1 Samuel 23:13-18

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:14-18

Here is, I. David absconding. He abode in a wilderness, in a mountain (1 Sam. 23:14), in a wood, 1 Sam. 23:15. We must here, 1. Commend his eminent virtues, his humility, modesty, fidelity to his prince, and patient attendance on the providence of his God, that he did not draw up his forces against Saul, fight him in the field, or surprise him by some stratagem or other, and so avenge his own quarrel and that of the Lord's priests upon him, and put an end to his own troubles and the calamities... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:13

Then David and his men, which were about six hundred ,.... Having had an increase of two hundred since he was at the cave of Adullam, 1 Samuel 22:1 , and upon his relief of Keilah, 1 Samuel 23:5 ; so that he sustained no loss of men by fighting with the Philistines, but had an addition to his small forces: arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go ; not knowing whither they should go, having no particular place in view; but went where they thought they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:14

And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds ,.... In the wilderness of Ziph, in high and strong rocks there, as it seems to be explained by what follows: and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph ; which had its name from a city in the tribe of Judah, of which See Gill on Joshua 15:55 , and Saul sought him every day ; for though he did not go forth from the place where he was to Keilah, yet hearing which way he went, and whereabout he lurked, he sought after him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:15

And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life ,.... Either he saw him with his bodily eyes from the top of the mountain where he was, 1 Samuel 23:14 ; or he perceived, he understood by information given him by his friends, it may be by Jonathan, or by spies he sent to observe his motions: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood ; where he and his men could hide themselves among the trees in it; sometimes he was in a mountain in this wilderness, and sometimes in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:16

And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose ,.... And came from Gibeah, which, according to Bunting F15 Travels, &c.; p. 334. (text not clear could be 834 or some other number) , was twenty two miles from the place where David was: and went to David into the wood : having had intelligence where he was, this being a proper place to have an interview with him privately: and strengthened his hand in God ; and his heart too, his hand of faith to lay hold on God, as his covenant God and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:17

And he said unto him, fear not ,.... Distrust not the power, providence, and promises of God, nor dread the wrath of Saul, or fear falling into his hands: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee ; to lay hold on him, seize him, and do him any hurt: and thou shalt be king over Israel ; meaning after the death of his father; which he knew either by some special revelation made to him; or rather by being informed he had been anointed by Samuel, and which he had either from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:18

And they two made a covenant before the Lord ,.... Renewed the covenant they had before made in the name and fear of God, and before him as a witness of it. Kimchi and Abarbinel interpret this phrase: before the Lord , of the covenant being made before Abiathar, with the Urim and Thummim in his hand; and so Jerom F16 Trad. Heb. in lib. Reg. fol. 76. K. , before Gad the prophet, and Abiathar who wore the ephod: and David abode in the wood ; being a proper place for him for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 23:14

Wilderness of Ziph - Ziph was a city in the southern part of Judea, not far from Carmel. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 23:16

And Jonathan - strengthened his hand in God - It is probable that there was always a secret intercourse between David and Jonathan, and that by this most trusty friend he was apprised of the various designs of Saul to take away his life. As Jonathan well knew that God had appointed David to the kingdom, he came now to encourage him to trust in the Most High, and to assure him that the hand of Saul should not prevail against him; and at this interview they renewed their covenant... read more

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