1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 89David's escape from Keilah 23:6-14Abiathar had evidently remained in the forest of Hereth when David took his men toattack the Philistines in Keilah (cf. 22:20-23). Now the priest joined David at Keilah (v.6). The presence of the ephod made it possible for David to continue to obtain guidancefrom the Lord in answer to his prayers.Saul piously claimed that God had delivered David into his hands (v. 7). Obviously Godhad not done this since David was the Lord's anointed. God did not want Saul to hunt himdown, much less kill him. Keilah evidently had only one gate by which people couldenter and exit the town. Saul felt confident that he could control the gate and so trapDavid.Saul summoned soldiers to accompany him to Keilah (v. 7), but there is no mention thathe prayed for divine guidance as David had done (vv. 2, 4). David prayed again andrequested answers to two questions (vv. 10-11). He opened and closed his prayer with anappeal to the "LORD God of Israel," the ultimate ruler of His people. He also describedhimself as the Lord's "servant" twice. David voiced concern for his men (v. 12) as well asfor himself (v. 11). God gave the answer to David's second question first, and then Heanswered his first question.The willingness of the people of Keilah to hand their savior over to Saul demonstratesbase ingratitude for David's deliverance of them. It also reveals how fearful they were ofSaul who had recently destroyed another town, Nob, for harboring David (22:19).David left Keilah after he learned that he was vulnerable if he stayed there (v. 13). He didnot take revenge on the citizens of Keilah for telling Saul where he was. Saul had takenrevenge on the citizens of Nob for not telling him where David was. The number ofDavid's supporters had grown from 400 (22:2) to 600. More people were siding withDavid and were turning from Saul. Saul abandoned his plans to attack Keilah, and Davidmoved on to the wilderness near Ziph.David in the wilderness of Ziph 23:15-23David had sought and received divine guidance and had succeeded at Keilah (vv. 1-14).Now Saul sought and received human guidance and failed near Ziph (vv. 15-23).Jonathan visited David to encourage his friend in this wilderness, but David had to fleeagain because the inhabitants of Ziph also threatened to betray him.Jonathan's encouragement of David 23:15-18The town of Ziph was 12 miles southeast of Keilah, and the wilderness of Ziph was nearthe town. Ziph stood in the wilderness area of Judah whereas Keilah was in the morehospitable Shephelah. The sites of Horesh (v. 15) and Hachilah (v. 19) are unknown.Jonathan risked his own safety to encourage his friend again. God had used Abiathar toencourage David recently in Keilah (v. 6). Jonathan encouraged David "in God" (cf.30:6). What he said to David rested on God's promises and plans for David that bothJonathan and Saul now knew (cf. 20:2, 31). Jonathan cooperated with God's plans, but