Escaped to the Cave Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1-5; Psalm 57:1-11)
2026-01-17
Review
Previously, we saw David at a low point, seeking asylum at Gath, the hometown of Goliath, whom he slew. Before king Achish, the weary fugitive faked insanity to either save his own life or to find pity in the eyes of the king. The Philistine would not have it, so David left. At that point, we see that he found refuge in the LORD and learned a lot about God’s faithfulness and the need to trust in Him, as described in Psalm 34:1-22. We pick up the story here, in 1 Samuel 22:1-5.
Family Reunion
David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him. (1 Samuel 22:1)
After much trial, we see David escaped to this cave called Adullam. His family came down from Bethlehem to see him. When going through harrowing times, anyone would want family and friends there to support them.
His brethren, if taken at face value, would be his immediate household that grew up with him. The phrase “all his father’s house” refers to anyone descended from his father Jesse at a minimum, though “father” could refer to any ancestor.
Those three older brothers that were in the army and were there when David killed Goliath may have been there. The sons of his sister Zeruiah likely joined him there, the famous brothers Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Perhaps Amasa also, who became Absalom’s general, and later David’s general who briefly held the office in lieu of Joab, may have been one also:
And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, (14) Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, (15) Ozem the sixth, David the seventh: (16) Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three. (17) And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmeelite. (1 Chronicles 2:13-17)
We see that when his father’s house came down to him, these stayed with him. Perhaps this nephew did as well: “And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him” (2 Samuel 21:20-21).
Was David alone before this? How do you think he responded when his family came to him? David was likely not completely alone up to this point as implied here: “And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women” (1 Samuel 21:4). However, he was likely a small group then. From here, we see that his group grew, and he likely was greatly encouraged by this. Having others that support you makes challenges easier.
Four Hundred Men
And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. (1 Samuel 22:2)
Here, we see that others also joined them. People who wanted a better life because their current life was miserable came out. They were looking for a regime change, and David as king was their ticket to a better life. How does this relate to us? We also look for another king from heaven, and the life He offers is eternal.
Some of these may not have been the best of men. Concerning the spoil of Ziklag, we see this: “Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart” (1 Samuel 30:22). We see that some of his company were “wicked men and men of Belial.” These were reprobate types that were along for the ride and did not care about the Lord.
How about today? There are people in church to get what they want and are just along for the ride, or worse. These are spoken of by Jude in his epistle. There are tares in with the wheat. Paul warned of wolves coming in as well to the Ephesian elders.
Later, we see that his band grows: “Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth” (1 Samuel 23:13).
If you consider these men among David’s kin and companions, these were brave and able soldiers. While greatly outnumbered by Saul’s men, having these men with him would have been an encouragement from the LORD.
Being around others helps your condition. Recall that Elijah the prophet ran to Horeb, being alone, and thinking he was the last of the believers in Israel. But God told him, “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18). Sure enough, Elijah found the group that the Scriptures call “the sons of the prophets” and remained with them until he was taken up to heaven.
David’s Parents and the King of Moab
And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. (4) And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold. (1 Samuel 22:3-4)
David was friendly with the king of Moab at this point. This will not always be the case; when he becomes king, we see: “And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts” (2 Samuel 8:2).
Whatever the case, David found favor in the eyes of the Moabite king, and his father Jesse and his mother could remain with the king while he was on the run.
David had a great rapport because of his fame under the service of Saul, in part which led to having the respect of this foreign leader. Learning from the previous encounter with a foreign leader, Achish king of Gath, He had better confidence in the LORD to appear before this king.
Why would it matter for his parents to go with this pagan king? Why couldn’t David’s family all stay home in Bethlehem? They likely all had a target on them because of their relation to David. The younger men of the family could hide with their brother, but his parents were likely elderly (David was the youngest of the sons, likely born an “uncle” given his name’s meaning, so Jesse was likely an old grandpa), and Saul could target them. David ensured his parents were provided for. “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8).
