1 Samuel 23:24-25

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 23:24

And they arose, and went to Ziph, before Saul ,.... Not before his person, as if he went with them, and they before him leading the way; but they went thither before he went, to prepare things more exactly, and with more certainty, before he came, and in order to return to him again and go with him: but David and his men were in the wilderness at Maon ; for by the time the Ziphites returned home, David had intelligence of their design, and therefore removed from the wilderness of Ziph... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:25

And Saul also and his men went to seek him ,.... Whether the Ziphites returned to him with better intelligence, or sent him word where David was, is not said, however Saul with his army came out in search of him: and they told David ; or it was told him, that Saul was come in quest of him: wherefore he came down into a rock ; either into a cave in it, or he came down from the hill Hachilah to a plain or valley, in order to go up to a rock, the same with the mountain in 1 Samuel... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 23:25

The wilderness of Maon - Maon was a mountainous district in the most southern parts of Judah. Calmet supposes it to be the city of Menois, which Eusebius places in the vicinity of Gaza; and the Maenaemi Castrum, which the Theodosian code places near to Beersheba. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:24

While the Ziphites were conferring with Saul and gathering information David had moved about six miles to the south of Ziph, and was in the wilderness of Maon. This town is still called Main, and occupies a conical hill, whence Robinson ('Bibl. Res.,' 2:433) counted no less than nine cities belonging to the hill country of Judah. Conder ('Tent Work,' 2:90) calls it a great hump of rock. In the plain on the south of Jeshimon. Literally, "in the 'Arabah to the right of the desert." The 'Arabah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:24

While the Ziphites were conferring with Saul and gathering information David had moved about six miles to the south of Ziph, and was in the wilderness of Maon. This town is still called Main, and occupies a conical hill, whence Robinson ('Bibl. Res.,' 2:433) counted no less than nine cities belonging to the hill country of Judah. Conder ('Tent Work,' 2:90) calls it a great hump of rock. In the plain on the south of Jeshimon. Literally, "in the 'Arabah to the right of the desert." The 'Arabah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:25-26

He came down into a rock. Hebrew, sela', a cliff or precipice. In the next verse it is described as a mountain, on one side of which was David and his men, in full view of Saul and his army on the other. But as Saul's forces were much more numerous, they were preparing to separate, and so enclose David, while he made haste. The word expresses anxiety and fear, and may be translated, "And David sought anxiously to go from before the face of Saul." Conder's description of the spot ('Tent... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:25-26

He came down into a rock. Hebrew, sela', a cliff or precipice. In the next verse it is described as a mountain, on one side of which was David and his men, in full view of Saul and his army on the other. But as Saul's forces were much more numerous, they were preparing to separate, and so enclose David, while he made haste. The word expresses anxiety and fear, and may be translated, "And David sought anxiously to go from before the face of Saul." Conder's description of the spot ('Tent... read more

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