Chapter 3: The Cave of the Broken

David escaped from Gath and found refuge in the cave of Adullam, in the lowlands of Judah. When his brothers and his father's entire household heard where he was, they came down to him.

Then others began to arrive. Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul gathered around David. About four hundred men. These were people looking for someone who understood what that felt like. David became their commander.

But David's parents were old. They could not live as fugitives in a cave. So David traveled east, across the Dead Sea, to Mizpah of Moab. He went before the king of Moab and made a request.

DAVID“Please let my father and mother come and stay with you until I know what God will do for me.”— 1 Samuel 22:3

The king of Moab agreed. David's parents remained under his protection.

It is worth noting why David chose Moab. His great-grandmother was Ruth, a Moabite woman. There was a family connection to that land that went back generations.

David returned to the stronghold. But he did not stay long. A prophet named Gad came to him with a word from God.

GAD“Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.”— 1 Samuel 22:5

God was sending David back into the territory where Saul was hunting him. David obeyed. He left the stronghold and went to the forest of Hereth.