The “hold” is where David stayed for this season. It translates also as fort, fortress and castle, but this is likely a natural stronghold that consists of the cave and perhaps other rock structures. The word is used also in this capacity:
Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? (28) She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. (29) From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. (30) Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she. (Job 39:27-30)
The phrase “strong place” is the same word as “hold” here. This is some natural fortification that the eagle and her eaglets can be naturally protected while seeking prey from afar.
David will later use this place as a stronghold when in battle against enemy forces: “And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim” (2 Samuel 23:13).
Moving On
And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth. (1 Samuel 22:5)
Among the people that joined David was this prophet Gad, who will remain with David throughout his reign. This prophet would be the one who would relay to David which punishment he wanted for taking the unauthorized census: “For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee” (2 Samuel 24:11-12). Gad likely was a great encouragement in making decisions when fleeing from Saul.
From there, David moved to Judah, following the advice of Gad, to the forest of Hareth. The name Hareth is not mentioned anywhere else in the Scriptures. We see that though he was there a short time, Adullam was a place where David could recover, receive encouragement, and plan for the future with a large band of men.
Be Thou Exalted, O God, Above the Heavens
Like many of his other experiences, David recorded about this experience in Psalm 57:1-11. The refrain in this psalm is “Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth” (Psalm 57:5, 11; there is a slight punctuation difference between the two verses). Let us see how David praises the LORD in this psalm.
First, the title is where we can tie this psalm to the historical event of David in the cave: “To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.” This song was written and given to this “chief Musician.” Elsewhere, we see this term used as an administrative term for someone appointed to tasks or to oversight of something. For example, concerning David’s appointment of the Levites, we read, “Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges” (1 Chronicles 23:4). It also translates as “chief singer” in Habakkuk 3:19.
Music was not taken lightly with David. We know he played the harp well, as he played for his master when distressed by a spirit. When the ark of the covenant was to be brought from Obededom’s house, David commanded the Levites to appoint singers and musicians to accompany them:
So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. (15) And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD. (16) And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. (17) So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah (1 Chronicles 15:14-17)
These men are all seen later as critical parts of worship: “Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals” (1 Chronicles 25:1). After enumerating these men’s sons, we read: “All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king’s order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman” (1 Chronicles 25:6).
One of these was perhaps the chief musician (1 Chronicles 16:5 says, “Asaph the chief”). We discover later that these men were human authors of some of the psalms.
“Altaschith” means “do not destroy” or “do not corrupt.” Some have suggested that this is a reference to a preexisting tune that the song should be sung to. The next two psalms and Psalm 75 all have this designation.
“Michtam” is a poem and is also connected to a marking or engraving, “For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD” (Jeremiah 2:22). It may be that this was a poem and later set to the tune of the “Altaschith.” We do not want to discard the idea that “Altaschith” or “do not destroy” is also a part of David’s prayer, though the psalm evokes much confidence in the LORD, and not as much fear of His discipline.
This is a lament psalm. Lament psalms typically have something like an introduction to the problem, a confession of trust, a plea for help, and a vow of praise. This psalm has some of these traits.
When we get to this psalm, as opposed to the Psalm 34:1-22, there is an air of a David who is more confident in the Lord and resting in Him. This makes sense; we saw David’s lessons learned in Psalm 34, and here we see David boldly and confidently trusting that the LORD has both seen Him through and will continue to see Him through.
In the Shadow of Thy Wings Will I Make My Refuge
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. (2) I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. (3) He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. (Psalm 57:1-3)
David twice petitioned the LORD to be merciful to Him. He is in a cave where there is some appearance of peace at that moment. He knew He needed the grace of God, for someone could discover Him in this natural fortress of Adullam at any time. This man of Bethlehem asked for this grace, but he also confessed his confidence and dependence on him.
Moreover, we see that David said, “in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.” His confidence is not in the cave or in any physical structure. That would be a false sense of security. That does not mean that he discarded the notion of immediate physical security; he hid himself, but his main confidence was in the LORD.
