1-Samuel - 22:4



4 He brought them before the king of Moab; and they lived with him all the while that David was in the stronghold.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of 1-Samuel 22:4.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
And he left them under the eyes of the king of Moab, and they abode with him all the days that David was in the hold.
And he brought them before the king of Moab; and they abode with him all the while that David was in the stronghold.
and he leadeth them before the king of Moab, and they dwell with him all the days of David's being in the fortress.
And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelled with him all the while that David was in the hold.
And he took them to the king of Moab and they went on living with him while David was in his safe place.
And he left them before the face of the king of Moab. And they stayed with him for all the days that David was in the stronghold.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

He brought them before - The Septuagint renders it "he persuaded (the face of) the king."
In the hold - Where David was after he left the cave of Adullam, probably in the land of Moab.
The phrase "all the while," would indicate that David sojourned a considerable time in Moab.

And he (c) brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in (d) the hold.
(c) For he feared the rage of Saul against his house.
(d) That is, in Mizpeh, which was a stronghold.

And he brought them before the king of Moab,.... Having leave from him for it, and left them with him; so the Targum,"caused them to remain before him:"
and they dwelt with him all the whole time that David was in the hold; either in the cave of Adullam, as some think; or rather at Mizpeh in Moab, which might be a fortified place; or the sense may be, while he was in any hold in those parts, as he might go from one to another; what became of David's parents afterwards, we nowhere else read. The Jews (z) say the king of Moab slew his father and his mother, and his brethren, all but one, whom Nahash the Ammonite preserved; and is the kindness David speaks of, 2-Samuel 10:2; and if this was the case, now it was that his father and mother forsook him, and God took him up, Psalm 27:10.
(z) Bemnidbar Rabba, sect. 14. fol. 212. 1. Tanchuma apud Jarchium in loc.

Hold - In holds; the singular number being put for the plural; as is frequent; that is, as long as David was forced to go from place to place, and from hold to hold, to secure himself: for it concerned David to secure his father, and he did doubtless secure him for all that time; and not only while he was in the hold of Mizpeh, or of Adullam, which was but a little while.

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