1Samuel chapter 23 comments

 

1Samuel 23:1 ¶  Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. 2  Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. 3  And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? 4  Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand. 5  So David and his 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 inhabitants of Keilah. 6  And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

 

Keilah was a fortified town, as you will see following in verse 7. David asks for God’s direction so he and his band are going to deliver the inhabitants of Keilah from the siege the Philistines made on it in order to take it from the tribe of Judah. See Joshua 15:21, 44. Abiathar will serve as priest there. David had access to Abiathar’s ephod in order to seek counsel from God as we’ve seen referred to in Exodus, chapter 28.

 

1Samuel 23:7 ¶  And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars. 8  And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9  And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. 10  Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. 11  Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? 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 will come down. 12  Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up. 13  Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

 

With Saul planning to besiege David in Keilah, David consults with God and is told that not only is Saul coming but the men of the city he has just delivered will betray David into Saul’s hands. David heeds this warning from God and departs with his six hundred. When Saul finds out that David has fled Keilah he does not proceed with his plans.

 

We’ve already been told that the priest wearing the ephod would communicate with God that way.

 

Exodus 28:30  And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

 

Numbers 27:21  And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

 

1Samuel 23:14 ¶  And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. 15  And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. 16  And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. 17  And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. 18  And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

 

Leaving the fortress of Keilah, from a root word meaning a citadel according to Strong’s, David and his men move to strongholds, fortified defensive positions in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul looked for him but was unable to make contact. David’s beloved friend, Jonathan, does find him and pledges his covenant with David acknowledging that David will be king and Jonathan will be at his side. Jonathan knows that his father, Saul, is aware of this and the two friends make another covenant with each other. Jonathan returns to his place and David and his men continue to hide from King Saul.

 

1Samuel 23:19 ¶  Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? 20  Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand. 21  And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me. 22  Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly. 23  See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah. 24  And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. 25  Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 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. 27  But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. 28  Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. 29  And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.

 

David’s time in the wilderness of Ziph is cut short by the Ziphites betrayal of him to Saul. He has to move but is finally surrounded by Saul and his forces. God intervenes by allowing the Philistines to attack presenting a more pressing problem for Saul. David and his men wind up in the strongholds of Engedi.

 

Psalm 54:1 ¶  «To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?» Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. 2  Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. 3  For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

 

    4 ¶  Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. 5  He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth. 6  I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good. 7  For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.