Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. Ver. 1. _Then they told David._] The men of Keilah in the land of Judah seek help of David their countryman; but having served themselves of him, they soon proved false hearted to him, and... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _Therefore David inquired of the Lord._] By his prophet Gad, say most interpreters; for Abiathar was not yet come unto him, 1Sa... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 3. And David's men said unto him.] See a like discouraging speech of the disciples to our Saviour, Joh 11:8 and his resolute answer. 1Sa 23:9-10 God... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 4. _Then David enquired of the Lord yet again,_] viz., For the confirmation and encouragement of his soldiers, whose rule should have bee... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 5. _And brought away their cattle._] Which either they found about their camp, or fetched out of their country.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 6. _With an ephod in his hand._] Or, The ephod came into his hand; whence some think, that in catching up his clothes, in making up his pack to be packing, he light... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 7. _God hath delivered him into mine hands._] Thus this "hypocrite flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniq... [ Continue Reading ]
And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. Ver. 8. _To besiege David and his men._] Rather than to pursue the Philistines. So the Pope publisheth his _Croysados_ against the Protestants; holding them greater enemies than are the Turks: witnes... [ Continue Reading ]
And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. Ver. 9. _Secretly practised mischief._] Plotted and ploughed mischief: pretending to raise an army against the Philistines, but intending the same against David.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 10. _O Lord God of Israel._] He runneth to the Rock of Ages for help in this distress, as was his constant course when hardly bestead. _ To destroy the... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 11. _And the Lord said, He will come down,_] viz., Unless thou goest hence. God knoweth future conti... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 12. _Will the men of Keilah._] Here is a second inquiry. God loveth to be often sought unto by his praying people, Luk 18:1 and therefore answereth them by degre... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 13. _Which were about six hundred._] Not four hundred only, as Josephus here misr... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 14. _In the wilderness of Ziph._] Which was the name of a city: so called, belike, from the plenty of pitch there. Ze... [ Continue Reading ]
And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David [was] in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. Ver. 15. _And David saw._] By his scouts and intelligence, he well perceived his present danger.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. Ver. 16. Jonathan Saul's son arose.] Jonathan could tell where to find David, though Saul could not: there being messengers still passing between them as fast friends, solicitous of each other's welfar... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 17. _And I shall be next unto thee._] In heaven he might be, but not on earth, because prevented by death... [ Continue Reading ]
And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house. Ver. 18. _And they two made a covenant._] This is the second time, for more assurance; or, as Lyra reckoneth, the third: (1.) In the house; (2.) 1Sa 18:3 In the field; 1Sa 20:5 (3.) Here in th... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 19. _Then came up the Ziphites._] Who were of David's own tribe, and of good Caleb's stock, 1Ch 2:42 but naught an... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 20. _And our part shall be to deliver him._] Here is their _proditio atque premissio dedendi Davidem._ A company of Judases they showed themselves... [ Continue Reading ]
And Saul said, Blessed [be] ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me. Ver. 21. _Blessed be ye of the Lord._] God was much in this hypocrite's mouth, but far from his reins: Jer 12:3 he abuseth that majestic and tremendous name of his, to palliate his cruel purpose of killing David. See the like... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 22. _Go, I pray you, prepare yet._] Saul maketh use of these traitors, which a Roman Fabricius would have scorned to have done. _ For i... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 23. _See therefore, and ta... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 24. _And went to Ziph before Saul._] As his guides and forerunners, fearing him as the heathens did their Vejoves, lest he should serve them as he had la... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 25. _He pursued after David._] Hunting him up and down as a partridge in the mou... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 26. _And David made haste._] After that he had first said in his haste,... [ Continue Reading ]
But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. Ver. 27. _But there came a messenger, &c._] Here was _Deus ex machina,_ God appearing as out of an engine: where human help failed, divine came in. God sent from heaven and saved his poor... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. Ver. 28. _They called that place Selahammahlekoth._] _Petram partitionum,_ the rock of Diremptions or partitions; because Saul's forces were forced to forego David... [ Continue Reading ]
And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi. Ver. 29. _Dwelt in strong holds at Engedi._] Which was the utmost border of the country, a very rocky and craggy place, And here it is thought he penned the fifty-seventh Psalm.... [ Continue Reading ]