1 Samuel 22:1-2

1 Samuel 22:1-2

[1] David  thence, and escaped  to the cave  Adullam:  and when his brethren  and all his father's  house  heard  it, they went down  [2] 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. 

What does 1 Samuel 22:1-2 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The town of Adullam (lit. refuge) stood a mile or two south of the Elah Valley, where David had slain Goliath, and about10 miles east-southeast of Gath. There are many huge caves in the limestone hills in that area, several of which can accommodate over400 people. Evidently David"s family was no longer safe from Saul in Bethlehem, which was10 miles east-northeast of Adullam.
"If Saul would attack his own family ( 1 Samuel 20:33), there was no telling what he might do to David"s." [1]
David now became the leader of a group of people who, for various reasons, had become discontented with Saul"s government. One cannot read 1 Samuel 22:2 without reflecting on how needy people later sought and now seek refuge in David"s greatest Song of Solomon , Jesus Christ. This growing movement of support behind David led eventually to his crowning as king of all Israel.