1 Samuel 23:1-7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:1-6

Now we find why the prophet Gad (by divine direction, no doubt) ordered David to go into the land of Judah, 1 Sam. 22:5. It was that, since Saul neglected the public safety, he might take care of it, notwithstanding the ill treatment that was given him; for he must render good for evil, and therein be a type of him who not only ventured his life, but laid down his life, for those that were his enemies. I. Tidings are brought to David, as to the patron and protector of his country's liberties,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:7-13

Here is, I. Saul contriving within himself the destruction of David (1 Sam. 23:7, 8): He heard that he had come to Keilah; and did he not hear what brought him thither? Was it not told him that he had bravely relieved Keilah and delivered it out of the hands of the Philistines? This, one would think, should have put Saul upon considering what honour and dignity should be done to David for this. But, instead of that, he catches at it as an opportunity of doing David a mischief. An ungrateful... read more

John Gill

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

Then they told David ,.... Either the men of Keilah sent to him, being near them, or some well wishers of theirs, and of their country, acquainted him with their case: saying, behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah ; had laid siege to it, being a fortified place, 1 Samuel 23:7 ; it was a city in the tribe of Judah, on the borders of the Philistines; of which See Gill on Joshua 15:44 , and they rob the threshing floors ; took away the corn upon them, which they were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:2

Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, shall I go and smite these Philistines ?.... For though David was well disposed to serve his country, and was desirous of freeing them from their enemies the Philistines, he might have some doubts in his mind whether it would be right for him to engage with them now; partly because he could not act under a commission from his prince, Saul the king; and partly because he had such a small number of forces with him, that it might be hazardous for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:3

And David's men said unto him, behold, we be afraid here in Judah ,.... Of Saul and his army falling upon them, and crushing them, though they were in the tribe of Judah, where they had many friends, and in the heart of that tribe: how much more then if we come to Keilah ; which, though in the same tribe, yet in the further parts of it, and on the borders of the Philistines: and there engage against the armies of the Philistines ? too numerous and powerful for them, and so by this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:4

Then David inquired of the Lord yet again ,.... Not for his own sake, who firmly believed it was the will of God he should go and succeed, but for the sake of his men, and to remove the doubts and fears that hung on their minds: and the Lord answered him, and said, arise, go down to Keilah ; immediately, make no stay, nor hesitate about it, but go with all haste to the relief of the place: for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hands ; which is still more explicit, and is a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:5

So David and his men went to Keilah ,.... Animated by a commission from God, and a promise of success by him: and fought with the Philistines ; encamped before Keilah: and brought away their cattle ; which they had brought with them for the support of their army; or having routed them, they pursued them into their own country, and brought off their cattle from thence: and smote them with a great slaughter ; killed great numbers of them, and put the rest to flight: so David... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:6

And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah ,.... Either when he was there, or near the place: that he came down with an ephod in his hand ; not with a linen ephod on his back, which the priests in common wore, but the ephod with the Urim and Thummim in his hand, which was peculiar to the high priest; and his father the high priest being dead, it belonged to him, and therefore he took care to bring it with him; though the words may be literally... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:7

And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah ,.... No doubt it was told him what he came thither for, to relieve it, and deliver it out of the hands of the Philistines, and what success he had; which one would have thought would have reconciled his mind to him, and made him think well of them; but instead of that, it only led him to contrive mischief against him: and Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand ; as if the success he had given to David was against, him, and in... read more

Adam Clarke

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

The Philistines fight against Keilah - Keilah was a fortified town in the tribe of Judah near to Eleutheropolis, on the road to Hebron. Rob the threshing-floors - This was an ancient custom of the Philistines, Midianites, and others. See Judges 6:4 . When the corn was ripe and fit to be threshed, and they had collected it at the threshing-floors, which were always in the open field, then their enemies came upon them and spoiled them of the fruits of their harvest. read more

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