John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 23:1-29
David delivers Keilah and afterwards retires to the Wilderness of Ziph and maon6. With an ephod in his hand] This is inserted to explain how it was that David was able to enquire of the Lord: see on 1 Samuel 14:18.9. Secretly practised] RV ’devised.’ There was no secrecy about Saul’s methods.14. Ziph] identified with Tell Zif, a rounded hill, 4 m. SE. of Hebron. 15. In a wood] RM ’in Horesh.’ But the true rendering is doubtful. If a proper name, it was more probably a mountain than a wood (cp.... read more
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 23:19-23
David’s escape from the wilderness of Ziph 23:19-23Again the writer directed our attention back to Saul. Psalms 54 tells us what David was thinking and praying during this experience. He trusted in God.Evidently the Ziphites thought that they would be better off if they informed Saul of David’s presence in their area than if the king discovered that he was there. He might have blamed them for sheltering David and taken revenge on them as he had on the people of Nob.Again Saul spoke piously (cf.... read more