1 Samuel 23:28 NIV

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 23:28

Therefore Saul returned from pursuing after David ,.... Stopped short at once, as soon as ever he received the message: and went against the Philistines ; to stop them in their progress, and drive them out of his country: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth , which signifies the rock of divisions. David and his men, very probably, gave it this name, not only because it divided between Saul and his men, and David and his men, when they were one on one side of it, and the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 23:28

They called that place Sela-hammah-lekoth - That is, the rock of divisions; because, says the Targum, the heart of the king was divided to go hither and thither. Here Saul was obliged to separate himself from David, in order to go and oppose the invading Philistines. 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 23:28

Sela-hammahlekoth - See the margin. (Identified by Conder with a narrow and impassable gorge between El Kolah and Maon, called Malaky). read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 23:27-28

1 Samuel 23:27-28. There came a messenger unto Saul See the providence of God! His wisdom is never at a loss for ways and means to preserve his people. Nothing could be more distressful, nothing more hopeless than the situation of David at this time. He was surrounded on all sides, and there seemed no way left for escape; but as we learn from the fifty-fourth Psalm, composed by him on this occasion, he addressed himself in prayer to his almighty Saviour, who soon showed him that he can... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 23:1-29

Saul’s fierce hunt (23:1-24:22)Since Abiathar had brought with him the high priest’s ephod (containing the Urim and Thummim), David was able to ask and receive God’s direct guidance. God’s first direction was to rescue the Israelite town of Keilah from the raiding Philistines (23:1-6). As soon as he had defeated the Philistines, David withdrew from Keilah. He knew that Saul’s army was larger and better equipped than his. He knew also that he could not trust the people of Keilah to stand with... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 23:28

Sela-hammahlekoth = the cliff of divisions or separations. Now Wady Malaky, where two forces could be inaccessible the one to the other, and yet within sight and hearing. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 23:27-28

1 Samuel 23:27-28. There came a messenger unto Saul— Thus, by the timely interposition of Providence, David was delivered from one of the most immediate dangers of his life: and from this time they called the place המחלקות סלע Selang hammachlekoth; i.e. the rock of divisions: the rock where Saul was obliged to divide himself from David, and go after the Philistines. Osiander thinks that David gave it this name in gratitude for his deliverance, as a memorial that there God had, by little less... read more