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Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

1 Samuel 23

1 Samuel 23:1

1 SAMUEL CHAPTER 23 David, inquiring of the Lord by Abiathar, rescueth Keilah, and goeth into it, 1 SAMUEL 23:1. God showing him the coming of Saul, and treachery of the Kennites, 1 SAMUEL 23:7, he flieth thence to the wilderness of Ziph, with his six hundred men, 1 SAMUEL 23:13. Here Jonathan comet... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:2

DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD; either by Abiathar; or rather, by Gad, who was a prophet, 2 SAMUEL 24:11, and David's seer, 1 CHRONICLES 21:9, and was now with David, 1 SAMUEL 22:5; for Abiathar was not yet come to him, 1 SAMUEL 23:6. SHALL I GO AND SMITE THESE PHILISTINES? for the case was both doubtfu... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:3

HERE IN JUDAH, i. e. in this part of Judah, whereas yet we have no army to oppose us; for else Keilah also was in Judah. IF WE COME TO KEILAH; when we shall have a potent enemy before us, the Philistines, and, it may be, another behind us, even Saul, who probably will come forth, either to resist th... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:4

DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD YET AGAIN; not for his own, but for his soldiers satisfaction and encouragement, as Gideon did, JUD 7.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:5

The Philistines had either brought THEIR CATTLE out of their land, or had taken from the Israelites in their march, for the sustenance of their army.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:6

Or, with _the ephod_, to wit, the high priest's ephod, in which were the Urim and Thummim, EXODUS 28:30, which when Ahimelech and the rest of the priests went to Saul, were probably left in his hand, and to his care; which gave him the opportunity both of escaping, whilst Doeg the butcher was killin... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:7

He easily believed what he greedily desired, though his own experience had oft showed him how strangely God had delivered him out of his hands, and what a singular care God had over him. FOR HE IS SHUT IN, BY ENTERING INTO A TOWN THAT HATH GATES AND BARS; so that which he chose for his safety will b... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:9

SAUL SECRETLY PRACTISED MISCHIEF AGAINST HIM; whereby it may seem he pretended that he raised his army to defend Keilah and his country from the Philistines, and kept his intention against David in his own breast. Or, _designed_ or _devised_; for so the word signifies; and so it is here translated b... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:11

WILL THE MEN OF KEILAH DELIVER ME UP, to wit, if I continue in their city, and if Saul come down? THE LORD SAID. From this place it may appear that God's answer by Urim and Thummim was not by any change in the colour or situation of the precious stones in the breastplate of the ephod, but by a voice... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:12

To wit, if thou abidest there; for God saw their hearts, their purposes and passions, their aversion from David, and their affections to Saul, and knew better than themselves what they would do in that case.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:13

WHICH WERE ABOUT SIX HUNDRED; two hundred being added to his former number, 1 SAMUEL 22:2, upon his last and great success against the Philistines. WHITHERSOEVER THEY COULD GO; hither or thither, where they could find refuge, or a hiding-place.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:16

JONATHAN WENT where David had appointed to meet him at that time, and strengthened his hand in God; he comforted and supported him against all his fears, by minding him of God's infallible promises made to him, and his singular providence which hitherto had and still would be with him.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:17

I SHALL BE NEXT UNTO THEE; which he gathered either from David's generosity, ingenuousness, and true friendship to him; or from some promise made to him by David concerning it. Or the meaning of the words, _next unto thee_, may be as much as to say, I shall be under thee, after thee, or inferior to... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:18

THEY TWO MADE A COVENANT, i.e. renewed their former covenant before the Lord; setting themselves as in God's presence, and calling upon him to be witness between them.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:19

THE ZIPHITES were of David's own tribe, though for this their unnatural and strange carriage to him he calls them strangers, PSALMS 44:3.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:21

Whilst others harden their hearts against me, and join with David in his treasonable conspiracy, you show your pity to me by your readiness to help me.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:22

PREPARE YET, to wit, the matter; inform yourselves certainly of things, and dispose them so that we may not be frustrated in our attempt. WHERE HIS HAUNT IS; in what cave, or wood, or mountain he is most frequently.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:23

i.e. Through all the parts of that tribe. Every tribe was divided into thousands, as counties are now with us into hundreds. See JUDGES 6:15. Or, _with all the thousands of Judah_, i. e. I will raise against him all the forces of that tribe in which he trusteth and hideth himself. This he saith to a... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:24

BEFORE SAUL, to prepare things for Saul, who marched after them. IN THE WILDERNESS OF MAON, whither he went from the wilderness of Ziph, upon suspicion or information that Saul was coming thither.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:25

INTO A ROCK, i. e. into a cave which was in the rock; or which might, be called a rock, not for the height, but the strength of its situation; where at first he might think to hide himself, but upon further intelligence or consideration he removed from thence upon Saul's approach. Or, _he came down... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Samuel 23:28

i.e. THE ROCK OF DIVISIONS, because there Saul was separated, and in a manner pulled asunder from David, who was now almost within his reach.... [ Continue Reading ]

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