1. Then they told David—rather, "now they had told"; for this information had reached him previous to his hearing (1 Samuel 23:6) of the Nob tragedy. Keilah—a city in the west of Judah (Joshua 15:44), not far from the forest of Hareth. and they rob the threshing-floors—These were commonly situated on the fields and were open to the wind (Judges 6:11; Ruth 3:2). read more
David’s rescue of Keilah 23:1-5Keilah was about three miles southeast of Adullam in the Shephelah, the foothills between the coastal plain on the west and the hill country of Judah on the east. The Philistines were plundering the threshing floors there. The threshing floors were places where the Israelites stored their threshed grain after threshing it (cf. 2 Kings 6:27; Joel 2:24). David sought to defend his countrymen and fellow Judahites from their hostile foreign enemy, even though he was... read more
David at Keilah 23:1-14David went to rescue the people of Keilah from the Philistines, but then he had to flee from that town because the citizens were going to hand him over to Saul. read more
2. Saul’s pursuit of David ch. 23The literary spotlight now moves back from Saul to David and his activities."We have just witnessed how Saul, in an outburst of rage, became responsible for the destruction of the priestly city of Nob. In ch. 23, David, even while on the run from Saul, is shown saving a city from Philistine attack." [Note: Gordon, I & II Samuel . . ., p. 175.] read more
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
(1) Then they told David. . . .—For this and like duties the prophet Gad (1 Samuel 22:5) had summoned David to return with his armed band to Judah. There was a great work ready to his hand in his own country at that juncture. Saul was becoming more and more neglectful of his higher duty—that of protecting his people; as time went on and his malady increased, his whole thoughts were concentrated on David’s imaginary crimes, and the history of the latter part of his reign is little more than a... read more
CHAPTER XXX.DAVID AT KEILAH, ZIPH, AND MAON.1 Samuel 23:1-29.THE period of David’s life shortly sketched in this chapter, must have been full of trying and exciting events. If we knew all the details, they would probably be full of romantic interest; many a tale of privation, disease, discomfort, on the one hand, and of active conflicts and hair-breadth escapes on the other. The district which he frequented was a mountainous tract, bordering on the west coast of the Dead Sea, and lying exposed... read more
CHAPTER 23 1. The victory over the Philistines at Keilah (1 Samuel 23:1-13 ) 2. In the wilderness of Ziph (1 Samuel 23:14-26 ) 3. Saul’s return (1 Samuel 23:27-29 ) Keilah was about six miles southeast of Adullam. David heard of the invasion of the Philistines that they were fighting against this walled city. And he inquired of the Lord, through Abiathar, who had an ephod (verse 6). David’s inquiry of the Lord shows the man of faith in his submission to the Lord. He had his lapses, but... read more
23:1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against {a} Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.(a) Which was a city in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:44. read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 23:1
1 Samuel 23:1. Then they told David— Or, Now they had told. read more