1 Samuel 23:6

_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._ When Abiathar ... fled to David ... he came down with an ephod - in which was the Urim and Thummim WHEN ABIATHAR ... FLED TO DAVID ... HE CAME DOWN WITH AN EPHOD - in which was the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30). It had probably been committed to his care while his father, Ahimelech, and the other priests repaired to Gibeah, in obedience to the summons of Saul (1 Samuel 22:2)....

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....

Verse 1 Samuel 23:6. _CAME DOWN_ WITH _AN EPHOD._] I think this verse should come immediately after 1 Samuel 23:1....

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

AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN ABIATHAR THE SON OF AHIMELECH FLED TO DAVID TO KEILAH,.... Either when he was there, or near the place: [THAT] HE CAME DOWN WITH AN EPHOD IN HIS HAND; not with a linen ephod on his back, which the priests in common wore, but the ephod with the Urim and Thummim in his hand, which was peculiar to the high priest; and his father the high priest being dead, it belonged to him, and therefore he took care to bring it with him; though the words may be literally rendered, "the ephod came down in his hand" k, as it were by chance, and not with design; and so some Jewish interpreters l understand it, that in his fright and flight, among his garments and other things he took hold of to carry with him, and not minding well what he took, this happened to be, being so ordered by the providence of God; though the Targum renders it, "the ephod he made to descend in his hand,'...

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

FLED. Compare 1 Samuel 22:20. This verse is the Figure of speech _Hysteresis._ App-6....

_fled to David to Keilah_ Since (_a_) it is implied by 1 Samuel 22:20 that Abiathar joined David before the expedition to Keilah: and (_b_) the inquiry in 1 Samuel 23:2_; 1 Samuel 23:4_implies the presence of the high-priest with the Ephod: it seems best either to strike out "to Keilah," or to follow the Sept. in reading, "And it came to pass when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David, that he went down with David to Keilah with the Ephod in his hand." This note is inserted here to explain how David could inquire of God both in Judah and at Keilah....

Saul's Pursuit of David to Keilah, 1 Samuel 23:1-29. _Abiathar, the Priest, With David._ 1 Samuel 23:1-6 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 thei