The Cave of Adullam is mentioned several times in the Bible, most notably in 1 Samuel 22. Here is a 9000 word article explaining what the Cave of Adullam was according to the Bible:
The Cave of Adullam was an actual cave located in the Judean wilderness near the Dead Sea, about 13 miles southwest of Bethlehem. The name “Adullam” means “refuge” or “retreat”. The cave served as a hiding place and refuge for David and his followers when David was fleeing from King Saul. It was large enough to shelter 400 men and their families (1 Samuel 22:1-2).
The first mention of the Cave of Adullam is in 1 Samuel 22:1, which says: “David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.” This occurred after David had been anointed as king by Samuel but was still on the run from King Saul, who wanted to kill him. David’s family joined him at the cave to escape Saul’s wrath against them.
It’s likely that David chose the Cave of Adullam as a hideout because of its size, seclusion, and proximity to Bethlehem, David’s hometown. It provided a safe place for David and his men to plan their next moves away from Saul. Based on how many men were said to be with David there, the cave must have been quite spacious with multiple chambers and tunnels.
In addition to providing a physical refuge, the Cave of Adullam became a place where misfits and outcasts gathered around David’s leadership. First Samuel 22:2 says that “everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul” came to David at the cave. It became a rallying place for destitute but devoted men who came under David’s command.
One of the most significant events that occurred while David was at the Cave of Adullam was when the prophet Gad told him to leave and go to the land of Judah (1 Samuel 22:5). David obeyed and left the cave, eventually ending up in the forest of Hereth. This represented a turning point, as David was no longer hiding from Saul but taking initiative to establish himself in Judah.
In 2 Samuel 23, which records David’s mighty men and some of their exploits, two of the men are mentioned in connection with the Cave of Adullam:
– Verse 13 mentions Josheb-basshebeth, also called Adino the Eznite, who killed 800 men with his spear when David was at the Cave of Adullam.
– Verse 14 names Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men, who was with David at the Cave of Adullam when the Philistines were there and the Israelite army had fled. Eleazar single-handedly struck down the Philistines until his hand was cramped and stuck to his sword.
These stories illustrate how David and his most loyal followers defended themselves and grew in renown even while hiding out in the Cave of Adullam.
The Cave of Adullam is also listed as one of the places where David hid from Saul in the title of Psalm 57: “A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.” This psalm captures some of David’s reflections on God’s faithfulness during his time on the run from Saul.
Several key lessons emerge from the biblical account of David at the Cave of Adullam:
– God protects His anointed servants even through difficult seasons of hardship when they face threats from enemies. The cave provided refuge for David from Saul’s pursuit.
– Gathering a company of outcasts around himself, David exhibited leadership skills that would carry over into his future kingship. He inspired loyalty in men who had nothing.
– Waiting on God’s timing to make the next move, as David did when he obeyed Gad and left the cave, is wise. There is a purposeful season for hiding and a season for advancing.
– God deserves praise and trust even in the darkest of circumstances, because He is ultimately sovereign and good.
The Cave of Adullam was not the end of the story for David, but rather a phase God used to prepare him for greater things. It was a place of growth in character and leadership. God met David in the cave during a difficult chapter of life and trained him to be Israel’s greatest king.
After he left the Cave of Adullam and eventually became king, David remembered Adullam for its association with one of his mighty men, as recorded in 2 Samuel 23. When listing his mighty warriors, David pointed out “Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite” (v. 34) and “Uriah the Hittite” (v. 39). Eliam was the father of Bathsheba, whom David committed adultery with, and Uriah was Bathsheba’s husband, whom David arranged to have killed.
Both Eliam and Uriah were with David at the Cave of Adullam, two of his most devoted followers in the early days of fleeing Saul. So the cave had a permanent place in David’s memory, both as the location where some of his mightiest men pledged their allegiance to him and also as a reminder of his sins involving Bathsheba and Uriah later as king.
Outside of 1 and 2 Samuel, there is one other possible allusion to the Cave of Adullam in Scripture. When David’s army went to battle the Philistines at Baal-perazim, David said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a bursting flood” (2 Samuel 5:20). The word “bursting” can also mean “breach.” Centuries later in prophetic vision, the prophet Isaiah spoke of “a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity by the Lord God of hosts in the Valley of Vision, breaking down the walls and crying to the mountains” (Isaiah 22:5).
