand" (23:14). John says of Jesus in Jerusalem, "They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come" (John 7:30), and again, "Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come" (John 8:20). No New Testament passage cites 1 Samuel 23, so setting the two side by side is a reading. Some see the same thing in both: a man is sought and not taken, and the text gives the reason: "God didn’t deliver him" (23:14), and "his hour had not yet come" (John 7:30). Others read each in its own setting: David is kept from Saul, who "had come out to seek his life" (23:15), while John speaks of Jesus' hour, which did come, as John says: "Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father" (John 13:1).
Honest questions
Questions people ask about 1 Samuel 23
That was a taste
The rest of 1 Samuel 23 is waiting in Favor
- David asks, and the LORD answers
- Saved, and ready to hand him over
- "Strengthened his hand in God"
- The Ziphites, and a psalm
- Two sides of one mountain
- 9 questions as you read
- 12 more Hebrew words
- A short check at the end
- Your notes, saved as you go
Favor reads the Bible in order, so you'll reach 1 Samuel 23 with everything before it in view. First week free, then $10 a month per person.
The Hebrew word behind it
יָדyadsay YAD
Brown-Driver-Briggs: "hand", and "Fig. = strength, power". Strong's: "a hand". The chapter uses it nine times. Abiathar comes "with an ephod in his hand" (23:6). Most of the others ask into whose hand David will fall. The LORD: "I will deliver the Philistines into your hand" (23:4). Saul: "God has delivered him into my hand" (23:7). David: "Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand?" (23:11), and "into the hand of Saul?" (23:12). The chapter: "God didn’t deliver him into his hand" (23:14). Jonathan "strengthened his hand in God" (23:16) and said, "the hand of Saul my father won’t find you" (23:17). The Ziphites: "our part will be to deliver him up into the king’s hand" (23:20). In the next chapter the question turns around, and Saul says to David, "when the LORD had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill me" (24:18).
For your group
1 Samuel 23 Bible study questions
- 1David asked the LORD before he went to Keilah, and asked again when his men were afraid (23:2-4). What decision in front of you would you like to bring to God, and what keeps you from asking?
- 2Jonathan went to David in the woods and "strengthened his hand in God" (23:16). Who has done that for you, and who could you do it for this week?
- 3David saved Keilah, and the LORD told him its men would hand him over (23:5, 23:12). When people you have helped let you down, what do you do with it?
Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads 1 Samuel 23 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.
Start a Bible studyThe best way to learn the Bible
Favor opens up every chapter as you read.
Favor is a Bible study app for your phone or computer. It takes you through the Bible one chapter at a time, a few minutes a day, and shows you what's really there: the words behind the words, the moments most people miss, and how the whole story fits together. For you. For everyone.
Every chapter explains itself
As you read, short notes open up what's really going on, the details most readers walk past, and the honest questions people ask.
The Hebrew and Greek behind it
Tap a highlighted word to see the original, how to say it, and what it means, checked against the original-language texts.
Every page leads to Jesus
Watch promises made in Genesis kept in Jesus. Each line lights up on your map as you read.
Better together
Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together.
- 1
Start your free week
Sign up in a minute with your email.
- 2
Read a few minutes a day
Each chapter opens itself up as you go. Tap what you're curious about.
- 3
Bring your people, if you like
Send one link. Everyone reads the same chapter, then meets to talk.
First week free, then $10 a month per person
Questions
What is Favor?
Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.
How much does it cost?
Your first week is free. After that it's $10 a month per person, the same for everyone, including groups and churches. There are no tiers and nothing extra to unlock.
Can I read 1 Samuel 23 straight away?
Favor takes the Bible as one story, in order, so you'll reach 1 Samuel 23 with everything that leads up to it in view. Start from Genesis, or meet Jesus first in the Gospels. You can read the text of any chapter in Favor's Look up whenever you like.
Do I need a group?
No. Many people read on their own. If you'd like to read with others, start a Bible study and share one link. Everyone's answers stay private until you meet.
I've never really read the Bible. Is this for me?
Yes. Favor starts where you are and explains as it goes. The questions along the way aren't marked right or wrong: you answer, then see what the text shows.
Which Bible does Favor use?
The World English Bible, a modern, readable translation in the public domain. God's name appears as "the LORD", as in most English Bibles.
Is Favor tied to a church?
No. Favor is non-denominational. Where Christians read a passage differently, it shows the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
Start with 1 Samuel 23
The best way to learn the Bible. For you. For everyone.
There's a seat for you at the table.
Start your free weekFirst week free, then $10 a month per person · Log in
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home