Israel Institute of BS
David began his journey as the beloved apprentice of King Saul. But before long, David had become a military hero, Saul grew wildly jealous, and David found himself running for his life. David narrowly escaped Saul’s attempts to kill him at a place called the “Rock of Escape” (1 Samuel 23:28). But what is the hidden meaning of this name in Hebrew?
David The Fugitive
In one scene, David is hiding on the side of a mountain in the wilderness. As Saul’s army closes in on David by approaching from the back of the mountain, a miracle happens. At the last minute, just before he captures David, Saul is called back home to fight the Philistines. The story ends by telling us that the name of this famous mountain where David was delivered from death is the “Rock of Escape.”
The Hebrew Meaning of the Rock
In the original Hebrew this is Sela HaMaḥlekot סֶלַע הַמַּחְלְקוֹת, a name which is far more interesting than the translation indicates. The word Maḥlekot comes from the root ḤLK חלק which means “to divide”. But the same root also means “slippery.” Which meaning is correct? In fact, both are. This mountain was the dividing border separating two armies. But this mountain is also where David, with the help of God, once again slipped through Saul’s fingers.
