mh_parser/vol_split/9 - 1Samuel/Chapter 23.xml

<div2 id="iSam.xxiv" n="xxiv" next="iSam.xxv" prev="iSam.xxiii" progress="35.53%" title="Chapter XXIII">
<h2 id="iSam.xxiv-p0.1">F I R S T   S A M U E L</h2>
<h3 id="iSam.xxiv-p0.2">CHAP. XXIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iSam.xxiv-p1">Saul, having made himself drunk with the blood of
the priests of the Lord, is here, in this chapter, seeking David's
life, who appears here doing good, and suffering ill, at the same
time. Here is, I. The good service he did to his king and country,
in rescuing the city of Keilah out of the hands of the Philistines,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.1-1Sam.23.6" parsed="|1Sam|23|1|23|6" passage="1Sa 23:1-6">ver. 1-6</scripRef>. II. The danger
he was thereby brought into from the malice of the prince he served
and the treachery of the city he saved, and his deliverance, by
divine direction, from that danger, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.7-1Sam.23.13" parsed="|1Sam|23|7|23|13" passage="1Sa 23:7-13">ver. 7-13</scripRef>. III. David in a wood and his
friend Jonathan visiting him there and encouraging him, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.14-1Sam.23.18" parsed="|1Sam|23|14|23|18" passage="1Sa 23:14-18">ver. 14-18</scripRef>. IV. The information
which the Ziphites brought to Saul of David's haunts, and the
expedition Saul made, in pursuit of him, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.19-1Sam.23.25" parsed="|1Sam|23|19|23|25" passage="1Sa 23:19-25">ver. 19-25</scripRef>. The narrow escape David had
of falling into his hands, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.26-1Sam.23.29" parsed="|1Sam|23|26|23|29" passage="1Sa 23:26-29">ver.
26-29</scripRef>. "Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the
Lord delivereth them out of them all."</p>
<scripCom id="iSam.xxiv-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23" parsed="|1Sam|23|0|0|0" passage="1Sa 23" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iSam.xxiv-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.1-1Sam.23.6" parsed="|1Sam|23|1|23|6" passage="1Sa 23:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.23.1-1Sam.23.6">
<h4 id="iSam.xxiv-p1.8">David Delivers Keilah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiv-p1.9">b. c.</span> 1057.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxiv-p2">1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the
Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
  2 Therefore David enquired of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiv-p2.1">Lord</span>, saying, Shall I go and smite these
Philistines? And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiv-p2.2">Lord</span> said unto
David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.   3 And
David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how
much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the
Philistines?   4 Then David enquired of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiv-p2.3">Lord</span> yet again. And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiv-p2.4">Lord</span> answered him and said, Arise, go down to
Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.  
5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the
Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a
great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.   6
And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to
David to Keilah, <i>that</i> he came down <i>with</i> an ephod in
his hand.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiv-p3">Now we find why the prophet Gad (by divine
direction, no doubt) ordered David to go into the land of Judah,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.5" parsed="|1Sam|22|5|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:5"><i>ch.</i> xxii. 5</scripRef>. It was
that, since Saul neglected the public safety, he might take care of
it, notwithstanding the ill treatment that was given him; for he
must render good for evil, and therein be a type of him who not
only ventured his life, but laid down his life, for those that were
his enemies.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiv-p4">I. Tidings are brought to David, as to the
patron and protector of his country's liberties, that the
Philistines had made a descent upon the city of Keilah and
plundered the country thereabouts, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.1" parsed="|1Sam|23|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. Probably it was the departure
both of God and David from Saul that encouraged the Philistines to
make this incursion. When princes begin to persecute God's people
and ministers, let them expect no other than vexation on all sides.
The way for any country to be quiet is to let God's church be quiet
in it. If Saul fight against David, the Philistines shall fight
against his country.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiv-p5">II. David is forward enough to come in for
their relief, but is willing to enquire of the Lord concerning it.
