1 Samuel 23:28
New International Version
Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.

New Living Translation
So Saul quit chasing David and returned to fight the Philistines. Ever since that time, the place where David was camped has been called the Rock of Escape.

English Standard Version
So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.

Berean Standard Bible
So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth.

King James Bible
Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.

New King James Version
Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape.

New American Standard Bible
So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Division.

NASB 1995
So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape.

NASB 1977
So Saul returned from pursuing David, and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape.

Amplified Bible
So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape.

Christian Standard Bible
So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to engage the Philistines. Therefore, that place was named the Rock of Separation.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to engage the Philistines. Therefore, that place was named the Rock of Separation.

American Standard Version
So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.

Contemporary English Version
Saul stopped going after David and went back to fight the Philistines. That's why the place is called "Escape Rock."

English Revised Version
So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Saul gave up pursuing David and went to fight the Philistines. So that place was called Slippery Rock.

Good News Translation
So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to fight the Philistines. That is why that place is called Separation Hill.

International Standard Version
So Saul turned around from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines. Therefore, they call that place the Rock of Escape.

Majority Standard Bible
So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth.

NET Bible
So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines. Therefore that place is called Sela Hammahlekoth.

New Heart English Bible
So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place Rock of Divisions.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammah-lekoth.

World English Bible
So Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place Sela Hammahlekoth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Saul turns back from pursuing after David, and goes to meet the Philistines, therefore they have called that place “The Rock of Divisions.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul turneth back from pursuing after David, and goeth to meet the Philistines, therefore they have called that place 'The Rock of Divisions.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will turn back from pursuing after David, and he will go to meet the rovers: for this they called that place the Rock of Escapes.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore Saul returned, leaving the pursuit of David, and went to meet the Philistines. For this cause they called that place, the Rock of division.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, Saul turned back, ceasing in the pursuit of David, and he traveled to meet the Philistines. For this reason, they called that place, the Rock of Division.

New American Bible
Saul interrupted his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. This is how that place came to be called the Rock of Divisions.

New Revised Standard Version
So Saul stopped pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; therefore they called that land the Division of Sinar.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul returned from after David, and he went on to meet the Philistines, because of this, they called that land Senar Palgutha
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines; therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
So Saul returned from following after David, and went to meet the Philistines: therefore that place was called The divided Rock.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Saul Pursues David
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. 29And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En-gedi.…

Cross References
Psalm 18:17
He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from foes too mighty for me.

Psalm 54:3-7
For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life—men with no regard for God. Selah / Surely God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul. / He will reward my enemies with evil. In Your faithfulness, destroy them. ...

Psalm 124:7
We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; the net is torn, and we have slipped away.

2 Samuel 22:1
And David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

2 Samuel 5:17-25
When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold. / Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. / So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.” ...

2 Kings 6:8-12
Now the king of Aram was at war against Israel. After consulting with his servants, he said, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” / Then the man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful not to pass by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.” / So the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had pointed out. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. ...

2 Kings 19:9
Now Sennacherib had been warned about Tirhakah king of Cush: “Look, he has set out to fight against you.” So Sennacherib again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,

Psalm 31:8
You have not delivered me to the enemy; You have set my feet in the open.

Psalm 59:1-4
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise against me. / Deliver me from workers of iniquity, and save me from men of bloodshed. / See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD. ...

Psalm 142:6
Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.

Psalm 143:9
Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD; I flee to You for refuge.

Matthew 2:13
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”

Matthew 4:12
When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee.

Matthew 10:23
When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Luke 4:29-30
They got up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff. / But Jesus passed through the crowd and went on His way.


Treasury of Scripture

Why Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.

Sela-hammahlekoth.

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David Divisions Escape Meet Philistines Pursuing Pursuit Rock Saul Sela Turneth Turning Wherefore
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David Divisions Escape Meet Philistines Pursuing Pursuit Rock Saul Sela Turneth Turning Wherefore
1 Samuel 23
1. David, enquiring of the Lord by Abiathar, rescues Keilah
7. God showing him the coming of Saul, and the treachery of the Keilites,
13. he escapes from Keilah
14. In Ziph Jonathan comes and comforts him
19. The Ziphites discover him to Saul
25. At Maon he is rescued from Saul by the invasion of the Philistines
29. He dwells at En Gedi














So Saul broke off his pursuit of David
The phrase "broke off" in Hebrew is "שָׁב" (shav), which means to turn back or desist. This action signifies a pivotal moment in the narrative where Saul, who has been relentlessly pursuing David, is forced to abandon his chase. Historically, this reflects the divine protection over David, as God intervenes through external circumstances to preserve His anointed. Saul's pursuit represents the ongoing struggle between the king's jealousy and God's sovereign plan for David's future kingship.

and went to meet the Philistines
The Philistines were a constant threat to Israel during Saul's reign, often engaging in battles with the Israelites. This phrase indicates a sudden shift in Saul's priorities, as he is compelled to address the immediate threat posed by the Philistines. Theologically, this can be seen as God's providence, using the Philistines to divert Saul's attention away from David. It underscores the theme of divine intervention, where God orchestrates events to fulfill His purposes, even using Israel's enemies to protect His chosen servant.

That is why they called that place the Rock of Escape
The "Rock of Escape" in Hebrew is "סֶלַע הַמַּחְלְקוֹת" (Sela Hammahlekoth). The naming of this place serves as a memorial to God's deliverance of David from Saul's hand. In biblical times, naming locations after significant events was a common practice, serving as a testament to God's faithfulness and intervention. This rock becomes a symbol of refuge and divine protection, reminding future generations of God's ability to save and provide a way of escape for those who trust in Him. Theologically, it points to the ultimate Rock, Christ, who is our refuge and deliverer.

(28) Sela-hammahlekoth.--Literally, as in the margin of our Bibles, the rock (or, still better, the cliff) of divisions. Other scholars, with greater reason, prefer the derivation from a Hebrew word signifying to be smooth--the cliff of smoothness: that is, of slipping away or escaping. Ewald rather fancifully interprets the term as the "Cliff of Destiny or of Fate."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Saul
שָׁא֗וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

broke off
וַיָּ֣שָׁב (way·yā·šāḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

his pursuit
מִרְדֹף֙ (mir·ḏōp̄)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute

of David
דָוִ֔ד (ḏā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

and went
וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (way·yê·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

to meet
לִקְרַ֣את (liq·raṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7122: To encounter, befall

the Philistines.
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (pə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

That is why
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

that
הַה֔וּא (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

place
לַמָּק֣וֹם (lam·mā·qō·wm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

is called
קָֽרְאוּ֙ (qā·rə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

the Rock of Escape.
הַֽמַּחְלְקֽוֹת׃ (ham·maḥ·lə·qō·wṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5555: Sela-ham-Machlekoth


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OT History: 1 Samuel 23:28 So Saul returned from pursuing after David (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 23:27
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