Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
1 Samuel 26:1-4
The Ziphites Inform Saul That David Has Returned to the Hill of Hachilah And Saul Again Pursues David (1 Samuel 26:1).
The Ziphites were probably annoyed that David had again brought his men into their territory, partly because they saw it as their own preserve and disliked all intruders, partly because they were loyal to their king, and partly because it would result in diminishing resources being available for their own families. In such a wilderness six hundred men with their families could make a huge difference to what was available. They thus sent messengers to Saul informing against David.
Saul, who was going through a period when his illness was accentuated, responded, and, as a result of his paranoia and obsession with the idea of maintaining his dynasty, again took the standing army of three military units and sought to root David out. But when he arrived at the Hill of Hachilah he discovered that David had decamped. It appears that by now David had an efficient system of spies (we remember how he had ‘heard' about the sheep-shearing and about Nabal's death).
Analysis.
a And the Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Does not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the Waste (Jeshimon)?” ' (1 Samuel 26:1).
b Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph (1 Samuel 26:2).
c And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the Waste (Jeshimon), by the highway (1 Samuel 26:3 a).
b But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness (1 Samuel 26:3 b).
a David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was definitely come (1 Samuel 26:4).
Note that in ‘a' Saul learns from the Ziphites that David is encamped on the Hill of Hachilah, and in the parallel learns that Saul has definitely come to the Hill of Hachilah. In ‘b' Saul went into the wilderness (mentioned twice) and in the parallel David saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness (mentioned twice). Centrally in ‘c' Saul arrives with his army and encamps on the Hill on which David and his men had had their encampment.
‘ And the Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Does not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the Waste (Jeshimon)?” '
When David and his men returned to the Hill of Hachilah which was south of ‘the Waste' (Jehimon), a hot and barren area of hills, peaks and precipices west of the Dead Sea (1 Samuel 23:19), he was back on what the Ziphites saw as ‘their territory'. Thus they immediately sent messengers to Saul, hoping thereby to rid themselves of the menace. They did not like trespassers in their area. It may also be that they were fiercely loyal to Saul. Tightly bound, more isolated groups with a strong sense of loyalty often have the strongest traditions of loyalty towards kings who do not bother them overmuch, whatever others may think about them.
‘ Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.'
The result of the activity of the Ziphites was that Saul's paranoia and delusion again took over and he gathered the three units of his standing army to seek for David in the wilderness of Ziph. He again sought his death.
‘ And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the Waste (Jeshimon), by the highway. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.'
David clearly had advanced notice of his movements, for he and his men moved from their encampment on the Hill of Hachilah before Saul's arrival, and took refuge in the hot and deserted wilderness. His men would by now have become expert at moving under these conditions, and at fading into the background. Thus David was able to keep watch on the army that had come against him, as it also came into the wilderness to seek him. But the question was, was Saul with it?
The fact that the Hill of Hachilah was ‘by the highway', the main route through the mountains, may explain why David and his men were there. It is quite possible that they robbed non-Israelite caravans as they made their way through the mountains. This may have given a further reason why Saul felt that he had to act against him. On the other hand it may simply be that they lived off game, but wanted to be in as close a touch with things as possible. David would not feel that he was simply surviving. He knew that he had a future in Israel, and would want to keep in touch.
‘ David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was definitely come.'
David then specifically sent out scouts in order to discover whether Saul was with his troops, and as a result discovered that Saul really was among them. The impression given in 1 Samuel 23 & 1 Samuel 24 had been of David and his men in full flight before Saul. Here the impression is very different. David is depicted as confident and in control. It would appear that David's spy system was now more organised, and that he and his men were now more sure of their ability to move around and keep the situation under control. Having been there for so long this was now his territory. It was rather Saul's army who were unfamiliar with the terrain. David's six small ‘military units' (hundreds) may well also have grown considerably larger.