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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T S A M U E L</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Saul, having made himself drunk with the blood of the priests of the
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Lord, is here, in this chapter, seeking David's life, who appears here
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doing good, and suffering ill, at the same time. Here is,
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I. The good service he did to his king and country, in rescuing the
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city of Keilah out of the hands of the Philistines,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>.
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II. The danger he was thereby brought into from the malice of the
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prince he served and the treachery of the city he saved, and his
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deliverance, by divine direction, from that danger,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:7-13">ver. 7-13</A>.
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III. David in a wood and his friend Jonathan visiting him there and
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encouraging him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:14-18">ver. 14-18</A>.
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IV. The information which the Ziphites brought to Saul of David's
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haunts, and the expedition Saul made, in pursuit of him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:19-25">ver. 19-25</A>.
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The narrow escape David had of falling into his hands,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:26-29">ver. 26-29</A>.
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"Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth them
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out of them all."</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>David Delivers Keilah.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1057.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight
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against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
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2 Therefore David enquired of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, saying, Shall I go and
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smite these Philistines? And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto David, Go, and
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smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
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3 And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in
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Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies
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of the Philistines?
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4 Then David enquired of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> yet again. And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will
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deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
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5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the
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Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a
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great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
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6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled
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to David to Keilah, <I>that</I> he came down <I>with</I> an ephod in his
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hand.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Now we find why the prophet Gad (by divine direction, no doubt) ordered
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David to go into the land of Judah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+22:5"><I>ch.</I> xxii. 5</A>.
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It was that, since Saul neglected the public safety, he might take care
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of it, notwithstanding the ill treatment that was given him; for he
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must render good for evil, and therein be a type of him who not only
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ventured his life, but laid down his life, for those that were his
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enemies.</P>
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<P>
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I. Tidings are brought to David, as to the patron and protector of his
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country's liberties, that the Philistines had made a descent upon the
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city of Keilah and plundered the country thereabouts,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Probably it was the departure both of God and David from Saul that
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encouraged the Philistines to make this incursion. When princes begin
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to persecute God's people and ministers, let them expect no other than
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vexation on all sides. The way for any country to be quiet is to let
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God's church be quiet in it. If Saul fight against David, the
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Philistines shall fight against his country.</P>
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<P>
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II. David is forward enough to come in for their relief, but is willing
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to enquire of the Lord concerning it. Here is an instance,
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1. Of David's generosity and public-spiritedness. Though his head and
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hands were full of his own business, and he had enough to do, with the
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little force he had, to secure himself, yet he was concerned for the
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safety of his country and could not sit still to see that ravaged: nay,
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though Saul, whose business it was to guard the borders of his land,
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hated him and sought his life, yet he was willing, to the utmost of his
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power, to serve him and his interests against the common enemy, and
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bravely abhorred the thought of sacrificing the common welfare to his
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private revenge. Those are unlike to David who sullenly decline to do
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good because they have not been so well considered as they deserved for
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the services they have done.
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2. Of David's piety and regard to God. He enquired of the Lord by the
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prophet Gad; for it should seem (by
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>)
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that Abiathar came not to him with the ephod till he was in Keilah. His
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enquiry is, <I>Shall I go and smite these Philistines?</I> He enquires
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both concerning the duty (whether he might lawfully take Saul's work
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out of his hand, and act without a commission from him) and concerning
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the event, whether he might safely venture against such a force as the
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Philistines had with such a handful of men at his feet, and such a
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dangerous enemy as Saul was at his back. It is our duty, and will be
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our case and comfort, whatever happens, to acknowledge God in all our
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ways and to seek direction from him.</P>
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<P>
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III. God appointed him once and again to go against the Philistines,
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and promised him success: <I>Go, and smite the Philistines,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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His men opposed it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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No sooner did he begin to have soldiers of his own than he found it
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hard enough to manage them. They objected that they had enemies enough
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among their own countrymen, they needed not to make the Philistines
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their enemies. Their hearts failed them when they only apprehended
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themselves in danger from Saul's band of pursuers, much more when they
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came to engage the Philistine-armies. To satisfy them, therefore, he
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<I>enquired of the Lord again,</I> and now received, not only a full
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commission, which would warrant him to fight though he had no orders
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from Saul (<I>Arise, go down to Keilah</I>), but also a full assurance
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of victory: <I>I will deliver the Philistines into thy hand,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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This was enough to animate the greatest coward he had in his
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regiment.</P>
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<P>
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IV. He went accordingly against the Philistines, routed them, and
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rescued Keilah,
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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and it should seem he made a sally into the country of the Philistines,
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for he carried off their cattle by way of reprisal for the wrong they
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did to the men of Keilah in robbing their threshing-floors. Here notice
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is taken
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>)
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that it was while David remained in Keilah, after he had cleared it of
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the Philistines, that Abiathar came to him with the ephod in his hand,
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that is, the high priest's ephod, in which the urim and thummim were.
