What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 22:4? So he left them • David personally escorts his parents from Judah to Moab. • Their removal honors Exodus 20:12—“Honor your father and your mother”—by shielding them from Saul’s wrath (1 Samuel 20:31; 22:17). • The move illustrates 1 Timothy 5:8, the duty to “provide for his own,” and foreshadows Jesus’ care for His mother while on the cross (John 19:26–27). in the care of the king of Moab • David entrusts his parents to a Gentile ruler, reflecting God’s ability to use unlikely allies (cf. 1 Kings 17:9; Acts 10:34–35). • Moab is not random: Ruth, David’s great-grandmother, was a Moabitess (Ruth 4:17–22). Family history may have opened this door of kindness. • Saul had fought Moab (1 Samuel 14:47); placing his parents there removes them from Saul’s reach and from Israelite political turmoil. and they stayed with him • “Stayed” signals ongoing protection, not a brief favor. The king’s hospitality endures, illustrating Proverbs 17:17—“a friend loves at all times.” • God often shelters His people through outsiders: think of Pharaoh’s daughter with Moses (Exodus 2:5–10) or Rahab with the spies (Joshua 2:1–14). • The arrangement displays covenant faithfulness; though Moabites were once Israel’s foes, here a Moabite king becomes a refuge (Deuteronomy 10:18). the whole time David was in the stronghold • David lived in “the stronghold” (likely Adullam, 1 Samuel 22:1; later the wilderness strongholds, 23:14) until God directed otherwise (22:5). • While David endured hardship, God kept his parents safe—Psalm 18:2 comes alive: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.” • The phrase underscores God’s timing: their stay lasted exactly as long as David’s danger persisted, echoing Ecclesiastes 3:1—“a time for every purpose.” summary 1 Samuel 22:4 records a literal, historical act of filial love and strategic wisdom. David honors his parents, trusts God’s provision through a Moabite ally, and ensures their safety while he hides in strongholds. The verse highlights God’s faithful protection, the believer’s duty to family, and the sovereign use of unexpected channels to accomplish divine care. |
    |