1 Samuel 23

vestment of the high-priest, viz. the epTiod, unto which tho urim and thummim, with the breast-plate, were annexed, and carried it unto David. Unto whom ho hoped to bo the more acceptable, when he appeared capable to serve him in that high bflice. And accordingly he calls upon him, (ver. 9.) to bring hither the ephod; as hodid afterward, (xxx. 7.) But the ephod could do no good, without the urim and thummim, which were inseparable from it. And that he speaks of tho high-priest’s ephod is manifest, because he doth not call it a linen ephod, such as the priests wore; but the ephod. The only difficulty is, that Saul after this seems to have consulted God by urim, (xxviii. G.) But perhaps he made a new one, in the room of that which Abiathar carried away: but God would not own it, nor any other way give him advice. Aben Ezra, indeed, here notes, that there wants that which they call the he hajediah, that is, the demonstrative particle he, to shew that he means the high-priest’s ephod, and therefore it was only a linen ephod. Which led him into this absurd opinion, that in some cases God answered without urim and thummim; being consulted merely by an ephod. •

1 Samuel 23:1

JL HEN they told David, saying, The Philistinesfight against Keilah. Or, they had told David, &c. Fortius was done before Abiathar came to him to tell him of the slaughter of the priests, ver. 6. where it is said, he fled to David to Keilah.- Which was a city in the tribe of Judah/ (Josh. xv. 44.) Which the Philistines now besieged; being* encouraged thereunto, perhaps, by the news they heard’ that David was forced to flee his country. And tltey rob the thrashing-floors.] Which was commonly without their cities; for the convenience of wind, to se-* parage the chaff from the corn. (See Ruth iii. 2. 15.)

1 Samuel 23:2

And David inquired of the Lord. It is probable by the prophet Gad, who we read before, xxii. 5. was now with him. For there is no mention yet of Abiatbar’s having the ephod; though some think it is mentioned, ver. 6. to shew how David inquired of God. Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.] A remarkable instance of David’s love to his country: unto*: which he did not become an enemy, when he was banished* from it..’ *

1 Samuel 23:3

And J)avid*s men said xinto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah. In that part of the country where they then were. • How much more, then, if we come to Keilah, against the’ armies of the Philistines?] His men argued against this * expedition, because they did not think themselves safe in their own country, where they hoped they had some friends: and therefore thought they should be in greater danger, if they made the Philistines their enemies.

1 Samuel 23:4

Then David inquired of the Lord yet again. Not for his own satisfaction, but for theirs: as we read in the history of Gideon that he did. And the Lord ansivered him g,nd said, Arise.] Make no delay. Go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thy hand.] Here he (expressly assures him of victory.

1 Samuel 23:5

• So Davidandhis men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the in* habitants of Keilah.] He seems to have pursued the Philistines to their own country: from whence he brought their cattle. Or else we must suppose these cattle were the booty they had among the Israelites; which is not; so probable, because then David would have restored them to their owners.

1 Samuel 23:6

And it came to pass, that when Abiathar, tlce son of Ahimelech, fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephodin his hand. Or rather, with the ephod. For he being* left, I suppose, to keep the sanctuary,- while his father and the rest of tho priests went to wait upon Saul, assoon as he heard of their slaughter, took this principal SP2

1 Samuel 23:7

And it tvas told Saul that David was come to Keilah. So remarkable an action could not but come presently to Saul’s ears; who was not at all mollified by it, but rather more resolutely bent upon David’s destruction. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.] The men of Keilah could not but open their gates to their deliverer; but Saul fancied that he sought for safety in a place, that would only secure him from running away from him.

1 Samuel 23:8

And Saul called all the people together to war. Raised a great army.: To go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.] He pretended, it is likely, he would go, and be avenged of the Philistines: but his inward intention was to go against David. <

1 Samuel 23:9

And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him.’) This intimates that Saul did not openly declare, when he raised his army, he would besiege Keilah; but made a show of soma other design. And he said: to Abiatjtar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.] Which no doubt he put on: otherwise* he could not have inquired of the Lord by it.