Here is an instance, 1. Of David's generosity and
public-spiritedness. Though his head and hands were full of his own
business, and he had enough to do, with the little force he had, to
secure himself, yet he was concerned for the safety of his country
and could not sit still to see that ravaged: nay, though Saul,
whose business it was to guard the borders of his land, hated him
and sought his life, yet he was willing, to the utmost of his
power, to serve him and his interests against the common enemy, and
bravely abhorred the thought of sacrificing the common welfare to
his private revenge. Those are unlike to David who sullenly decline
to do good because they have not been so well considered as they
deserved for the services they have done. 2. Of David's piety and
regard to God. He enquired of the Lord by the prophet Gad; for it
should seem (by <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.6" parsed="|1Sam|23|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>) that Abiathar came not to him with the ephod till he
was in Keilah. His enquiry is, <i>Shall I go and smite these
Philistines?</i> He enquires both concerning the duty (whether he
might lawfully take Saul's work out of his hand, and act without a
commission from him) and concerning the event, whether he might
safely venture against such a force as the Philistines had with
such a handful of men at his feet, and such a dangerous enemy as
Saul was at his back. It is our duty, and will be our case and
comfort, whatever happens, to acknowledge God in all our ways and
to seek direction from him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiv-p6">III. God appointed him once and again to go
against the Philistines, and promised him success: <i>Go, and smite
the Philistines,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.2" parsed="|1Sam|23|2|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. His men opposed it, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.3" parsed="|1Sam|23|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. No sooner did he begin to have
soldiers of his own than he found it hard enough to manage them.
They objected that they had enemies enough among their own
countrymen, they needed not to make the Philistines their enemies.
Their hearts failed them when they only apprehended themselves in
danger from Saul's band of pursuers, much more when they came to
engage the Philistine-armies. To satisfy them, therefore, he
<i>enquired of the Lord again,</i> and now received, not only a
full commission, which would warrant him to fight though he had no
orders from Saul (<i>Arise, go down to Keilah</i>), but also a full
assurance of victory: <i>I will deliver the Philistines into thy
hand,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.4" parsed="|1Sam|23|4|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. This
was enough to animate the greatest coward he had in his
regiment.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiv-p7">IV. He went accordingly against the
Philistines, routed them, and rescued Keilah, (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.5" parsed="|1Sam|23|5|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), and it should seem he made a
sally into the country of the Philistines, for he carried off their
cattle by way of reprisal for the wrong they did to the men of
Keilah in robbing their threshing-floors. Here notice is taken
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.6" parsed="|1Sam|23|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>) that it was
while David remained in Keilah, after he had cleared it of the
Philistines, that Abiathar came to him with the ephod in his hand,
that is, the high priest's ephod, in which the urim and thummim
were. It was a great comfort to David, in his banishment, that when
he could not go to the house of God he had some of the choicest
treasures of that house brought to him, the high priest and his
breast-plate of judgment.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxiv-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.7-1Sam.23.13" parsed="|1Sam|23|7|23|13" passage="1Sa 23:7-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.23.7-1Sam.23.13">
<h4 id="iSam.xxiv-p7.4">David Escapes from Keilah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiv-p7.5">b. c.</span> 1057.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxiv-p8">7 And it was told Saul that David was come to
Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for
he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
  8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down
to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.   9 And David knew
that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to
Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.   10 Then said
David, <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiv-p8.1">O Lord</span> God of Israel, thy
servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah,
to destroy the city for my sake.   11 Will the men of Keilah
deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant
hath heard? <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiv-p8.2">O Lord</span> God of Israel, I
beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiv-p8.3">Lord</span> said, He will come down.   12 Then
said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the
hand of Saul? And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiv-p8.4">Lord</span> said,
They will deliver <i>thee</i> up.   13 Then David and his men,
<i>which were</i> about six hundred, arose and departed out of
Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul
that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiv-p9">Here is, I. Saul contriving within himself
the destruction of David (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.7-1Sam.23.8" parsed="|1Sam|23|7|23|8" passage="1Sa 23:7,8"><i>v.</i>
7, 8</scripRef>): <i>He heard that he had come to Keilah;</i> 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 wretch he was, and for ever
unworthy to have any service or kindness done him. Well might David
complain of his enemies that they rewarded him <i>evil for
good,</i> and that for his love they were his adversaries, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.35.12 Bible:Ps.109.4" parsed="|Ps|35|12|0|0;|Ps|109|4|0|0" passage="Ps 35:12,109:4">Ps. xxxv. 12; cix. 4</scripRef>. Christ
was used thus basely, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:John.10.32" parsed="|John|10|32|0|0" passage="Joh 10:32">John x.
