1 Samuel 22:1-5·~1 min

David Flees to Adullam and Mizpeh

David takes refuge in the cave of Adullam, and his family comes down to him there. Other troubled and discontented people gather around him as well, and he becomes leader of about four hundred men.

S¹o David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. ²And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

David brings his parents to the king of Moab for protection while he waits to learn what God will do. When the prophet Gad tells him not to remain in the stronghold, he leaves and goes back into Judah.

³From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I learn what God will do for me.” ⁴So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold. ⁵Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

Section summaryDavid withdraws to Adullam, where his family and a band of distressed men gather to him, marking the first shape of life around him in exile. He then places his parents in Moab for safety until God’s will becomes clear, and at Gad’s word returns toward Judah.

Role in the chapterThis opening section establishes David as a hunted but gathering leader. It also places his movements under a waiting posture before God, so exile is shaped by both human need and prophetic direction.