How do we exhibit confidence in the LORD yet take reasonable, practical precautions? We lock our houses and cars, but our primary trust is in the LORD to watch over us. We acknowledge that any physical security that exists came from the LORD.
Shadow of thy wings. This metaphor is used elsewhere as describing the LORD’s protection. We are hidden there: “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about” (Psalm 17:8-9). Any enemy of God cannot touch us there in the shadow of His wings; the unholy cannot penetrate the holiness of God, where He hides us when we trust in Him.
This is not to say that “bad things don’t happen when we abide in Him.” David had horrible things happen to him as he wrote these words. We may suffer physical harm in this life, but spiritually, while abiding in Him, we are always retained.
There is also provision in the shadow of the LORD’s wings:
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. (7) How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. (8) They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. (Psalm 36:6-8)
Dependence on the LORD leads to the fulfillment of our physical and spiritual needs.
There is rejoicing in the shadow of the LORD’s wings: “Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me” (Psalm 63:7-8). The LORD helps us and gives us joy because of His goodness.
When can we really leave this majestic shadow of wings? “until these calamities be overpast.” When are the calamities overpast? Not this side of heaven. That it is why it is a dangerous thing to leave this mighty fortress of our God. Outside His protection is the land of the enemy and the land of uncertainty. Every moment is important in counting on the LORD. We cannot step a toe outside of his shadow.
Therefore, the fugitive “will cry unto God most high.” Knowing that God is His fortress, David kept coming back to God. Recall that names are important. We cry out to “God most high” (El Elyon). If He is Most High, there is none higher.
In what ways is God the Most High? He is higher by proximity, He is higher in power, He is higher in majesty, He is higher in everything desirable and good. If there is none higher, why do we depend on other things? If He is most high, then we must commit ourselves to Him only. A little lower than the Most High is infinitely low.
Performs all things. Why else cry out to the Most High? “God that performeth all things for me.” What is included in “all things”? The hint is in the word “all”! Whether it be salvation or earthly provision, whether it be the mundane task or the direst event, everything is in the Most High’s power. To go do our own thing is to fight against the Most High. Let God have His own way. Whatever He has for me, I follow His lead over the mountain and down in the valley, to the highest heaven and down in the sea. He leads, and we must follow. Everything else is rebellion.
What does David trust the LORD to perform for Him? For God to “save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up.” Who would that be? Saul, the son of Kish, who spent all his time chasing David, a non-enemy. God “shall send from heaven” because He is the Most High, but He also minds everything far below. Perhaps he sends the Angel of the LORD here, just like we saw in Psalm 34:7.
Selah. A term that is likely a musical term for a pause, or a “rest.” It is from another word that means “valued” as in weight of gold or “trodden down” as one does to an enemy. Perhaps we could see it this way: stop everything and put everything down, stop the music and consider what we said.
This could be a musical term, but perhaps this is a time to stop and reflect on what was said. The reason why David is in this cave away from home is because of the king. He is the reason why David is writing all this down right now. There is an enemy, Saul, and the hero of the story, God, will come and save him from the enemy.
His mercy and his truth. David shall receive “mercy.” Unlike the word “merciful” in Psalm 57:1, here is the word for “lovingkindness.” This is God’s undying loyal covenantal love He has for His people. It is certain, and God will provide it. The LORD also will send His truth. David shall be absolved of all the false guilt placed upon him by his master.
My Soul is Among Lions
My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. (5) Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth. (6) They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah. (Psalm 57:4-6)
When David speaks of “My soul,” he could just say “myself.” But the soul is also his innermost life and what is most precious to us, the self-conscious: “Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog” (Psalm 22:20). Recall the threefold part of a human being in Christian anthropology: the spirit is the God-conscious, the soul is the self-conscious, and the body is the world-conscious part of us. The soul is what makes us who we are as individuals and personalities.
David’s soul is threatened by “lions.” The previous verse spoke of a single person who was to swallow him up. However, Saul had thousands of men with him pursuing him. Many others of his countrymen were also tipping the king off as to his whereabouts constantly. These were the lions.