32</scripRef>. Now observe, 1. How Saul abused the <i>God of
Israel,</i> in making his providence to patronise and give
countenance to his malicious designs, and thence promising himself
success in them: <i>God hath delivered him into my hand;</i> as if
he who was rejected of God were in this instance owned and favoured
by him, and David infatuated. He vainly triumphs before the
victory, forgetting how often he had had fairer advantages against
David than he had now and had yet missed his aim. He impiously
connects God with his cause, because he thought he had gained one
point. Therefore David prays (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.140.8" parsed="|Ps|140|8|0|0" passage="Ps 140:8">Ps. cxl.
8</scripRef>), <i>Grant not, O Lord! the desires of the wicked;
further not his wicked device, lest they exalt themselves.</i> We
must not think that one smiling providence either justifies an
unrighteous cause or secures its success. 2. How Saul abused the
Israel of God, in making them the servants of his malice against
David. He called all the people together to war, and they must with
all speed march to Keilah, pretending to oppose the Philistines,
but intending to besiege David and his men, though concealing that
design; for it is said (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.9" parsed="|1Sam|23|9|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>) that he <i>secretly practised mischief against
him.</i> Miserable is that people whose prince is a tyrant, for,
while some are sufferers by his tyranny, others (which is worse)
are made servants to it and instruments of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiv-p10">II. David consulting with God concerning
his own preservation. He knew by the information bought him that
Saul was plotting his ruin (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.9" parsed="|1Sam|23|9|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>) and therefore applied to his great protector for
direction. No sooner is the ephod brought to him than he makes use
of it: <i>Bring hither the ephod.</i> We have the scriptures, those
lively oracles, in our hands; let us take advice from them in
doubtful cases. "Bring hither the Bible."</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiv-p11">1. David's address to God upon this
occasion is, (1.) Very solemn and reverent. Twice he calls God the
<i>Lord God of Israel,</i> and thrice calls himself his
<i>servant,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.10-1Sam.23.11" parsed="|1Sam|23|10|23|11" passage="1Sa 23:10,11"><i>v.</i> 10,
11</scripRef>. Those that address God must know their distance, and
who they are speaking to. (2.) Very particular and express. His
representation of the case is so (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.10" parsed="|1Sam|23|10|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): "Thy servant has certainly
heard on good authority" (for he would not call for the ephod upon
every idle rumour) "that Saul has a design upon Keilah;" he does
not say, "to destroy me," but, "to destroy the city" (as he had
lately done the city of Nob) "for my sake." He seems more
solicitous for their safety than for his own, and will expose
himself any where rather than they shall be brought into trouble by
his being among them. Generous souls are thus minded. His queries
upon the case are likewise very particular. God allows us to be so
in our addresses to him: "Lord, direct me in this matter, about
which I am now at a loss." He does indeed invert the due order of
his queries, but God in his answer puts him into method. That
question should have been put first, and was first answered, "Will
Saul come down, as thy servant has heard?" "Yea," says the oracle,
"he will come down; he has resolved it, is preparing for it, and
will do it, unless he hear that thou hast quitted the town." "Well,
but if he do come down will the men of Keilah stand by me in
holding the city against him, or will they open to him the gates,
and deliver me into his hand?" If he had asked the men (the
magistrates or elders) of Keilah themselves what they would do in
that case, they could not have told him, not knowing their own
minds, nor what they should do when it came to the trial, much less
which way the superior vote of their council would carry it; or
they might have told him they would protect him, and yet afterwards
have betrayed him; but God could tell him infallibly: "When Saul
besieges their city, and demands of them that they surrender thee
into his hands, how fond soever they now seem of thee, as their
saviour, they will deliver thee up rather than stand the shock of
Saul's fury." Note, [1.] God knows all men better than they know
themselves, knows their length, their strength, what is in them,
and what they will do if they come into such and such
circumstances. [2.] He therefore knows not only what <i>will</i>
be, but what <i>would</i> be if it were not prevented; and
therefore knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and how
to render to every man according to his works.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiv-p12">2. David, having thus far notice given him
of his danger, quitted Keilah, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.13" parsed="|1Sam|23|13|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. His followers had now
increased in number to 600; with these he went out, not knowing
whither he went, but resolving to follow Providence and put himself
under its protection. This broke Saul's measures. He thought God
had delivered David into his hand, but it proved that God delivered
him out of his hand, as a bird out of the snare of the fowler. When
<i>Saul heard that David had escaped from Keilah, he forbore to go
