Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 23

THen they told David , saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah , and they rob the threshing-floors .

Or, Now they had told David, to wit, before he heard of the slaughter of the Priests.

A City in the Tribe of Iudah, Ios. 15. 44. not far from the Forest of Hareth, where David now was, chap. 22. 5.

Which usually werewithout the Cities in places open to the wind. See Iudg. 6. 11. Ruth 3. 2. &c.

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.

Either by Abiathar; or rather, by Gad, who was a Prophet, 2 Sam. 24. 11. and David's Seer, 1 Chron: 21. 9. and was now with David, chap. 22. 5. for Abiathar was not yet come to him, v. 6.

For the case was both doubtful and new, he having not yet made any attempt upon the Philistines, but by Saul's Commission; and dangerous, because of the small number of his Forces.

3 And Davids men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah : how much more then if we com[illegible: 1+ letters] to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines ?

i. e. In this part of Iudah, whereas yet we have no Army to oppose us: for else Keilah also was in Iudah.

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 the Philistines, or to intercept us.

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.

Not for his own, but for his Soldiers satisfaction and encouragement; as Gideon did, Iudg. 7.

5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattel , and smote them with a great slaughter: so David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

Which the Philistines had either brought out of their Land, or had taken from the Israelites in their March, for the sustenance of their Army.

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.

Or, with the Ephod, to wit, the High-Priests Ephod, in which were the Urim and the Thummim, Exod. 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 killing his Brethren, and of bringing away the Ephod, which Saul had oft grosly neglected, and now was justly deprived of it.

Marginal references: Chap. [illegible: 1 word]

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 entring into a town that hath gares and bars .

He easily believed what he greedily desired, though his own experience had oft shewed him how strangely God had delivered him out of his hands, and what a singular care God had over him.

So that which he chose for his safety, will be his certain ruin.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] n[illegible: 1+ letters]ted him [illegible: 1 word]. sold him.

9 ¶ And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him, and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod .

Whereby it may seem he pretended that he raised this 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 it is here Translated by many, and it seems both from v. 8. and from his publickly avowed jealousie o[illegible: 1+ letters], and rage against David, that he declared his design to be against him, as a Traitor to his Crown and Dignity.

And put it upon thee, that thou maist ask Counsel of God for me.

Marginal references: Num. [illegible: 1 word].

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.

To wit, by the Priest, for he was to make the enquiry of God, Numb. 27. 21. and David puts the words into his mouth.

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 .

To wit, if I continue in their City, and if Saul come down.

From this place it may appear that Gods answer by Urim and Thummim, was not by any change in the colour or situation of the precious Stones in the Brest-Plate of the Ephod, but by a Voice or Suggestion from God to the High-Priest.

i. e. He purposeth to come, if thou continuest here. For still as David's question, so Gods answer, is upon a supposition, as is here sufficiently implied.

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 .

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.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]

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.

Two hundred being added to his former number, chap: 22. 2. upon his last and great Success against the Philistines.

Hither or thither, where they could find refuge, or an hiding place.

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 .

As Saul fondly persuaded himself, he intended, v. 7.

15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

Either by information from his spies: or, by prospect from the top of the Mountain where he was.

16 ¶ And Jonathan, Sauls son arose, and went to David in the wood , and strengthened his hand in God .

Where David had appointed to meet him at that time.

He comforted and supported him against all his fears, by minding him of Gods infallible Promises made to him, and his singular Providence which hitherto had and still would be with him.

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 .

Which he gathered either from David's Generosity, Ingenuity, 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 thee, as the Phrase tibi secundus oft signifies. So that the whole imports thus much; I do not look to be King my self (as by my Birth I might expect), but that thou shalt be King (God having so appointed) and I but in a Secondary place inferior to thee.

By strong and well-grounded conjectures, as hath been noted.

Marginal references: Chap. 24. 20.

18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD : and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

i. e. Renewed their former Covenant.

i. e. Setting themselves as in Gods presence, and calling upon him to be Witness between them.

19 ¶ Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

Who were of David's own Tribe, though for this their unnatural and strange carriage to him, he calls them strangers, Psal. 54. 3.

Marginal references: Psal. 54. title.; Heb. on the right hand.; Or, the wilderness.

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 kings hand.

It shall be our care and business to the utmost of our power. Or, we will undertake to deliver him, or betray him to thee.

21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD, for ye have compassion on me .

Whilst others harden their hearts against me, and joyn with David in his treasonable conspiracy, you shew your pity to me by your readiness to help 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.

To wit, the matter, inform your selves certainly of things, and dispose them so that we may not be frustrated in our attempt.

In what Cave, or Wood, or Mountain he is most frequently.

Marginal references: Heb. foot shall be.

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 .

i. e. Through all the parts of that Tribe. Every Tribe was divided into Thousands, as Countries are now with us into Hundreds. See Iudg. 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 animate them to the more vigorous Prosecution of him.

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.

To prepare things for Saul, who Marched after them.

Whither he went from the Wilderness of Ziph, upon suspicion or information that Saul was coming thither.

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.

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 from the Rock, i. e. Either, First, From the Mountain mentioned in the next Verse, whence he came down, that so he might get out of Saul's sight and reach. Or, Secondly, From the Hill of Hachilah, where David hid himself, which is said to be on the South of Jeshimon, v. 19. as this place where he now was, is also described, v. 24. onely that speaks of the Plain, and this of the Rock or Hill adjoyning to it, or in the midst of it. Or, he came down to Selah, as the Syriack and Arabick translate it; a place so called from the many Rocks or Stones which were in it, or near it.

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.

Dividing themselves into several Parties, each Marching a several way after him.

27 ¶ But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come: for the Philistines have invaded the land .

God stirring them up by his all-disposing Providence to do it at this time for David's rescue. Compare 2 King. 19. 9.

Marginal references: Heb. spread themselves upon, &c.

28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth .

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.

Marginal references: That is, the rock of divisions.