Before David wore a crown, he hid in a cave. That is where his mighty men began.
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 (KJV)
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 (KJV)
Who Came to the Cave of Adullam?
David had fled from Saul, who was hunting him to kill him. To the cave came his brothers and his father's house, and then about four hundred men: men in distress, men in debt, men persecuted and hunted alongside David as Saul pursued him. David became their captain. From that band came warriors whose names stand in 2 Samuel 23.
From the PsalmsI cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.— Psalm 142:5 (KJV)
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.— Psalm 34:6 (KJV)
Where Was Adullam?
Adullam is listed among the cities of Judah in the lowland (Joshua 15:33–35). Scripture places David's cave near it but does not mark the exact spot, so we do not guess.
The Cave and the Water from Bethlehem
Later, in harvest time, three of the thirty chief came to David "unto the cave of Adullam" while the Philistines held Bethlehem (2 Samuel 23:13–14). From there came the water from the well of Bethlehem.
A Prayer from the Cave
The title of Psalm 142 reads "Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave." Psalm 57 is titled "when he fled from Saul in the cave."
I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.— Psalm 142:5 (KJV)
Read the whole story of how they became David's mighty men, and see how David himself was hunted by Saul.
41 bold coloring pages of King David's warriors, straight from 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11. Ages 5–99+. Paperback, $9.99. See inside the book.
Get the Coloring BookQuestions About David's Mighty Men
What happened at the cave of Adullam?
David escaped there from Saul. His family came to him, and about four hundred men who were in distress, in debt or discontented gathered to him, and he became their captain (1 Samuel 22:1–2).
Where is the cave of Adullam in the Bible?
1 Samuel 22:1 and 2 Samuel 23:13. Adullam was a city of Judah in the lowland (Joshua 15:33–35).
Which psalms did David write in the cave?
The titles of Psalm 57 and Psalm 142 connect them with David in the cave.
King David Bible Stories
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Meet the Mighty Men
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