_DAVID, CONSULTING THE LORD, OVERCOMES THE PHILISTINES, AND DELIVERS KEILAH FROM THE SIEGE. HE FLIES FROM KEILAH INTO THE DESART OF ZIPH, WHERE HE IS PURSUED BY SAUL; WHO, LEAVING HIM, GOES TO FIGHT AGAINST THE PHILISTINES._ _Before Christ 1060._... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY TOLD DAVID— Or, _Now they had told._... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID ENQUIRED OF THE LORD, &C.— This was one of the noblest adventures of David's life, and perhaps the most extraordinary of any recorded in history. The Philistines, probably encouraged by David's disgrace and Saul's distraction, invaded Judah, and besieged Keilah, wasting the country all around... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SAID, THEY WILL DELIVER THEE UP— One would imagine, that this extraordinary success, in the deliverance of so great a city, might have secured David a safe retreat among the men of Keilah; but it was not so: such is the nature of man; present dangers quickly obliterate past obligations.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH— This mountainous wilderness was within the precincts of the tribe of Judah, (for there, as it was natural, David thought himself most in safety,) and upon the confines of Edom; Joshua 15:24. It is supposed to have had its name from the Hebrew word זפת _zepheth, pitch,_ wit... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SHALL BE NEXT UNTO, &C.— i.e. "The "next person to thee in thy kingdom." _And they too made a covenant before the Lord;_ that is, solemnly renewed the covenant which they had formerly made. Jonathan's conduct in this remarkable transaction appears truly disinterested, generous, and great. He c... [ Continue Reading ]
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 p... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE CAME A MESSENGER UNTO SAUL— Thus, by the timely interposition of Providence, David was delivered from one of the most immediate dangers of his life: and from this time _they called the place_ המחלקות סלע _Selang hammachlekoth; i.e_. the _rock of divisions:_ the rock where Saul was obliged to d... [ Continue Reading ]