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It was a great comfort to David, in his banishment, that when he could
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not go to the house of God he had some of the choicest treasures of
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that house brought to him, the high priest and his breast-plate of
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judgment.</P>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>David Escapes from Keilah.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1057.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul
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said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in,
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by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
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8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to
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Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
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9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against
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him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
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10 Then said David, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of Israel, thy servant hath
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certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy
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the city for my sake.
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11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will
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Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of Israel,
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I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said, He will come
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down.
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12 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my
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men into the hand of Saul? And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said, They will deliver
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<I>thee</I> up.
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13 Then David and his men, <I>which were</I> about six hundred,
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arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they
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could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from
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Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. Saul contriving within himself the destruction of David
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:7,8"><I>v.</I> 7, 8</A>):
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<I>He heard that he had come to Keilah;</I> and did he not hear what
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brought him thither? Was it not told him that he had bravely relieved
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Keilah and delivered it out of the hands of the Philistines? This, one
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would think, should have put Saul upon considering what honour and
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dignity should be done to David for this. But, instead of that, he
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catches at it as an opportunity of doing David a mischief. An
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ungrateful wretch he was, and for ever unworthy to have any service or
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kindness done him. Well might David complain of his enemies that they
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rewarded him <I>evil for good,</I> and that for his love they ere his
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adversaries,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+35:12,109:4">Ps. xxxv. 12; cix. 4</A>.
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Christ was used thus basely,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+10:32">John x. 32</A>.
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Now observe,
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1. How Saul abused the <I>God of Israel,</I> in making his providence
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to patronise and give countenance to his malicious designs, and thence
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promising himself success in them: <I>God hath delivered him into my
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hand;</I> as if he who was rejected of God were in this instance owned
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and favoured by him, and David infatuated. He vainly triumphs before
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the victory, forgetting how often he had had fairer advantages against
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David than he had now and had yet missed his aim. He impiously connects
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God with his cause, because he thought he had gained one point.
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Therefore David prays
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+140:8">Ps. cxl. 8</A>),
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<I>Grant not, O Lord! the desires of the wicked; further not his wicked
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device, lest they exalt themselves.</I> We must not think that one
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smiling providence either justifies an unrighteous cause or secures its
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success.
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2. How Saul abused the Israel of God, in making them the servants of
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his malice against David. He called all the people together to war, and
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they must with all speed march to Keilah, pretending to oppose the
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Philistines, but intending to besiege David and his men, though
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concealing that design; for it is said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>)
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that he <I>secretly practised mischief against him.</I> Miserable is
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that people whose prince is a tyrant, for, while some are sufferers by
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his tyranny, others (which is worse) are made servants to it and
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instruments of it.</P>
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<P>
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II. David consulting with God concerning his own preservation. He knew
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by the information bought him that Saul was plotting his ruin
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>)
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and therefore applied to his great protector for direction. No sooner
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is the ephod brought to him than he makes use of it: <I>Bring hither
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the ephod.</I> We have the scriptures, those lively oracles, in our
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hands; let us take advice from them in doubtful cases. "Bring hither
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the Bible."</P>
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<P>
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1. David's address to God upon this occasion is,
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(1.) Very solemn and reverent. Twice he calls God the <I>Lord God of
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Israel,</I> and thrice calls himself his <I>servant,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
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Those that address God must know their distance, and who they are
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speaking to.
