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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:19-29

Here, 1. The Ziphites offer their service to Saul, to betray David to him, 1 Sam. 23:19, 20. He was sheltering himself in the wilderness of Ziph (1 Sam. 23:14, 15), putting the more confidence in the people of that country because they were of his own tribe. They had reason to think themselves happy that they had an opportunity of serving one who was the ornament of their tribe and was likely to be much more so, who was so far from plundering the country, or giving it any disturbance with his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:25

And Saul also and his men went to seek him ,.... Whether the Ziphites returned to him with better intelligence, or sent him word where David was, is not said, however Saul with his army came out in search of him: and they told David ; or it was told him, that Saul was come in quest of him: wherefore he came down into a rock ; either into a cave in it, or he came down from the hill Hachilah to a plain or valley, in order to go up to a rock, the same with the mountain in 1 Samuel... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 23:25

The wilderness of Maon - Maon was a mountainous district in the most southern parts of Judah. Calmet supposes it to be the city of Menois, which Eusebius places in the vicinity of Gaza; and the Maenaemi Castrum, which the Theodosian code places near to Beersheba. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:14-29

EXPOSITION SAUL 'S PURSUIT OF DAVID IN THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH ( 1 Samuel 23:14-28 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:19-29

The unobserved side of life. The facts are— 1 . The Ziphites send to Saul, offering their services to secure David if only he will come to their country in pursuit of him. 2 . Saul, indulging in pious language, thanks the Ziphites for their sympathy, and promises to comply with their request when properly informed of David's movements. 3 . Going in pursuit of David in the wilderness of Maon, Saul encompasses him with his men. 4 . At this critical juncture Saul is called... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:25-26

He came down into a rock. Hebrew, sela', a cliff or precipice. In the next verse it is described as a mountain, on one side of which was David and his men, in full view of Saul and his army on the other. But as Saul's forces were much more numerous, they were preparing to separate, and so enclose David, while he made haste. The word expresses anxiety and fear, and may be translated, "And David sought anxiously to go from before the face of Saul." Conder's description of the spot ('Tent... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:25-26

He came down into a rock. Hebrew, sela', a cliff or precipice. In the next verse it is described as a mountain, on one side of which was David and his men, in full view of Saul and his army on the other. But as Saul's forces were much more numerous, they were preparing to separate, and so enclose David, while he made haste. The word expresses anxiety and fear, and may be translated, "And David sought anxiously to go from before the face of Saul." Conder's description of the spot ('Tent... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 23:24-25

1 Samuel 23:24-25. But David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon Having heard what the Ziphites had undertaken, David disappointed their design by going into another place, with which, it is likely, they were not so well acquainted. For Maon was a distant wilderness from Ziph, though both were in the tribe of Judah. Saul also and his men went to seek him Hearing, it is likely, by the Ziphites, whither he was gone. Therefore he came down into a rock Some craggy, desolate place,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:1-29

Saul’s fierce hunt (23:1-24:22)Since Abiathar had brought with him the high priest’s ephod (containing the Urim and Thummim), David was able to ask and receive God’s direct guidance. God’s first direction was to rescue the Israelite town of Keilah from the raiding Philistines (23:1-6). As soon as he had defeated the Philistines, David withdrew from Keilah. He knew that Saul’s army was larger and better equipped than his. He knew also that he could not trust the people of Keilah to stand with... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 23:25

seek him . Some codices, with one early printed edition (margin), read "seek David". into a rock = from the rock. read more

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