1 Samuel 23

1. Keliah. A town in Judah, near the lowlands and the borders of the Philistines.

2 inquired of the Lord. Probably by means of Abiathar: see ver. 6.

4 inquired of the Lord yet again. Not from unbelief on his own part, but to satisfy his followers, and to inspire them with confidence.

14. Ziph. The wilderness of Ziph was part of the hilly country south-east of Hebron, in which were Maon and Carmel.

16 strengthened his hand in God. This interview with David (which proved to be the last) was probably sought by Jonathan, at some risk to himself, in order to discharge one of the most important offices of friendship; for David at this time peculiarly required that encouragement.

19. Jeshimon. Rather, “on the right hand (the south) of the desert” (R.V.); for “Jeshimon” is not a proper name: see Deut. xxxii. 10; Isa. xliii. 19; Psa. lxviii. 7. The fifty-fourth Psalm is supposed to refer to this event, or to that mentioned in xxvi. 1.

24 in the plain. Perhaps “in the Arabah on the right hand (the south) of the wilderness” (R.V.). The long desert valley or “wady” running southward from the Dead Sea is still called “the Arabah.”

25 rock. Or, “he went down to Sela, and abode in the wilderness of Maon.” Sela (“a rock” called by the Greeks Petra) was but a few miles east of Maon, which gave its name to the surrounding district.

28. Sela-hammahlekoth. That is, “rock of the slippings,” or “escapes.” Hastings (Dict. of the Bible) and Peake render it “rock of the divisions.”

29. Engedi. Engedi (“kid’s fountain” or “well of the wild goat”), still called Ainjidy, is situated on a very precipitous pass on the western edge of the Dead Sea. Its ancient name was Hazezontamar (Gen. xiv. 7); showing that the palm tree flourished in this well-watered and luxuriant spot, which was made almost inaccessible by lofty and deeply caverned cliffs. The sixty-third Psalm has reference to David’s wanderings in the wilderness of Engedi.