Chapter 23

1Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against {a} Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
(a) Which was a city in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:44.

3And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in {b} Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
(b) That is, in the midst of Judah, much more when we come to the borders against our enemies.

6And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, [that] he came down [with] an {c} ephod in his hand.
(c) By God's providence the ephod was preserved and kept with David the true king.

9And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, {d} Bring hither the ephod.
(d) To consult with the Lord by Urim and Thummim.

14And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God {e} delivered him not into his hand.
(e) No power nor policy can prevail against God's children, but when he appoints the time.

17And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be {f} king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
(f) Jonathan assured David, that God would accomplish his promise, and that his father warred against his own conscience.

21And Saul said, {g} Blessed [be] ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.
(g) the Lord recompense this friendship.

23See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the {h} land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
(h) In your country of Ziph, which is in Judah.

25Saul also and his men went to seek [him]. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of {i} Maon. And when Saul heard [that], he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
(i) Which was also in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:55.

27But there came a {k} messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
(k) Thus the Lord can pull back the bridle of the tyrants and deliver his out of the lion's mouth.

28Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place {l} Selahammahlekoth.
(l) That is, stone of division, because there they divided themselves one from another.

29And David went up from thence, and dwelt in {a} strong holds at Engedi.
(a) That is, in strong places, which were defended by nature.

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