שמואל א, פרק כ״ב, פסוק א׳

Realizing his life was in grave danger from both King Saul and the Philistines, David needed a secure hiding place. He fled to the Cave of Adullam, located in the southern territory of the tribe of Judah, a region known for large caves that were practical for habitation [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Beyond the physical shelter, this specific location held deep historical and spiritual significance. By returning to the very place where his ancestor Judah had once stayed, David sought to rely on the protective merit of his forefathers [אלשיך].

When David's family realized that he had gone from being a highly successful man to a hunted refugee, they made the difficult decision to leave their homes and join him. The primary approach among commentators is that this choice was driven first and foremost by existential fear. His brothers worried that King Saul, consumed by hatred and frustration over his inability to capture David, would direct his violent anger toward their family and kill them in revenge.

Alongside this fear and their natural family bond, other profound reasons drew them to the cave. News of the miraculous way David was saved from Achish, the king of Gath, proved to his family that God was truly with him [חומת אנך]. Furthermore, David's specific choice to hide in Adullam and lean on ancestral merit inspired them to join him out of a shared sense of faith [אלשיך]. Ultimately, the family gathered at the hidden cave, with some likely remaining to live with him permanently, while others stayed only for a temporary period [ביאור שטיינזלץ].