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(2.) Very particular and express. His representation of the case is so
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
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"Thy servant has certainly heard on good authority" (for he would not
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call for the ephod upon every idle rumour) "that Saul has a design upon
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Keilah;" he does not say, "to destroy me," but, "to destroy the city"
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(as he had lately done the city of Nob) "for my sake." He seems more
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solicitous for their safety than for his own, and will expose himself
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any where rather than they shall be brought into trouble by his being
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among them. Generous souls are thus minded. His queries upon the case
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are likewise very particular. God allows us to be so in our addresses
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to him: "Lord, direct me in this matter, about which I am now at a
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loss." He does indeed invert the due order of his queries, but God in
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his answer puts him into method. That question should have been put
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first, and was first answered, "Will Saul come down, as thy servant has
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heard?" "Yea," says the oracle, "he will come down; he has resolved it,
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is preparing for it, and will do it, unless he hear that thou hast
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quitted the town." "Well, but if he do come down will the men of Keilah
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stand by me in holding the city against him, or will they open to him
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the gates, and deliver me into his hand?" If he had asked the men (the
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magistrates or elders) of Keilah themselves what they would do in that
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case, they could not have told him, not knowing their own minds, nor
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what they should do when it came to the trial, much less which way the
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superior vote of their council would carry it; or they might have told
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him they would protect him, and yet afterwards have betrayed him; but
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God could tell him infallibly: "When Saul besieges their city, and
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demands of them that they surrender thee into his hands, how fond
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soever they now seem of thee, as their saviour, they will deliver thee
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up rather than stand the shock of Saul's fury." Note,
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[1.] God knows all men better than they know themselves, knows their
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length, their strength, what is in them, and what they will do if they
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come into such and such circumstances.
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[2.] He therefore knows not only what <I>will</I> be, but what
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<I>would</I> be if it were not prevented; and therefore knows how to
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deliver the godly out of temptation, and how to render to every man
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according to his works.</P>
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<P>
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2. David, having thus far notice given him of his danger, quitted
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Keilah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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His followers had now increased in number to 600; with these he went
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out, not knowing whither he went, but resolving to follow Providence
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and put himself under its protection. This broke Saul's measures. He
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thought God had delivered David into his hand, but it proved that God
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delivered him out of his hand, as a bird out of the snare of the
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fowler. When <I>Saul heard that David had escaped from Keilah, he
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forbore to go forth</I> with the body of the army, as he intended
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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and resolved to take only his own guards, and go in quest of his
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people's enemies and turn their counsels head-long.</P>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa23_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>David in the Wilderness of Ziph.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1057.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and
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remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought
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him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
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15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and
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David <I>was</I> in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
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16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the
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wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
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17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my
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father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel,
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and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father
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knoweth.
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18 And they two made a covenant before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: and David
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abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
|
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I. David absconding. He abode in a <I>wilderness, in a mountain</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
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<I>in a wood,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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We must here,
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1. Commend his eminent virtues, his humility, modesty, fidelity to his
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prince, and patient attendance on the providence of his God, that he
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did not draw up his forces against Saul, fight him in the field, or
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|
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
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troubles and the calamities of the country under Saul's tyrannical
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government. No, he makes no such attempt; he keeps God's way, waits
|
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God's time, and is content to secure himself in woods and wildernesses,
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though with some it might seem a reproach to that courage for which he
|
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had been famous. But,
|
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2. We must also lament his hard fate, that an innocent man should be
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thus terrified and put in fear of his life, that a man of honour should
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be thus disgraced, a man of merit thus recompensed for his services,
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|
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
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|
bushel.</P>
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<P>
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II. Saul hunting him, as his implacable enemy. He sought him every day,
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so restless was his malice,
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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He sought no less than his life, so cruel was his malice,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
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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>
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+4:29">Gal. iv. 29</A>.</P>
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|
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<P>
|
|
|
|
III. God defending him, as his powerful protector. God delivered him
|
|
not into Saul's hand, as Saul hoped
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>);
|
|
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|
and, unless God delivered him into his hand, he could not prevail
|
|
against him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+19:11">John xix. 11</A>.</P>
|
|
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<P>
|
|
|
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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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
"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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa23_19"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="1Sa23_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa23_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa23_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa23_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa23_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa23_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa23_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa23_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa23_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa23_29"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; 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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
1. The Ziphites offer their service to Saul, to betray David to him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:19,20"><I>v.</I> 19, 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
He was sheltering himself in the wilderness of Ziph
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:14,15"><I>v.</I> 14, 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
but invited him to come with his forces into their country in pursuit
|
|
of him, and promised to deliver him into his hand,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
|
|
|
|
<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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
"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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
New 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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>),
|
|
|
|
and at this time he penned the
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+54:1-7">54th Psalm</A>,
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
till he came so near him that there was but a mountain between them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+11:1">Ps. xi. 1</A>)
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>):
|
|
|
|
<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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+9:1">Acts ix. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
5. David, having thus escaped, took shelter in some natural fortresses,
|
|
which he found in the wilderness of En-gedi,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
And this Dr. Lightfoot thinks was the wilderness of Judah, in which
|
|
David was when he penned
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+63:1-11">Psalm 63</A>,
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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