“David fled and escaped, then came to Sh’mu’el in Ramah and told him everything Sha’ul had done to him. So he and Sh’mu’el went and stayed in the prophets’ dormitory. The news reached Sha’ul that David had been seen at the prophets’ dormitory in Ramah. Sha’ul sent messengers to capture David. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Sh’mu’el standing and leading them, the Spirit of God fell on Sha’ul’s messengers; and they too began prophesying.”-1 Samuel 19:18-20
So we’re told David fled to Ramah where Samuel lived and told him everything Saul had done to him.
David’s whereabouts didn’t remain a secret for long.
Saul soon found out where David was hiding and sent out men to hunt him down.
Now, were told that David and Samuel traveled to a place called NAIOTH.
That’s an interesting word.
Literally, it means “at the camps”.
So why the heck does the Complete Jewish Bible translate it to “at the prophet’s dormitory”?
The King James version simply says…
“And it was told Saul, saying,
Behold, David is at
Naioth in Ramah.“
And the NIV also just says…
“Word came to Saul:
‘David is in Naioth at Ramah.’
David H. Stern, the author of the Complete Jewish Bible, assumed there was some kind of housing settlement (like a dormitory) where Samuel’s flock of prophets lived.
Was he right?
I can’t say for sure, but what I do know is that NAIOTH was the proper name of a place…like Raleigh, North Carolina for example.
It makes good sense that David and Samuel left Ramah.
Why?
Because Ramah was located only a few hours away from Saul’s hometown of Gibeah.
Onward.
Once Saul’s men arrive to capture David, we’re told something mighty mysterious happened.
They arrive to find a bunch of prophets prophesying…
And then suddenly, some mysterious power overtakes Saul’s men and they too begin prophesying…
When Saul caught wind of this, he sent out another group of soldiers…and the same thing happened to them!
So Saul sends out a third group of men…and again the same thing happens.
Some mysterious invisible power overtakes the men, and they can’t help but begin prophesying too.
Finally, Saul has had it with this ridiculousness.
So he decides to head down to Naioth himself.
But on the way, we’re told the Spirit of God overtook him.
Not only did he start prophesying…
But we’re told he stripped off his clothes and lay down in front of Samuel prophesying all day and all night!!!
What in the world is going on here?
It kinda reminds me of Saul (his real Hebrew name is Saul or Shaul, NOT Paul by the way) being stopped on the road to Damascus by a mysterious power as if being struck by lightning.
So tomorrow I’ll give you the real and true Scripture-based answer that probably no Christian pastor, preacher, or teacher anywhere on planet Earth has a clue about…
But before I do that?
I’d love to hear your thoughts…
This would be a real test of how well you really, and I mean REALLY understand Scripture.
What do you think happened to Saul and his men here?
How would you explain it?
And make sure your answer is BASED ON THE TORAH!
Leave your thoughts in the comments!
Something like what happened to the prophet Bilam?
Stay tuned for the next post!
This reminds me of 2 Kings 1:10-12, when Elijah was told the king demands him to come but instead of going, Elijah calls for fire from heaven to destroy the troup of 50 men sent to bring him to the king. This happens another time, but the third time the commander is humble and asks Elijah to spare him and his men, and God tells Elijah it is safe for him to go with these men.
Here, now, the king sends men to hurt David, but God protects him, as he did Elijah, only this time instead of destroying the men, God sends them his spirit, and they begin to prophesize.
This happens twice, and the third time (when Shaul himself comes) he also starts to prophysize, (as the saying at that time went, “Is Shaul a Prophet, too?”).
God protected David (as he did Elijah) but this time in a less violent way.
Maybe that is why the CJB says it is a prophets’ dormitory, since everyone going there prophesied?