forth</i> with the body of the army, as he intended (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.8" parsed="|1Sam|23|8|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), and resolved to take
only his own guards, and go in quest of his people's enemies and
turn their counsels head-long.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxiv-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.14-1Sam.23.18" parsed="|1Sam|23|14|23|18" passage="1Sa 23:14-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.23.14-1Sam.23.18">
<h4 id="iSam.xxiv-p12.4">David in the Wilderness of
Ziph. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiv-p12.5">b. c.</span> 1057.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxiv-p13">14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong
holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And
Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
  15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life:
and David <i>was</i> in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.   16
And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and
strengthened his hand in God.   17 And he said unto him, Fear
not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou
shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that
also Saul my father knoweth.   18 And they two made a covenant
before the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiv-p13.1">Lord</span>: and David abode in
the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiv-p14">Here is, I. David absconding. He abode in a
<i>wilderness, in a mountain</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.14" parsed="|1Sam|23|14|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>), <i>in a wood,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.15" parsed="|1Sam|23|15|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. 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 of the country under Saul's
tyrannical government. No, he makes no such attempt; he keeps God's
way, waits God's time, and is content to secure himself in woods
and wildernesses, though with some it might seem a reproach to that
courage for which he had been famous. But, 2. We must also lament
his hard fate, that an innocent man should be thus terrified and
put in fear of his life, that a man of honour should be thus
disgraced, a man of merit thus recompensed for his services, and a
man that delighted in the service both of God and his country
should be debarred from both and wrapped up in obscurity. What
shall we say to this? Let it make us think the worse of this world,
which often gives such bad treatment to its best men; let it
reconcile even great and active men to privacy and restraint, if
Providence make these their lot, for they were David's; and let it
make us long for that kingdom where goodness shall for ever be in
glory and holiness in honour, and the righteous shall shine as the
sun, which cannot be put under a bushel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiv-p15">II. Saul hunting him, as his implacable
enemy. He sought him every day, so restless was his malice,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.14" parsed="|1Sam|23|14|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. He sought no
less than his life, so cruel was his malice, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.15" parsed="|1Sam|23|15|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. As it had been from the
beginning, so it was now, and will be, <i>he that is born after the
flesh persecuteth him that is born after the spirit,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Gal.4.29" parsed="|Gal|4|29|0|0" passage="Ga 4:29">Gal. iv. 29</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiv-p16">III. God defending him, as his powerful
protector. God delivered him not into Saul's hand, as Saul hoped
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.7" parsed="|1Sam|23|7|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>); and, unless
God delivered him into his hand, he could not prevail against him,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:John.19.11" parsed="|John|19|11|0|0" passage="Joh 19:11">John xix. 11</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiv-p17">IV. Jonathan comforting him as his faithful
and constant friend. True friends will find out means to get
together. David, it is likely, appointed time and place for this
interview, and Jonathan observed the appointment, though he exposed
himself thereby to his father's displeasure, and, had it been
discovered, it might have cost him his life. True friendship will
not shrink from danger, but can easily venture, will not shrink
from condescension, but can easily stoop, and exchange a palace for
a wood, to serve a friend. The very sight of Jonathan was reviving
to David; but, besides this, he said that to him which was very
encouraging. 1. As a pious friend, he directed him to God, the
foundation of his confidence and the fountain of his comfort: He
<i>strengthened his hand in God.</i> David, though a strong
believer, needed the help of his friends for the perfecting of what
was lacking in his faith; and herein Jonathan was helpful to him,
by reminding him of the promise of God, the holy oil wherewith he
was anointed, the presence of God with him hitherto, and the many
experiences he had had of God's goodness to him. Thus he
strengthened his hands for action, by encouraging his heart, not in
the creature, but in God. Jonathan was not in a capacity of doing
any thing to strengthen him, but he assured him God would. 2. As a
self-denying friend, he took a pleasure in the prospect of David's
advancement to that honour which was his own birthright, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.17" parsed="|1Sam|23|17|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. "Thou shalt live to be
king, and I shall think it preferment enough to be next thee, near
