1 Samuel 22:5 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:1-5

Here, I. David shelters himself in the cave of Adullam, 1 Sam. 22:1. Whether it was a natural or artificial fastness does not appear; it is probable that the access to it was so difficult that David thought himself able, with Goliath's sword, to keep it against all the forces of Saul, and therefore buried himself alive in it, while he was waiting to see (and he says here, 1 Sam. 22:3) what God would do with him. The promise of the kingdom implied a promise of preservation to it, and yet David... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:5

And the prophet Gad said unto David ,.... Who either accompanied him in his exile, or was sent unto him on this account, being one of the company of the prophets, over whom Samuel was president, 1 Samuel 19:20 , abide not in the hold, depart, and get thee into the land of Judah ; this seems to confirm it that the hold David was in was not the cave of Adullam, because that was in the tribe of Judah; but rather some hold in the land of Moab, which he is directed by the prophet to leave,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 22:5

Get thee into the land of Judah - Gad saw that in this place alone he could find safety. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:1-5

Difficult circumstances. The facts are— 1 . David, escaping from Garb, takes refuge in the cave of Adullam. 2 . Here he is joined by his kindred and a miscellaneous band of men, over whom he exercises authority as captain. 3 . Anxious for the comfort of his father and mother, he desires and obtains of the king of Moab permission for them to dwell at Mizpeh. 4 . On being advised by the prophet Gad, he returns to Judah. This section covers the conduct of David up to the point... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:5

The prophet Gad. This sudden appearance of the prophet suggests Stahelin's question, How came he among such people? But, in the first place, David's followers were not all of the sort described in 1 Samuel 22:2 ; and, next, this must be regarded as a declaration of the prophetic order in his favour. As we have a summary of David's proceedings in 1 Samuel 22:4 , extending over some time, during which the massacre of the priests at Nob took place, we may well suppose that Saul had... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 22:5

The prophet Gad - Mentioned here for the first time. One may conjecture that Samnel had sent him privately from Naioth to tell David not to abide in the hold. Whether he stayed with David or returned to the College of the prophets does not appear. For later notices of him see marginal references.The forest of Hareth is unknown. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 22:5

1 Samuel 22:5. The Prophet Gad said unto David We read nothing of this prophet before; and it is likely God raised him up at this time, on purpose for the support and direction of David. Abide not in the hold That is, do not shut up thyself here; for he did not merely intend any particular strong place, where David might now be, but in general all those places where he kept himself concealed. Get thee into the land of Judah As one that confides in God, and in the uprightness of his... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:1-23

A fighting unit (22:1-23)David found a hiding place in the barren regions of Adullam. Here he was joined by his family, who had fled to escape the hate and revenge of Saul (22:1; see Psalms 57:0; Psalms 63:0; Psalms 142:0). Knowing this hard life would be too much for his aged parents, he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and returned to his home territory of Judah. By now a crowd of four hundred, mainly outlaws and discontented people, had joined David, and he soon built these into a... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 22:5

1 Samuel 22:5. The prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold— It was natural to think that David would be more safe in his own tribe, and in a thick forest, than in the tribe of Saul, and a cave; and safety was all that he wanted, or God intended him before the death of Saul. But the principal reason of God's advising him to go into the land of Judah, was, I apprehend, because God intended to do him the honour of delivering one of the cities of Israel out of the hand of the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 22:5

5. the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold—This sound advice, no doubt, came from a higher source than Gad's own sagacity. It was right to appear publicly among the people of his own tribe, as one conscious of innocence and trusting in God; and it was expedient that, on the death of Saul, his friends might be encouraged to support his interest. forest of Hareth—southwest of Jerusalem. read more