1 Samuel 23:8 kjv — And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

King James Version

"And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men."

— 1 Samuel 23:8, King James Version

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1 Samuel 23:8 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 23 — Context

5

So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6

And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

7

And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

8

And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

9

And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.

10

Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

11

Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.

1 Samuel 23:8 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 23:8 say?
1 Samuel 23:8 in the King James Version reads: “And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.”
Where is 1 Samuel 23:8 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 23:8 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 23, verse 8.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 23:8.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 23:8 in?
1 Samuel 23:8 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 23:8?
1 Samuel 23:8 reads (KJV): “And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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