thee, though under thee, and will never pretend to be a rival with
thee." This resignation which Jonathan made to David of his title
would be a great satisfaction to him, and make his way much the
more clear. This, he tells him, Saul knew very well, Jonathan
having sometimes heard him say as much, whence it appears what a
wicked man Saul was, to persecute one whom God favoured, and what a
foolish man he was, in thinking to prevent that which God had
determined and which would certainly come to pass. How could he
disannul what God had purposed? 3. As a constant friend, he renewed
his league of friendship with him. They made a covenant now, this
third time, before the Lord, calling him to witness to it,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.18" parsed="|1Sam|23|18|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. True love
takes delight in repeating its engagements, giving and receiving
fresh assurances of the firmness of the friendship. Our covenant
with God should be often renewed, and therein our communion with
him kept up. David and Jonathan now parted, and never came together
again, that we find, in this world; for Jonathan said what he
wished, not what he had ground to expect, when he promised himself
that he should be next to David in his kingdom.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxiv-p0.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.19-1Sam.23.29" parsed="|1Sam|23|19|23|29" passage="1Sa 23:19-29" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.23.19-1Sam.23.29">
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxiv-p18">19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah,
saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the
wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which <i>is</i> on the south of
Jeshimon?   20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to
all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part <i>shall
be</i> to deliver him into the king's hand.   21 And Saul
said, Blessed <i>be</i> ye of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiv-p18.1">Lord</span>; for ye have compassion on me.   22
Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his
haunt is, <i>and</i> who hath seen him there: for it is told me
<i>that</i> he dealeth very subtilly.   23 See therefore, and
take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself,
and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you:
and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search
him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.   24 And they
arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men
<i>were</i> in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of
Jeshimon.   25 Saul also and his men went to seek <i>him.</i>
And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode
in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard <i>that,</i> he
pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.   26 And Saul
went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that
side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of
Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about
to take them.   27 But there came a messenger unto Saul,
saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the
land.   28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David,
and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place
Sela-hammahlekoth.   29 And David went up from thence, and
dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiv-p19">Here, 1. The Ziphites offer their service
to Saul, to betray David to him, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.19-1Sam.23.20" parsed="|1Sam|23|19|23|20" passage="1Sa 23:19,20"><i>v.</i> 19, 20</scripRef>. He was sheltering
himself in the wilderness of Ziph (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.14-1Sam.23.15" parsed="|1Sam|23|14|23|15" passage="1Sa 23:14,15"><i>v.</i> 14, 15</scripRef>), 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 troops, that he
was ready to protect it and to them all the good offices that there
was occasion for. But, to ingratiate themselves with Saul, they
went to him, and not only informed him very particularly where
David quartered (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.19" parsed="|1Sam|23|19|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>), but invited him to come with his forces into their
country in pursuit of him, and promised to deliver him into his
hand, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.20" parsed="|1Sam|23|20|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. Saul
had not sent to examine or threaten them, but of their own accord,
and even without asking a reward (as Judas did—<i>What will you
give me?</i>), they offered to betray David to him who, they knew,
thirsted after his blood. 2. Saul thankfully receives their
information, and gladly lays hold of the opportunity of hunting
David in their wilderness, in hopes to make a prey of him at
length. He intimates to them how kindly he took it (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.21" parsed="|1Sam|23|21|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>): <i>Blessed be you of
the Lord</i> (so near is God to his mouth, though far from his
heart), <i>for you have compassion on me.</i> It seems he looked
upon himself as a miserable man and an object of pity; his own envy
and ill-nature made him so, otherwise he might have been easy and
have needed no man's compassion. He likewise insinuates the little
concern that the generality of his people showed for him. "You have
compassion on me, which others have not." Saul gives them
instructions to search more particularly for his haunts (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.6" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.22" parsed="|1Sam|23|22|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>), "for" (says he) "I
