תהלים, פרק ל״א, פסוק א׳

A deeply personal song of distress is directed to the person in charge of the musicians [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators is that King David composed this work during a period of severe hardship while being hunted by his enemies, specifically during his desperate flight from Saul.

The historical backdrop centers around David's harrowing experiences in Keilah and the Wilderness of Ziph [מלבי״ם]. Following the prophecy of Gad and instructions from the Urim and Thummim, David traveled to Keilah to save the Israelites from Philistine attacks. Despite his rescue mission, he soon found himself trapped inside the city walls. As Saul pursued him, God revealed to David through the Urim and Thummim that the residents of Keilah would betray him and hand him over to his enemy.

Forced to flee, David sought safety in the remote strongholds of the Wilderness of Ziph. However, betrayal followed him there as well, with the local residents reporting his location to Saul. Eventually, Saul and his forces completely surrounded David from all sides, leaving no route for escape. In that moment of absolute entrapment, God intervened and saved him from their hands.