After leaving the priests at Nob, David fled with Goliath’s sword for refuge in the most unlikely place – to the Philistines in Goliath’s hometown of Gath!? David escaped this bad decision by faking insanity (No one wanted to kill an insane person because it was believed that the demon that caused the insanity would transfer themselves to the nearest person which would most likely be the murderer.)

David fled from the land of the Philistines back into the hill country of Judah to find refuge in a cave. (Cave of Adullam details, photos, map.) While hiding in this cave at Adullam David composed two psalms seeking refuge in the Lord, Psalm 57 and 142:

“I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.
He sends from heaven and saves me,
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me —
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.” – Psalm 57:2-3

“In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
    no one cares for my life.
I cry to you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.” – Psalm 142:3-5

People within David’s inner circle heard where he was and came to him there in the Cave of Adullam. Members of David’s family were then taken by David to the other side of the Dead Sea to Mizpah in Moab where the king agreed to give them refuge. Apparently the international concerns of the king of Moab focused on maintaining good relations with David instead of with the current ruler of Israel, King Saul, who called David an insurgent and an enemy of the state.

David’s statement to the king of Moab clearly indicates that David was again walking in faith and confidence, even though he did not see the future clearly nor did he know what his next move would be. David’s restored faith is recognizable when he says to the foreign king:

“Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?”

It is interesting that the Lord then sends the prophet Gad to David with directions.

David had most likely returned to the west side of the Dead Sea from Moab (on the east side) at the narrow ford in the Sea that comes out at Masada. (See map here) The stronghold where David took his men upon returning from Moab would appear to be Masada itself. Postsherds at Masada from this time period confirm that Masada was used in David’s day.

“The new morality, makes it quite possible to be a passionate lover of humanity, like a…Marx or a Lenin, and to be a passionate hater of actual human beings.”
– William Stanmeyer

The first Crusade began in 1095. Pope Urban II had division in the Christendom in the West that included an ongoing feud with King Henry IV of Germany. When the Eastern church in Constantinople asked for help against the Muslim invaders Pope Urban saw this as an opportunity to united the Western Latin church while also regaining control of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Urban preached a message at the Council of Clermont in 1095 saying, “An accursed race utterly alienated from God…has invaded the lands of Christians…Tear that land from the wicked race and subject it to yourselves.” The people and their leaders responded by crying out, “God wills it! God wills it!” Knights were recruited to conquer the land of Palestine (Israel) who were promised wealth, plunder, lands, kingdoms and, assurance that this endeavor would give them direct access into heaven or reduced time in purgatory.