1 Samuel 23:26

_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._ Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain. Saul was busily engaged in surrounding the hill where David and his little band of followers lay encamped, with a cordon of troops, and hoped soon to cut off all means of their escape, when intelligence unexpectedly reached him of a fresh invasion of the Philistines on the western side of the country; so that, being obliged to subordinate his private feelings for the defence of the public safety, he was obliged to abandon his project, and direct his arms against the Philistine invaders....

19-29 In the midst of his wickedness, Saul affected to speak the language of piety. Such expressions, without suitable effects, can only amuse or deceive those who hear, and those who use them. This mountain was an emblem of the Divine Providence coming between David and the destroyer. Let us not be dismayed at the prospect of future difficulties, but stay ourselves upon Him who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working. Sooner than his promise shall fail, he will commission Philistines to effect our escape, at the very moment when our case appears most desperate. God requires entire dependence on him, If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established, Isaiah 7:9....

Verse 1 Samuel 23:26. _SAUL WENT ON THIS SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN_] Evidently not knowing that David and his men were on the other side....

EXPOSITION SAUL'S PURSUIT OF DAVID IN THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH (1 Samuel 23:14-9). 1 SAMUEL 23:14, 1 SAMUEL 23:15 STRONG HOLDS. Natural fortresses in the woods and mountains are meant, and places difficult of access. THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH. This lay to the south of Hebron, upon the edge of the great desert of Judah (Joshua 15:55). Saul sought him every day.

AND SAUL WENT ON THIS SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, AND DAVID AND HIS MEN ON THAT SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN,.... Saul with his army came to the very mountain where David and his men were, the one was on one side of it, and the other on the other side; there was only one mountain between them: AND DAVID MADE HASTE TO GET AWAY FOR FEAR OF SAUL; he fled on one side of the mountain, while Saul was pursuing him on the other, and hastening to get round unto him: FOR SAUL AND HIS MEN COMPASSED DAVID AND HIS MEN ROUND ABOUT TO TAKE THEM; he took methods by dividing his troops, and sending them different ways, to surround David and his men, and had very near effected it....

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

SAUL. Some codices, with one early printed edition (margin), add "and his men". FOR FEAR OF SAUL. from the face of Saul....

The treachery of the Ziphites 19. _Then came up the Ziphites_ The title of Psalms 54. refers it to this occasion, or that recorded in 1 Samuel 26:1, and the contents agree with the situation. See especially 1 Samuel 23:3. On the relation between this narrative and that in ch. 26. see Note VII. p. 243. _in the hill of Hachilah_, &c] This hill was situated on the south of, or according to 1 Samuel 26:3, "in front of" or "facing" THE WASTE. _Jeshimon_is not a proper name, but means _the Waste_, and denotes the district on which the plateau of Ziph looks down, "with white peaks and cones of chalk and d

SAUL ALSO AND HIS MEN WENT— Saul, informed of the place where David was, went in person to invest it; and, humanly speaking, David could not possibly escape: but God heard the prayers which this holy man made to him in this extremity, and which he has so finely expressed in the 54th Psalm; all the parts whereof are applicable to the present occasion. The prayers of great men in distress, and their thanksgivings after great deliverances, have always been matter of uncommon delight to curiosity, and to persons of serious and religious spirits; nor does the glory of any great man shine out in their eyes with half the lustre, as when they behold him on his knees, lifting up his eyes, or stretching out his hands to Heaven, or, what is yet greater, prostrating himself before it, in humiliation and acknowledgment....