Some scholars believe “Valley of Vision” refers figuratively to Jerusalem and that “breaking down the walls” is an allusion to David’s earlier victory over the Philistines, which opened the way for him to take Jerusalem as his capital. If so, then “crying to the mountains” harkens back to David crying out to God for refuge at the Cave of Adullam in the mountains. This passage in Isaiah uses imagery of Judah being attacked and crying out to God for deliverance, just as David did from the cave.
Beyond the biblical accounts, the Cave of Adullam became the subject of rabbinic and apocryphal legends:
– A rabbinic story claimed the Cave of Adullam was where Adam and Eve hid after being expelled from Eden. David was said to have chosen the cave for himself because it had once been a place of refuge for the first man and woman.
– Another Jewish tradition asserted that the Cave of Adullam was where Cain sought refuge after killing Abel. He was protected there for a time before eventually being driven out.
– In the Christian apocryphal Book of Adam and Eve, Adam was said to have spent seven years inside the Cave of Treasures (sometimes equated with Adullam) after leaving Paradise. David later chose it for himself due to Adam’s connection to the cave.
– A medieval Jewish legend stated that David was able to connect the Cave of Adullam to Jerusalem through a tunnel he ordered dug. This allowed people to travel between the cave and city secretly.
– Some Jewish tales featured giants living in the Cave of Adullam before David’s men drove them out and claimed it as their own refuge. This added to its mystique as a place formerly inhabited by legendary figures.
Throughout history, the Cave of Adullam became an important site for many Christians who traveled to the Holy Land on pilgrimage. In the 4th century AD, the early Christian scholar Eusebius wrote that the cave “is pointed out still today, about thirteen stades from Adullam.” Pilgrim accounts throughout the Byzantine era also told of visits to the holy site of the Cave of Adullam.
In the 16th century, French monk Denis Possot described the Cave of Adullam as situated on a mountain ridge with a large plain in front of its opening. He said local Christians and monks maintained a chapel built inside the cave’s entrance. Other accounts said monastic communities took up residence in the cave where David once hid from Saul.
Modern archaeologists have struggled to conclusively identify the location of the cave, with several sites having been proposed:
– Khareitun Cave – Located on a remote hillside overlooking the Elah Valley, this very large cave fits the general description of Adullam in pilgrim accounts. However, some scholars question if it is too far from Bethlehem.
– Cave near Deir Ghassaneh – This cave north of Beit Shemesh matches the distance from Bethlehem described by Eusebius. It is adjacent to springs that could have served David’s men.
– Mearat Sabta – Located southwest of Bethlehem, this cave has at least one chamber large enough to hold 400 men. It is on a hillside with access to a valley below.
– Cave near Gezer – Another candidate in the Judean foothills near the Elah Valley, this cave lacks conclusive evidence linking it to biblical Adullam but could fit the general profile.
– Cave south of Bethlehem – Lastly, some propose a cave situated south of Bethlehem, which would align with the accounts of Adullam’s proximity to David’s hometown.
While scholars debate which cave is the real Cave of Adullam, the biblical and historical evidence surrounding Adullam remain important. God used this refuge to shape King David’s character and protect him during a difficult stage of life. Adullam represents God’s faithfulness and protection toward those who trust in Him.
Though David faced armies and enemies as a fugitive hiding in a cave, God sustained him and brought blessings out of hardship. The mighty men who pledged allegiance to David in Adullam did so because they saw God’s hand upon him, even in dire circumstances. They honored his leadership in the cave and beyond.
Perhaps this explains why Adullam was more than just a cave to David. Yes, it provided shelter. But David saw God’s providence in leading him there and sustaining him. The Cave of Adullam was so significant to David because it marked a chapter in life when he learned to truly depend upon God, praise Him amid adversity, wait on His timing, develop as a leader, and experience God’s faithfulness.
David echoed these sentiments in Psalm 142, which he wrote when hiding from Saul in a cave according to the title. Verse 7 says, “Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.” Though Adullam was a cave, it was like a prison to David. Still, he expressed faith that God would lead him out in His time so he could praise and thank God openly once again.
Though originally a place of fear and isolation, the Cave of Adullam became a school of faith for King David. There God prepared him in the darkness for the light of the kingdom that lay ahead. Even centuries later, Adullam remained a site reminding believers of how God uses trials and tribulations to shape us for greater things.