1 Samuel 23:22 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 23:22 mean?

1 Samuel 23:22 shows Saul instructing his men to carefully find out exactly where David is hiding, urging them to be thorough because David is known for being clever and elusive. Saul wants detailed information about David’s movements and who has seen him, since he has heard that David is very crafty.

In this scene, Saul is speaking to the Ziphites, people from the area where David is hiding. Saul is desperate to capture David, who is fleeing for his life, so he asks the Ziphites to investigate David’s exact location and habits. The verse highlights Saul’s frustration and suspicion, as well as David’s reputation for being resourceful and hard to catch.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 23:22

• "Haunt" (רֶגֶל, regel): This word literally means "foot" or "step," but here it refers to the places where David regularly goes or his usual paths. Saul is asking for specifics about David’s routines, not just a general location.
• "Very subtilly" (עָרוּם, arum): This word means "shrewd" or "clever." Saul is emphasizing that David is not just hiding, but doing so with great skill and cunning, making him difficult to track.

Why 1 Samuel 23:22 matters

• The verse shows Saul’s growing obsession and the lengths he is willing to go to capture David, even enlisting local people to spy on him.
• The use of words like "haunt" and "very subtilly" highlights David’s resourcefulness and the challenge he poses to Saul’s authority.
• This moment sets the stage for the ongoing cat-and-mouse dynamic between Saul and David, which is a key theme in this part of 1 Samuel.