1 Sam. 23 David, inquiring of the Lord by Abiathar, rescueth Keilah, and goeth into it, 1 Sam. 23:1–6. God showing him the coming of Saul, and treachery of the Kennites, 1 Sam. 23:7–12, he flieth thence to the wilderness of Ziph, with his six hundred men, 1 Sam. 23:13–15.

Then they told David; or, Now they had told David, to wit, before he heard of the slaughter of the priests. Keilah; a city in the tribe of Judah, Josh. 15:44, not far from the forest of Hareth, where David now was, 1 Sam. 22:5.

David inquired of the Lord; either by Abiathar; or rather, by Gad, who was a prophet, 2 Sam. 24:11, and David’s seer, 1 Chron. 21:9, and was now with David, 1 Sam. 22:5; for Abiathar was not yet come to him, 1 Sam. 23:6.

Here in Judah, i. e. in this part of Judah, whereas yet we have no army to oppose us; for else Keilah also was in Judah. If we come to Keilah; when we shall have a potent enemy before us, the Philistines, and, it may be, another behind us, even Saul, who probably will come forth, either to resist…

David inquired of the Lord yet again; not for his own, but for his soldiers’ satisfaction and encouragement, as Gideon did, Judg. 7:0.

The Philistines had either brought their cattle out of their land, or had taken from the Israelites in their march, for the sustenance of their army.

Or, with the ephod, to wit, the high priest’s ephod, in which were the Urim and Thummim, Ex. 28:30, which when Ahimelech and the rest of the priests went to Saul, were probably left in his hand, and to his care; which gave him the opportunity both of escaping, whilst Doeg the butcher was killing…

He easily believed what he greedily desired, though his own experience had oft showed him how strangely God had delivered him out of his hands, and what a singular care God had over him.

Saul secretly practised mischief against him; whereby it may seem he pretended that he raised his army to defend Keilah and his country from the Philistines, and kept his intention against David in his own breast.

David said this by the priest, for he was to make the inquiry of God, Num. 27:21, and David puts the words into his mouth.

Will the men of Keilah deliver me up, to wit, if I continue in their city, and if Saul come down? The Lord said. From this place it may appear that God’s answer by Urim and Thummim was not by any change in the colour or situation of the precious stones in the breastplate of the ephod, but by a…

To wit, if thou abidest there; for God saw their hearts, their purposes and passions, their aversion from David, and their affections to Saul, and knew better than themselves what they would do in that case.

Which were about six hundred; two hundred being added to his former number, 1 Sam. 22:2, upon his last and great success against the Philistines. Whithersoever they could go; hither or thither, where they could find refuge, or a hiding-place.

As Saul fondly persuaded himself he intended, 1 Sam. 23:7.

David saw; either by information from his spies, or by prospect from the top of the mountain where he was.

Jonathan went where David had appointed to meet him at that time, and strengthened his hand in God; he comforted and supported him against all his fears, by minding him of God’s infallible promises made to him, and his singular providence which hitherto had and still would be with him.

I shall be next unto thee; which he gathered either from David’s generosity, ingenuousness, and true friendship to him; or from some promise made to him by David concerning it.

They two made a covenant, i.e. renewed their former covenant before the Lord; setting themselves as in God’s presence, and calling upon him to be witness between them.

The Ziphites were of David’s own tribe, though for this their unnatural and strange carriage to him he calls them strangers, Ps. 44:3.

It shall be our care and business to the utmost of our power. Or, we will undertake to deliver him, or betray him to thee.

Whilst others harden their hearts against me, and join with David in his treasonable conspiracy, you show your pity to me by your readiness to help me.

Prepare yet, to wit, the matter; inform yourselves certainly of things, and dispose them so that we may not be frustrated in our attempt. Where his haunt is; in what cave, or wood, or mountain he is most frequently.

i.e. Through all the parts of that tribe. Every tribe was divided into thousands, as counties are now with us into hundreds. See Judg. 6:15. Or, with all the thousands of Judah, i. e. I will raise against him all the forces of that tribe in which he trusteth and hideth himself.

Before Saul, to prepare things for Saul, who marched after them. In the wilderness of Maon, whither he went from the wilderness of Ziph, upon suspicion or information that Saul was coming thither.

Into a rock, i. e. into a cave which was in the rock; or which might, be called a rock, not for the height, but the strength of its situation; where at first he might think to hide himself, but upon further intelligence or consideration he removed from thence upon Saul’s approach.

Dividing themselves into several parties, each marching a several way after him.

God stirring them up by his all-disposing providence to do it at this time for David’s rescue. Compare 2 Kings 19:9.

i.e. The rock of divisions, because there Saul was separated, and in a manner pulled asunder from David, who was now almost within his reach.