I
S A M U E L
CHAP. XXIII.
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, ver. 1-6.
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, ver. 7-13. III. David in a wood and his friend
Jonathan visiting him there and encouraging him, ver. 14-18. IV. The
information which the Ziphites brought to Saul of David's haunts, and the
expedition Saul made, in pursuit of him, ver. 19-25. The narrow escape David
had of falling into his hands, ver. 26-29. "Many are the troubles of the
righteous, but the Lord delivereth them out of them all."
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David
Delivers Keilah.
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B.
C. 1057.
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1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the
Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
2 Therefore David enquired of the LORD,
saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD
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 LORD
yet again. And the LORD
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, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
Now we find why the prophet Gad (by divine direction, no doubt) ordered David
to go into the
land
of
Judah
, ch. xxii. 5. 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.
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, v. 1. 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.
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 v. 6) that Abiathar
came not to him with the ephod till he was in Keilah. His enquiry is, Shall
I go and smite these Philistines? 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.
III. God appointed him once and again to go against the Philistines, and
promised him success: Go, and smite the Philistines, v. 2. His
men opposed it, v. 3. 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 enquired of
the Lord again, and now received, not only a full commission, which would
warrant him to fight though he had no orders from Saul (Arise, go down to
Keilah), but also a full assurance of victory: I will deliver the
Philistines into thy hand, v. 4. This was enough to animate the
greatest coward he had in his regiment.
IV. He went accordingly against the Philistines, routed them, and rescued
Keilah, (v. 5), 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 (v. 6) 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.
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David
Escapes from Keilah.
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B.
C. 1057.
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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, O LORD
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? O LORD
God of
Israel
, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD
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 LORD said, They will deliver thee
up. 13 Then David and his men, which were 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.
Here is, I. Saul contriving within himself the destruction of David (v.
7, 8): He heard that he had come to Keilah; 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 evil for good, and that for his love
they ere his adversaries, Ps. xxxv. 12; cix. 4. Christ was used thus basely,
John x. 32. Now observe, 1. How Saul abused the God of Israel, in
making his providence to patronise and give countenance to his malicious
designs, and thence promising himself success in them: God hath delivered
him into my hand; 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 (Ps.
cxl. 8), Grant not, O Lord! the desires of the wicked; further not his
wicked device, lest they exalt themselves. 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 (v. 9) that he secretly practised mischief against him.
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.
II. David consulting with God concerning his own preservation. He knew by the
information bought him that Saul was plotting his ruin (v. 9) and
therefore applied to his great protector for direction. No sooner is the ephod
brought to him than he makes use of it: Bring hither the ephod. We have
the scriptures, those lively oracles, in our hands; let us take advice from
them in doubtful cases. "Bring hither the Bible."
1. David's address to God upon this occasion is, (1.) Very solemn and
reverent. Twice he calls God the Lord God of Israel, and thrice calls
himself his servant, v. 10, 11. 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 (v. 10): "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 will
be, but what would 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.
2. David, having thus far notice given him of his danger, quitted Keilah, v.
13. 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 Saul heard
that David had escaped from Keilah, he forbore to go forth with the body
of the army, as he intended (v. 8), and resolved to take only his own
guards, and go in quest of his people's enemies and turn their counsels
head-long.
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David
in the Wilderness of Ziph.
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B.
C. 1057.
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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 was 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
LORD:
and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
Here is,
I.
David absconding. He abode in a wilderness, in a mountain (v.
14), in a wood, v. 15. 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.
II. Saul hunting him, as his implacable enemy. He sought him every day, so
restless was his malice, v. 14. He sought no less than his life, so
cruel was his malice, v. 15. As it had been from the beginning, so it
was now, and will be, he that is born after the flesh persecuteth him that
is born after the spirit, Gal. iv. 29.
III. God defending him, as his powerful protector. God delivered him not into
Saul's hand, as Saul hoped (v. 7); and, unless God delivered him into
his hand, he could not prevail against him, John xix. 11.
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 strengthened
his hand in God. 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, v.
17. "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, v. 18. 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.
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 is 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 shall be to deliver him into the king's
hand. 21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD;
for ye have compassion on me. 22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and
know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there:
for it is told me that 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 were in the wilderness of
Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. 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 Maon. And when Saul heard that,
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.
Here, 1. The Ziphites offer their service to Saul, to betray David to him, v.
19, 20. He was sheltering himself in the wilderness of Ziph (v. 14,
15), 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 (v. 19), but invited him to come
with his forces into their country in pursuit of him, and promised to deliver
him into his hand, v. 20. Saul had not sent to examine or threaten
them, but of their own accord, and even without asking a reward (as Judas
did--What will you give me?), 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 (v. 21): Blessed be you of the Lord (so near
is God to his mouth, though far from his heart), for you have compassion on
me. 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 (v. 22), "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, v. 23. 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 (v. 24), and at this time he penned the 54th Psalm,
as appears by the title, wherein he calls the Ziphites strangers,
though they were Israelites, because they used him barbarously; but he puts
himself under the divine protection: "Behold, God is my helper,
and then all shall be well" Saul, having got intelligence of him, pursued
him closely (v. 25), till he came so near him that there was but a
mountain between them (v. 26), 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 as a bird to his mountain (Ps. xi. 1)
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 (v. 28): Selah-hammah-lekoth--the
rock of division, 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 invading the land (v. 27), 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 going against the
Philistines (v. 28), 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 breathing out threatenings and
slaughter against the saints of the Lord, Acts ix. 1. 5. David, having
thus escaped, took shelter in some natural fortresses, which he found in the
wilderness of En-gedi, v. 29. And this Dr. Lightfoot thinks was the
wilderness of Judah, in which David was when he penned Psalm 63, 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.
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