1 Samuel 22:2

_AND EVERY ONE THAT WAS IN DISTRESS, AND EVERY ONE THAT WAS IN DEBT, AND EVERY ONE THAT WAS DISCONTENTED, GATHERED THEMSELVES UNTO HIM; AND HE BECAME A CAPTAIN OVER THEM: AND THERE WERE WITH HIM ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED MEN._ And every one that was in distress ... gathered themselves unto him - (see the note at Judges 11:3.) While lurking in the caverns of those rocky fastnesses, they were on the confines of extensive pasture lands, over which were spread the vast flocks of the neighbouring proprietors. David rendered useful service in protecting these from the Bedouins of the desert, and in return received from the shepherds supplies of food, as well as seasonable intelligence of the movements of the roving government spies sent to search for them (see the note at 1 Samuel 25:8). It is evident fro

1-5 See what weak instruments God sometimes uses, to bring about his own purposes. The Son of David is ready to receive distressed souls, who will be commanded by him. He receives all who come unto Him, however vile and miserable; he changes them into a holy people, and employs them in his service: those who would reign with him must be contented first to suffer with and for him. Observe with what tender concern David provided for his aged parents. The first thing he does is to find them a quiet habitation, whatever became of himself. Let children learn to honour their parents, in every thing consulting their ease and satisfaction. Though highly preferred, and much employed, let them not forget their aged parents. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. And the Lord will preserve his people for their appointed work, however they may be hated and exposed....

Verse 1 Samuel 22:2. _AND EVERY ONE_ THAT WAS _IN DISTRESS - DEBT - DISCONTENTED_] It is very possible that these several disaffected and exceptionable characters might at first have supposed that David, unjustly persecuted, would be glad to avail himself of their assistance that he might revenge himself upon Saul, and so they in the mean time might profit by plunder, c. But if this were their design they were greatly disappointed, for David never made any improper use of them. They are never found plundering or murdering on the contrary, they always appear under good discipline, and are only employed in services of a beneficent nature, and in defence of their country. Whatever they were before they came to David, we find that he succeeded in civilizing them, and making profitable to the state those who were before unprofitable. It is not necessary to strain the word...

DISCONTENTED - See the margin. (Compare 1 Samuel 30:6; 2 Samuel 17:8.) The phrase here denotes those who were exasperated by Saul’s tyranny....

EXPOSITION COMMENCEMENT OF DAVID'S LIFE AS AN OUTLAW. 1 SAMUEL 22:1 THE CAVE ADULLAM. According to Josephus this was situated near a city of the same name ('Ant.,' 1 Samuel 6:12, 1 Samuel 6:3), which formed one of a group of fifteen in the Shephelah (see on 1 Samuel 17:1), and its site has now been recovered by Mr. Conder (see 'Tent Work,' 2:156-160). "The great valley," he says, "of Elah, which forms the highway from Philistia to Hebron, runs down northwards past

AND EVERYONE [THAT WAS] IN DISTRESS,.... In straitened circumstances, through the oppression of men, through poverty, and afflictive providences in their families: AND EVERYONE [THAT WAS] IN DEBT; and not able to pay their debts, and whose creditors were pressing upon them: AND EVERYONE [THAT WAS] DISCONTENTED; with Saul's government and conduct: or "bitter in soul" x; distressed and uneasy in their minds, being pinched with want, or pressed with sore afflictions, which made them very disconsolate: these GATHERED THEMSELVES UNTO HIM; to help him, or rather to be helped by him; hoping in time things would take a favourable turn with him, and he should be advanced to the throne, and so their circumstances would be mended thereby: AND HE BECAME A CAPTAIN OVER THEM; they enlisted themselves in his service, and he took the command of them; he might not know the circumstances of those in d...

CHAPTER 22 _ 1. In the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1)_ 2. In Moab and Gad's message (1 Samuel 22:3) 3. Saul's discovery of David's visit to Nob (1 Samuel 22:6) 4. The murder of the priests (1 Samuel 22:11) 5. David and Abiathar (1 Samuel 22:20) Next we find him in the cave of Adullam (a witness). Here a strange company gathers around the rejected king. It consisted of 400 men. He became their captain. Some of them were in distress, others in debt, and discontented. Such were attracted to th

1 SAMUEL 22. DAVID AT ADULLAM AND MOAB: MASSACRE AT NOB (J). The series of narratives in ch. 22 may very well come from the same ancient document, and be the continuation of 1 Samuel 21:1. 1 SAMUEL 22:1 F. David takes refuge at Adullam (p. 31), about 12 miles SW. of Bethlehem: he is joined by his clan and by various unsatisfactory characters, to the number of about 400, _i.e._ he becomes a captain of bandits. 1 SAMUEL 22:3. David takes his father and mother for safety to the king of Moab at Mizpeh (not identified). According to Ruth 4:21 f., David's great-grandmother was a Moabitess, Ruth. The prophet Gad ...

ONE. man. Hebrew. _'ish._. App-14. discontented. bitter of soul. Hebrew. _nephesh.App-13._ Compare Judges 18:25, "angry": i.e. embittered. CAPTAIN. chief, leader, or prince. MEN. Hebrew. _'ish._ App-14....

_And every one_, &c. To the cave of Adullam resorted some who were smarting under the oppression of Saul's tyranny; some who were involved in debt through the neglect of the laws concerning usury (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35-37); some who were in despair at the condition of the kingdom, and desired a leader from whom they might hope for better things. _he became a captain over them_ That he could keep such a motley band in order is an evidence of David's natural genius for ruling, which was further developed by this training. _about four hundred men_ Soon increased to six hundred (1 Samuel 23:13). Among them were the three heroes who brought water from the well at Bethlehem ...