1 Samuel 26:2-4

Three thousand chosen men . Not chosen for this expedition, but the force which Saul always kept under arms ( 1 Samuel 13:2 ). By the way. The high road which led down to Arad. David abode in the wilderness. Hebrew, "abides." Instead of fleeing in haste as before, he remains apparently on the higher ground, as he speaks in 1 Samuel 26:6 of going down to Saul's camp. And he saw . I.e. learned, was told. It was only when his scouts brought him their report that he knew that Saul was come in very deed, or "for a certainty" (see 1 Samuel 23:23 ).