1 Samuel 23:1-5 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:1

ADVENTURES OF DAVID AT KEILAH AND IN THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH ( 1 Samuel 23:1-29 ). EXPOSITION DAVID RESCUES KEILAH , BUT HAS TO ESCAPE FROM THE TREACHERY OF ITS INHABITANTS ( 1 Samuel 23:1-13 ). They told David, etc. The return of David into his own land was quickly followed by exploits which not only increased his power, but turned the eyes of all the people towards him as their protector. His first success was the deliverance... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:1-5

Deference to the Divine will. The facts are— 1 . David, being informed of the inroads of the Philistines against Keilah, seeks counsel of God. 2 . Being directed to go against them, he finds his men in doubt of the safety of the enterprise. 3 . Hence, to satisfy them he makes further inquiry of the Lord, and is again directed to go, with promise of victory. Acting on these instructions, he saves Keilah. The moral degeneracy of Saul seems to have been accompanied with some... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:2-5

David enquired of Jehovah. This seems to show that Abiathar was already with David, as the prophet Gad had no ephod, and at this time, and for a considerable period subsequently, the usual way of consulting God was by the Urim and Thummim (see 1 Samuel 23:6 ). Though the answer was a command to go, yet David's men hesitated; not that they had any doubt of the immediate result, but, regarding Saul as their most dangerous enemy, they were unwilling to embroil themselves also with the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 23:1

David’s growing importance, fugitive as he was, is marked by this appeal to him for deliverance from the Philistines. The “threshing floors” were the natural objects of plunder Judges 6:11. Keilah was in the Shephelah (marginal reference), probably close to the Philistine border, but its site is uncertain. Joshua 2:11 Samuel Joshua 23:1 Philippians 1:0 read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 23:2-4

If Gad was with David at the forest of Hareth 1 Samuel 22:5, and there inquired for him of the Lord 1 Samuel 23:2,1 Samuel 23:4, but did not accompany him to Keilah, and if Abiathar’s flight occurred at the time of David’s being at Keilah, we have an additional striking instance of God’s watchful providential care of David in thus sending Abiathar to supply the place of Gad at so critical a moment. read more

Joseph Benson

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

1 Samuel 23:1. Then they told Or rather, Now they had told David. For it is evident from 1 Samuel 23:6, that David had received the information here referred to, and had even delivered the inhabitants of Keilah before Abiathar came to tell him of the slaughter of the priests. The Philistines fight against Keilah Probably the Philistines were encouraged to make this inroad into the land of Israel by hearing that David was forced to flee his country, and that God had departed from Saul.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 23:2

1 Samuel 23:2. David inquired of the Lord In what way he made inquiry is not certain, as it seems from 1Sa 23:6 that Abiathar had not yet brought to David the sacred ephod, with all things belonging to it that were made use of in consulting God. Shall I go and smite these Philistines? We have here a remarkable instance of David’s love to his country; unto which he did not become an enemy when he was banished from it. On the contrary, he hasted to its assistance unsolicited. This action of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 23:3-4

1 Samuel 23:3-4. David’s men said, Behold, we are afraid here in Judah “They had more than difficulty enough to defend themselves against Saul where they were; and could it be less than madness to provoke more and greater enemies? Doubtless Saul would send forces to beat off the Philistines, and then they should be pent in between two hostile armies. And yet, notwithstanding all this, David undertook and achieved the adventure; which it was impossible he should, against such fears, and such... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 23:5

1 Samuel 23:5. So David and his men went to Keilah, &c. “His success on this occasion was very extraordinary; he saved the city and the inhabitants; he delivered the country all around from the ravages of the enemy; he smote the Philistines with great slaughter, and brought away their cattle, by which means he was enabled to subsist himself and his forces, without being a burden to his country. One would have imagined that this extraordinary success and deliverance of so great a city... 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

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:1

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:2-5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 23:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 23:2-4

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

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 23:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 23:3-4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 23:5

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:1-29

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