1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

86 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 Edition"If Saul would attack his own family (20:33), there was no telling what hemight do to David's." 254David now became the leader of a group of people who, for various reasons, had becomediscontented with Saul's government. 255 This growing movement of support behind himled eventually to David's crowning as king of all Israel.David's flight to Moab 22:3-4Moab was a reasonable place for David's parents to seek protection since David's greatgrandmother,Ruth, was a Moabitess. The exact location of Mizpah (lit. watchtower) ofMoab is unknown. David may have wanted to secure the support of the Moabites since hecould use help from neighboring kingdoms if Saul's antagonism led to full-scale war. Thestronghold (v. 4) was probably another name for Mizpah or another place close to it inMoab.David's flight to the forest of Hereth 22:5Gad appears to have been a prophet who remained with David throughout his reign (cf. 2Sam. 24:11). Samuel had died, but God provided another prophet through whom Hecommunicated to the king-elect. The forest of Hereth was somewhere in Judah, but itsexact location is unknown. 256Saul's slaughter of the priests 22:6-23The writer's attention focused next on Saul's activities. He used the literary device offocusing on David, then on Saul, then on David, etc. He used the same technique inchapters 1—3 with Samuel and Eli's sons to contrast Samuel's goodness with thewickedness of Hophni and Phinehas. The same purpose is in view in chapters 21—29with David and Saul.Saul was aware that some in his army, apparently even some of his tribal kinsmen fromBenjamin, had deserted to David (v. 7). He showed signs of paranoia when he claimedthat Jonathan had encouraged David to ambush him (vv. 8, 13). There is no indicationthat Jonathan had done this. Doeg was obviously loyal to Saul (vv. 9-10), but he proveddisloyal to Yahweh (vv. 18-19).Ahimelech appealed to Saul on David's behalf much as Jonathan had done earlier (vv. 14-15; cf. 17:4-5). Nevertheless this time Saul did not respond to reasonable persuasion (v.16). Saul's disregard for Yahweh's will is obvious in his command to kill the priestswhom God had appointed to serve Him. This punishment was entirely too severe sincethe crime Saul charged them with was failing to tell Saul where David was.254 Gordon, I & II Samuel . . ., p. 172.255 One cannot read verse 2 without reflecting on how needy people later sought and now seek refuge inDavid's greatest son, Jesus Christ.256 On the alternate reading, "David . . . had departed," (v. 6), see D. Winton Thomas, "A Note on noda' in ISamuel XXII. 6," Journal of Theological Studies 21:2 (October 1970):401-2.