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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 23:27

But there came a messenger unto Saul ,.... From his court, by order of his council there; though the Jews F20 Midrash apud Yalkut in loc. say it was an angel from heaven; but be it which it will, it was certainly the providence of God that directed this affair, that a messenger should come to Saul just at that very time that David was like to fall into his hands: saying, haste thee, and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land ; were come into it, and spread themselves in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:28

Therefore Saul returned from pursuing after David ,.... Stopped short at once, as soon as ever he received the message: and went against the Philistines ; to stop them in their progress, and drive them out of his country: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth , which signifies the rock of divisions. David and his men, very probably, gave it this name, not only because it divided between Saul and his men, and David and his men, when they were one on one side of it, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:29

And David went up from thence ,.... From the wilderness of Maon, having had a narrow escape for his life: and dwelt in strong holds in Engedi ; another place in the tribe of Judah, and which lay in the wilderness of Judah, and from whence that is called the wilderness of Engedi; and here Dr. Lightfoot F23 Works, vol. 1. p. 58. thinks he penned the sixty third psalm, Psalm 63:1 , the wilderness about Engedi being the most desert of all other places, that being upon the borders of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 23:27

There came a messenger - See the providence of God exerted for the salvation of David's life! David and his men are almost surrounded by Saul and his army, and on the point of being taken, when a messenger arrives and informs Saul that the Philistines had invaded the land! But behold the workings of Providence! God had already prepared the invasion of the land by the Philistines, and kept Saul ignorant how much David was in his power; but as his advanced guards and scouts must have... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 23:28

They called that place Sela-hammah-lekoth - That is, the rock of divisions; because, says the Targum, the heart of the king was divided to go hither and thither. Here Saul was obliged to separate himself from David, in order to go and oppose the invading Philistines. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 23:29

Strong holds at En-gedi - En-gedi was situated near to the western coast of the Dead Sea, not far from Jeshimon: it literally signifies the kid's well, and was celebrated for its vineyards, Song of Solomon 1:14 . It was also celebrated for its balm. It is reported to be a mountainous territory, filled with caverns; and consequently proper for David in his present circumstances. How threshing-floors were made among the ancients, we learn from Cato, De Re Rustica, chap. 91, and 129.... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 23:28

Sela-hammahlekoth - See the margin. (Identified by Conder with a narrow and impassable gorge between El Kolah and Maon, called Malaky). read more

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