23:1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight
against a Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
(a) Which was a city in the tribe of Judah,
(Jos 15:44).
23:3 And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in
b Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against
the armies of the Philistines?
(b) That is, in the midst of Judah, much more when we come
to the borders against our enemies.
23:6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech
fled to David to Keilah, [that] he came down [with] an c
ephod in his hand.
(c) By God's providence the ephod was preserved and kept
with David the true king.
23:9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief
against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, d Bring
hither the ephod.
(d) To consult with the Lord by Urim and Thummim.
23:14 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 e delivered him not into
his hand.
(e) No power nor policy can prevail against God's
children, but when he appoints the time.
23:17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my
father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be f king
over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also
Saul my father knoweth.
(f) Jonathan assured David, that God would accomplish his
promise, and that his father warred against his own
conscience.
23:21 And Saul said, g Blessed [be] ye of the LORD; for ye
have compassion on me.
(g) the Lord recompense this friendship.
23:23 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 h land, that I will search
him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
(h) In your country of Ziph, which is in Judah.
23:25 Saul also and his men went to seek [him]. And they told
David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in
the wilderness of i Maon. And when Saul heard [that],
he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
(i) Which was also in the tribe of Judah, (Jos 15:55).
23:27 But there came a k messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste
thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
(k) Thus the Lord can pull back the bridle of the tyrants
and deliver his out of the lion's mouth.
23:28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and
went against the Philistines: therefore they called that
place l Selahammahlekoth.
(l) That is, stone of division, because there they divided
themselves one from another.
23:29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in a strong
holds at Engedi.
(a) That is, in strong places, which were defended by
nature.
