1 Samuel 23:1

_THEN THEY TOLD DAVID, SAYING, BEHOLD, THE PHILISTINES FIGHT AGAINST KEILAH, AND THEY ROB THE THRESHINGFLOORS._ Then they told ... the Philistines fight against Keilah - rather 'now they had told;' for this information had THEN THEY TOLD ... THE PHILISTINES FIGHT AGAINST KEILAH - rather, 'now they had told;' for this information had reached him previous to his hearing (1 Samuel 23:6) of the Nob tragedy. The attack of those troublesome neighbours was made at the commencement of harvest. "Keilah" - a city in the west or lowland district of Judah (Joshua 15:44), not far from the forest of Hareth, in a part of the Shephelah, and therefore a grain country. AND THEY ROB THE THRESHING-FLOORS. These were commonly situated on the fields, and were open to the wind ...

1-6 When princes persecute God's people, let them expect 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 fight against his country. David considered himself the protector of the land. Thus did the Saviour Jesus, and left us an example. Those are unlike David, who sullenly decline to do good, if they are not rewarded for services....

CHAPTER XXIII _David succours Keilah, besieged by the Philistines; defeats_ _them, and delivers the city_, 1-6. _Saul, hearing that David was at Keilah, determines to come and_ _seize him_, 7, 8. _David inquires of the Lord concerning the fidelity of the men of_ _Keilah towards him; is informed that if he stays in the city,_ _the men of Keilah will betray him to Saul_, 9-12. _David and his men escape from the city, and come to the_ _wilderness of Ziph_, 13-15. _Jonathan meets David in the wood of Ziph, strengthens his hand_

David’s growing importance, fugitive as he was, is marked by this appeal to him for deliverance from the Philistines. The “threshing floors” were the natural objects of plunder Judges 6:11. Keilah was in the Shephelah (marginal reference), probably close to the Philistine border, but its site is uncertain. Joshua 2:11 Samuel Joshua 23:1 Philippians 1...

ADVENTURES OF DAVID AT KEILAH AND IN THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH (1 Samuel 23:1). EXPOSITION DAVID RESCUES KEILAH, BUT HAS TO ESCAPE FROM THE TREACHERY OF ITS INHABITANTS (1 Samuel 23:1). 1 SAMUEL 23:1 THEY TOLD DAVID, etc. The return of David into his own

THEN THEY TOLD DAVID,.... Either the men of Keilah sent to him, being near them, or some well wishers of theirs, and of their country, acquainted him with their case: SAYING, BEHOLD, THE PHILISTINES FIGHT AGAINST KEILAH; had laid siege to it, being a fortified place, 1 Samuel 23:7; it was a city in the tribe of Judah, on the borders of the Philistines; of which Joshua 15:44; AND THEY ROB THE THRESHING FLOORS; took away the corn upon them, which they were threshing and winnowing, which were usually done without the city for the sake of wind, see Judges 6:11; it was harvest time when the three mighty men came to David in the cave of Adullam, and so now it might be the time of t

CHAPTER 23 _ 1. The victory over the Philistines at Keilah (1 Samuel 23:1)_ 2. In the wilderness of Ziph (1 Samuel 23:14) 3. Saul's return (1 Samuel 23:27) Keilah was about six miles southeast of Adullam. David heard of the invasion of the Philistines that they were fighting against this walled city. And he inquired of the Lord, through Abiathar, who had an ephod (verse 6). David's inquiry of the Lord shows the man of faith in his submission to the Lord. He had his lapses, but at heart he owned the Lord and wanted to glorify Him. Twice he asked the Lord; the second time evidently to quiet the fears of the six hundred men who were now with him. The Lord gave him the victory. The

1 SAMUEL 23. DAVID ESCAPES FROM SAUL (J). 1 Samuel 23:1. David hears that the Philistines are raiding the territory of Keilah (p. 31), a little S. of Adullam. He ascertains by oracles, probably using the ephod and the Urim and Thummim (pp. 100f.), that Yahweh approves of his going to the rescue; he thus overcomes the reluctance of his men. The expedition is entirely successful, but the ungrateful citizens of Keilah offered to surrender David and his men to Saul. It is quite possible that this troop of bandits, now grown to 600, had quartered themselves on Keilah, and were treating it as a conquered city. It would be interesting to hear the story from the point of view of Keilah; they may have felt that this act of treachery was the only way of getting rid of an intolerable burden. David, however, heard rumours, which were confirmed by the oracle, and left the place; so the scheme w

BEHOLD. Figure of speech _Asterismos._ App-6....

1 Samuel 23:1-6. The rescue of Keilah 1. _Then they told David_ Simply, AND THEY TOLD. There is no mark of time. The appeal to David shews that he was growing to be regarded as the champion of Israel. _Keilah_ A fortified city (_v_, 7), named in Joshua 15:44 as one of a group of cities in the _Shephêlah_or "Lowland," which included the low limestone hills bordering on the Philistine plain. It was perched on a steep hill above the valley of Elah, about three miles south of Adullam, where the name _Kila_still survives to mark the site. _they rob the threshing floors_ This indicates that the raid took place immediately after harvest, when the corn was stacked by the floors ready for threshing....