What does the metaphor of lions tell us of the nature of these men pursuing David? “And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den” (Daniel 6:24). These people were thrown to the lions and were destroyed in midair by the hungry beasts. It was quick and merciless. Since this is an accurate portrayal of lions, we can get the picture of what these men would do to David. These men are also seen as consuming fire that would destroy him.
Not only do these men want to kill David, they also slandered and threatened with words: “whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.” These are “sons of men,” human beings that want to do evil, which is are set against the eternal God from heaven. Our refrain says, “Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.” Lord, he says, these are mortal men, but Your Majesty is exalted. Let God’s will be done, and these evil men’s ways be thwarted.
God is exalted above both heaven and earth, as we saw previously, since God is the Most High. In a previous study, we saw His glory, which includes His holiness, honor, splendor, and magnificence, in Isaiah 6. The glory of the LORD transcends all heaven and earth and is higher than both. It is our place to praise God for this.
Returning to these men who sought David’s life, they looked for ways to get David to stumble. Recall that evil men also sought ways for Jesus to get tripped up in His speech: “Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk” (Matthew 22:15). Such men did the same to David.
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. (12) Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up. (1 Samuel 23:8-12)
Saul heard that David was trapped in Keilah and likely knew that the men of the city would surrender him. Whatever the men of Saul would do, David knew that they would fall in their own traps.
David’s “soul is bowed down.” What does this mean? Elsewhere, we read:
Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever. (24) Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression? (25) For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth. (26) Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake. (Psalm 44:23-26)
Previously, we saw that “I lie even among them that are set on fire” (Psalm 57:4). Note the word “lie.” Perhaps this means that he was pondering these things while lying down attempting to sleep. The LORD can cause rest amid turmoil. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over” (Psalm 23:5).
However, it could mean that he is hiding in tight quarters in a small section of this cave. He was likely physically and emotionally pressed to the ground. He needed divine deliverance from this predicament. Despite His trust, he was hurting amid this trust.
My Heart Is Fixed
My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. (8) Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. (9) I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. (10) For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. (11) Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth. (Psalm 57:7-11)
Before this point, we saw David confess his struggles and his trust to the LORD. Now, we enter the “vow of praise” section of the psalm. In this case, David confessed his steadfast loyalty to the LORD as well as his promise to credit God for his deliverance once he got through this ordeal.
He repeated that his “heart is fixed.” Regardless of the hopelessness of his circumstances from a human point of view, He chose to praise the Lord. “God that performeth all things for me” (Psalm 57:2). He will wake up early and with music He will praise Him. We see again the importance of music in worship.
When he was free from Saul and made king, David vowed to praise the LORD “among the people” and “among the nations.” What is the difference? The first deals with his own countrymen; the second refers to the Gentiles. The order is important and prophetic. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
When we get through ordeals, share the faithfulness of God to others. God got me through the many woes. Some were circumstances. Some were sins. Whatever it might be, the LORD saw me through it in His patience and power. We bring those praises to both the congregation and to the people out in the world.
Again, we see mercy and truth paired together, as in Psalm 57:3. There, God speaks of His mercy and truth coming from heaven in the future: “God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.” Now, we see that God’s truth and mercy in its ever-present state: “For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds” (Psalm 57:10).
The source of mercy and truth is from the Most High alone. God is so high above us, but He considers us here, way below Him. His mercy and truth are always with us. The final verse is a restatement Psalm 57:5, solidifying this truth.
Conclusions
David recounted God’s goodness to him while lying in the cave. Support from his family and disenfranchised men brought him encouragement, and the help from the Moabite king taking in his parents, were answers to deep felt needs. However, whatever the case, David alluded to little of those specifics in the psalm and focused on the goodness of God.
From an eternal and practical perspective, we do not need to focus on the specifics of David’s problems. The psalm speaks to us whenever we are sought by enemies and trials and want to be reminded of God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises and His power amid our infirmity.