1 Samuel 22:5

DAVID’S RETURN TO THE LAND OF JUDAH, 1 Samuel 22:5.

5. The prophet Gad With much plausibility supposed to have been a member of Samuel’s school of prophets. Having made David’s acquaintance at Ramah, (1 Samuel 19:18,) he now joins his company at Mizpeh of Moab, and advises him to return to his native land. Whether he remained with David during the period of his wanderings we know not; but at a later day we find him attached to the royal household, and spoken of as David’s seer. 1 Samuel 29:11. He was also the author of a book of the acts of David. 1 Chronicles 29:29.

Abide not in the hold Dwell no longer in this fortress at Mizpeh.

Get thee into the land of Judah A long sojourn away from his fatherland might have a tendency to alienate from him the affections of the people of Israel. These words show that when David received the message of Gad he was not in the land of Judah, and therefore the hold in which he was no longer to abide could not have been the cave of Adullam, as many have supposed, nor any other stronghold in the land of Judah. Hence our reason for regarding this hold as some fortified place in the land of Moab.

The forest of Hareth Some wooded part of the wilderness of Judah, whose exact locality is no longer known. Here it seems Abiathar joined him. 1 Samuel 22:20.