Lexical Summary Chereth: Cherethite Original Word: חֶרֶת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hereth From charath (but equivalent to choresh); forest; Chereth, a thicket in Palestine -- Hereth. see HEBREW charath see HEBREW choresh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom charath Definition a forest in Judah NASB Translation Hereth (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [חֶרֶת] proper name, of a location, only in יַעַר חָ֫רֶת 1 Samuel 22:5. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Hereth was a wooded area in the tribal territory of Judah, south-west of Bethlehem and reasonably close to the lowland city of Keilah (compare 1 Samuel 23:1). The terrain belongs to the Judean Shephelah, a zone of rolling hills once covered by broadleaf oak and terebinth. The density of that woodland supplied excellent concealment for fugitives, herds, and military detachments, making the site an ideal refuge for David as he eluded Saul. Although the precise location is uncertain, archaeological surveyors have proposed the vicinity of modern Khureitûn, not far from the cave of Adullam, as a plausible candidate. Place in the Davidic Narrative David’s stay in the Forest of Hereth marks an important waypoint between the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1–2) and his subsequent rescue of Keilah (1 Samuel 23:1–5). After gathering his family and a band of distressed followers, David escorted his parents to Moab for safety. It is at this juncture that “the prophet Gad said to David, ‘Do not stay in the stronghold; depart and return to the land of Judah.’ So David left and went to the Forest of Hereth” (1 Samuel 22:5). Thus Hereth becomes the first site to which David moves in direct obedience to prophetic counsel rather than mere strategic necessity. Role of the Prophet Gad The relocation underscores Gad’s emerging ministry as David’s personal prophet. Gad’s instruction to leave the perceived security of Moab for the uncertainty of Judah required faith. The subsequent deliverance of Keilah and the narrowing of Saul’s pursuit demonstrate that Hereth was both a proving ground for David’s trust and a staging ground for service to his own tribe. Gad’s guidance foreshadows the way Nathan will later correct and confirm David once he is king, establishing a pattern of prophetic accountability for rulers in Israel (2 Samuel 12:1–15). Theological Themes 1. Divine Protection amid Obedience: David’s willingness to exchange a “stronghold” for a forest manifests confidence that God Himself is the true fortress (Psalm 18:2). Hereth symbolizes that lesson. Historical and Archaeological Notes • Contemporary Egyptian and Assyrian records attest that much of Judah retained heavy forest cover into the early Iron Age, consistent with the description of Hereth as a “forest.” Spiritual and Ministry Applications • Respond quickly to God’s word, even when it directs you away from human security. Related Passages for Reflection 1 Samuel 21–23; Psalm 34; Psalm 57; 1 Chronicles 21:9; Luke 5:16. Summary Hereth is more than an obscure woodland; it represents the juncture where David’s faith matured from survival tactics to prophetic obedience. Its single biblical mention highlights the sovereignty of God in guiding His chosen servant, the formative power of hidden places, and the necessity of trusting divine direction over apparent safety. Forms and Transliterations חָֽרֶת׃ חרת׃ Charet ḥā·reṯ ḥāreṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 22:5 HEB: וַיָּבֹ֖א יַ֥עַר חָֽרֶת׃ ס NAS: and went into the forest of Hereth. KJV: and came into the forest of Hareth. INT: and went the forest of Hereth |
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