1 Samuel 23:10

Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah,’ to destroy the city for my sake. Some think that David put on the ephod, and then asked the Lord’s advice: but that is a great mistake; for the high-priest was the person appointed by God^ to. ask counsel of him for tho supreme governor, (Numb, xxvii. 21.) Therefore David spake these words by the mouth of Abiathar.

1 Samuel 23:11

Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hands? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He willco?ne down.] He seems to.have been in a great fright, and some contusion of spirit, when he spake these words: which made him not only to ask two things together (which the Jews say was not usual), but also out of due order.. For the first question should have been, Will Saul come down? and then the other shp.uld have followed, Will they deliver me into his hand? God therefore put him into tho right method, by answering to the last question first: as the Jewish doctors observe in the Gemara of the Codex Joma.

1 Samuel 23:12

Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my, men into the hand of Said?. Hence the Talmudists gather, that he who asked out of order was bound to ask again. And the Lord said, They will deliver thee.] He saw the base disposition of their hearts, whatsoever gratitude they pretended to David for their deliverance. For that is a rare virtue; not to be found in those in whom self-love prevails. It is not easy to be resolved, how they iriqnircd of God, the tabernacle not being there. It is likely David had some tent, wheresoever he was, wherein he was wont to pray to God, and meditate his praises; and there God was pleased to answer him.

1 Samuel 23:13

Then David and his men, which were about six hundred. His forces were increased two hundred, since the famous victory over the Philistines at Keilah.. Arose, and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they coiddgo.] Sometimes to one place, sometimes. to another: according as they found any hope of safety. So Hackspan interprets this phrase inliis Disputationcs, p. 403. And it was told Saul that David was escapedfrom Keilah.] Now he began to have better intelligence of David’s motions, since the slaughter at Nob: which made the people afraid to fall under his displeasure. And he forbore to go forth.] N.ot knowing as yet where to find him.

1 Samuel 23:14

And David abode in the ivilderness in stivng holds, and remained in a mountain in the ivilderness of Ziph.J Where it was not easy # to come at him. And Saul sought him every day; but God delivered him not into his hand.] As he foolishly fancied he would, (ver. 7.) though God very manifestly had forsaken him, and was with D^vid.

1 Samuel 23:15

And David saw that Said was come out to seek his life. That he was restless in his endeavours to destroy him. And David ivas in the ivilderness of Ziph in a wood.] Where he could. better defend himself than in an open country.,! t

1 Samuel 23:16

And Jonathan, SanVs son, arose, and went to David into the wood. Eeing a very private place, they had, it is likely, by some intelligence which passed between them, appointed a meeting there. And strengthened his hand in God.] In his promise to him. What Hecuba saith in Euripides, is most true * n this friend of David’s, anil in Saul his father: f O filv 7rovi)pbg ov&v aWo wXyv tcaKOQ’ <&6(tiv, SttyOtip* aXXa Xjotjotoc itrr ad. A bad man is nothing else bid bad. But a good man is still good: nor because of any calamity doth he lose his nature; but is always good. Ver. 17; And he said, Fear not; for the liand of Saul my father shall not find thee: and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I will be/next unto thee.] He doth not mean, that he would succeed him in his throne; but be the principal person in the.kingdom, next to David. Which, I suppose, had been agreed between them. Fvl t/O^/I ft VLJ/ CHAP. XXIII.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. And that also Saul my father knowetli.] For he remembered what Samuel told him, xv. 28. and by his wonderful successes concluded he was the person of whom Samuel spake.