hear he deals very subtilely," representing him as a man crafty to
do mischief, whereas all his subtlety was to secure himself. It was
strange that Saul did not go down with them immediately, but he
hoped by their means to set his game with the more certainty, and
thus divine Providence gave David time to shift for himself. But
the Ziphites had laid their spies upon all the places where he was
likely to be discovered, and therefore Saul might come and seize
him if he was in the land, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.7" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.23" parsed="|1Sam|23|23|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>. Now he thought himself sure of his prey and pleased
himself with the thoughts of devouring it. 3. The imminent peril
that David was now brought into. Upon intelligence that the
Ziphites had betrayed him, he retired from the hill of Hachilah to
the wilderness of Maon (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.8" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.24" parsed="|1Sam|23|24|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:24"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>), and at this time he penned the <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.54.1-Ps.54.7" parsed="|Ps|54|1|54|7" passage="Ps 54:1-7">54th Psalm</scripRef>, as appears by the title, wherein
he calls the Ziphites <i>strangers,</i> though they were
Israelites, because they used him barbarously; but he puts himself
under the divine protection: "<i>Behold, God is my helper,</i> and
then all shall be well" Saul, having got intelligence of him,
pursued him closely (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.10" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.25" parsed="|1Sam|23|25|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:25"><i>v.</i>
25</scripRef>), till he came so near him that there was but a
mountain between them (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.11" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.26" parsed="|1Sam|23|26|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:26"><i>v.</i>
26</scripRef>), David and his men on one side of the mountain
flying and Saul and his men on the other side pursuing, David in
fear and Saul in hope. But this mountain was an emblem of the
divine Providence coming between David and the destroyer, like the
pillar of cloud between the Israelites and the Egyptians. David was
concealed by this mountain and Saul confounded by it. David now
flees <i>as a bird to his mountain</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.11.1" parsed="|Ps|11|1|0|0" passage="Ps 11:1">Ps. xi. 1</scripRef>) and finds God to him as the shadow
of a great rock. Saul hoped with his numerous forces to enclose
David, and compass him in and his men; but the ground did not prove
convenient for his design, and so it failed. A new name was given
to the place in remembrance of this (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.13" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.28" parsed="|1Sam|23|28|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>): <i>Selah-hammah-lekoth—the
rock of division,</i> because it divided between Saul and David. 4.
The deliverance of David out of this danger. Providence gave Saul a
diversion, when he was just ready to lay hold of David; notice was
brought him that the Philistines were <i>invading the land</i>
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.14" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.27" parsed="|1Sam|23|27|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>), probably
that part of the land where his own estate lay, which would be
seized, or at least spoiled, by the invaders; for the little notice
he took of Keilah's distress and David's relief of it, in the
beginning of this chapter, gives us cause to suspect that he would
not now have left pursuing David, and gone to oppose the
Philistines, if some private interests of his own had not been at
stake. However it was, he found himself under a necessity of
<i>going against the Philistines</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.15" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.28" parsed="|1Sam|23|28|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>), and by this means David was
delivered when he was on the brink of destruction. Saul was
disappointed of his prey, and God was glorified as David's
wonderful protector. When the Philistines invaded the land they
were far from intending any kindness to David by it, yet the
overruling providence of God, which orders all events and the times
of them, made it very serviceable to him. The wisdom of God is
never at a loss for ways and means to preserve his people. As this
Saul was diverted, so another Saul was converted, just then when he
was <i>breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the saints
of the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.16" osisRef="Bible:Acts.9.1" parsed="|Acts|9|1|0|0" passage="Ac 9:1">Acts ix. 1</scripRef>.
5. David, having thus escaped, took shelter in some natural
fortresses, which he found in the wilderness of En-gedi, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.17" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.29" parsed="|1Sam|23|29|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>. And this Dr. Lightfoot
thinks was the wilderness of Judah, in which David was when he
penned <scripRef id="iSam.xxiv-p19.18" osisRef="Bible:Ps.63.1-Ps.63.11" parsed="|Ps|63|1|63|11" passage="Ps 63:1-11">Psalm 63</scripRef>, which
breathes as much pious and devout affection as almost any of his
psalms; for in all places and in all conditions he still kept up
his communion with God.</p>
</div></div2>