1 Samuel 23:18

And they two made a covenant before the Lord. Solemnly renewed the covenant, which they had formerly made. This is the third time that we read of their making acovenant. (Seexviii.3.xx.l6.) In none of which there is any mention of a sacrifice, no more than there is in the covenant between David and the elders of the people, (2 Sam. v. 3.) and between Solomon and Hiram; (1 Kings v. 12.) yrhich is an argument that eating together of a sacrifice, or going between the parts of a sacrifice, was not essential to the making a covenant: though it must be acknowledged, the rite was so ancient of dividing the parts of the sacrifice, that hence is the phrase which is so frequent in Scripture of cutting a covenant, i. e. entering into it. And David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.’] For he did not accompany his “father, in his search after David.

1 Samuel 23:19

Tlien came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, and said, Doth not David hide himself with us in the strong hold in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?] These people were of the tribe of Judah; among Avhom David thought himself the safer, because he was of the same tribe. But they were afraid to be served as those at Nob: which made them come and discover the place where he was, very particularly, and precisely.

1 Samuel 23:20

Now tlierefore, O king, comedown, according to all the desire of thy soul to come down. Which they knew was very great.. And our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.] For being neighbours to it, they knew all the avenues of the wood where he was: and how to come at him.

1 Samuel 23:21

And Saul said, Blessed are ye of the Lord; for ye have compassion on me. This signifies, that the generality of people did not. favour him in his design: which made him so joyfully receive the Ziphites* intelligence.

1 Samuel 23:22

Go, I pray you, and prepare ye. Dispose all things so, that I may take him., And lenow and see his place where his haunt is.] Inform themselves perfectly, in what hill, or wood, or cave, he hid himself.’ - And who hath seen him.] He would have them certainly informed, that he might not go after him in vain.. For I am told he dealeth very subtilely.] So that it was not easy to catch him.*,

1 Samuel 23:23

See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking-places where he hideth himself, and come to me again with the certainty, and I will go with you. He seems to be very diffident, having been so. oft disappointed: and by this means gave David time to get intelligence, and re-, move to another place. And it shall come to pass, that if he be in the land, I will search him out through all the thousands of Judah] Their tribes were divided into thousands; (see Judg. vi. 15.) among some of whom he supposed ho would lurk: and he would not cease searching for him till he found him. Ver; 24. And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul.] As he had directed them, ver. 22. But David and his men were in the wilderness of Mapn, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.] Having heard what the Ziphites had undertaken, he disappointed their design, by going into another place, with which, it is likely, they were not so well acquainted. For Maon was a distinct wilderness from Ziph: though both in the tribe of Judah.

1 Samuel 23:25

Saul. also and his men went to seek him. Hearing, I suppose, by the Ziphites, whither he was gone. And they told David.] He also had intelligence brought him, that Saul was coming against him. Wherefore he came down into a rock.] Some craggy place. And abods in the wilderness of Maon. ~\ Not thinking himself safe there, he went into another part of the same wilderness. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.] So that he came to the very place where he was.

1 Samuel 23:26

And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.] Saul’s forces being far more numerous, he divided them into several parties; who marching several ways, were about to encompass the whole mountain: so that it should be impossible for David to escape them. Who therefore made haste to get away before he was quite surrounded.

1 Samuel 23:27

But there came a 7nessenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. A marvellous providence of God, who stirred them up at this very time to make an irruption into the land of Israel, for the preservation of David when he was in extreme danger. *

1 Samuel 23:28

Wherefore Saul returned from following after David, and went against the Philistines. It was very probable David would in a little time have fallen into his hands, had not the messenger, who, I suppose, was sent by his council, desired him with all speed to come and oppose the Philistines, who were (he most dangerous enemies, Tlierefore they called tlie name of that place Sela-hammahlekoth.J That is, the rock of divisions. Either because- Saul was distracted here between two counsels, whether to pursue David, or go immediately against the Philistines; or, because God divided Saul from David, when he was coming up close unto him.

1 Samuel 23:29

And David went upfront thence, and dwelt in the strong holds at’En-gedi. A place in the tribe of Judah, not far from the Dead Sea: which Solomon in his Song celebrates for the famous vineyards which were there: and St. Jerome and Eusebius say there was excellent balm at En-gedi: from which the Avilderness near it took its name, where David found secure lurking-places.