1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

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90 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 EditionSaul resisted them. It is curious that Jonathan could find David, but Saul and hisintelligence experts could not locate him. God was protecting His servant. Jonathan andDavid made another covenant (cf. 18:3; 20:8, 12-17). This is the last meeting of these"soul brothers" that the text records.David's escape from the wilderness of Ziph 23:19-23Again the writer directed our attention back to Saul. Psalm 54 tells us what David wasthinking and praying during this experience. He trusted in God.Evidently the Ziphites thought that they would be better off if they informed Saul ofDavid's presence in their area than if the king discovered that he was there. He mighthave blamed them for sheltering David and taken revenge on them as he had on thepeople of Nob.Again Saul spoke piously (cf. v. 7) and praised the Ziphites for having compassion onhim. Really it was David who was in need of compassion from these people, but he foundnone. Saul proceeded to seek human help in finding David from his allies ("go," "makemore sure," "investigate," "see," "look," "learn;" vv. 22-23). However there is no mentionof his seeking divine help in prayer (cf. vv. 2, 4, 11-12). He attributed cunning to David,but Saul was the really cunning hunter in this story. 260 The king was projecting his owndeceitful behavior on David. Whereas God promised to go with David and deliver thePhilistines into his hands (vv. 2, 4), Saul promised to go with the Ziphites to destroyDavid among the Judahites (v. 23).David in the wilderness of Maon 23:24-29Maon stood about five miles south of Ziph in the wilderness of Judah. The "Arabah"describes the low-lying area that extends from Mt. Hermon to the Red Sea, including theJordan Valley and Dead Sea regions. Jeshimon means "desert" or "waste" in Hebrew, soit may have been the name of a region east of Ziph.Some of David's sympathizers ("they," v. 25) informed him of the king's approach withsoldiers. David and his men then sought refuge behind a huge rock in the area. Just asSaul's men were about to close in on David, news reached Saul that the Philistines hadinvaded an unspecified area of Israel. Saul had to break off his personal vendetta torespond to the Philistine danger (cf. v. 1). David then moved on to Engedi, 14 miles eastof Ziph, to increase his safety.This chapter encourages all of God's servants who, like David, feel vulnerable to attacksby people who do not fear the Lord.How did God deliver David? He saved him by bringing information to his ears that Davidneeded to protect himself (vv. 2, 4, 11-12, 25). He also did it by distracting David'senemy (vv. 27-28).260 Herod the Great was another cunning ruler, who was also not worthy to be king, who tried to execute theLord's anointed, Jesus Christ (cf. Matt. 2:1-12).
2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 91What did David do while he trusted God? He did not become anxious and just wait. Hesought God in prayer (vv. 2, 4, 11, 12; cf. Ps. 54; Phil. 4:6), and he proceeded to serveGod (vv. 2, 5; cf. Matt. 28:19-20).How did David receive strength during his trials? God answered his prayers (vv. 2, 4, 11,12; cf. Saul). Moreover other godly people encouraged David, namely, Abiathar thepriest, who helped him in prayer (v. 6), and Jonathan the prince, who reminded him ofGod's promises (vv. 16-18).3. David's goodness to two fools chs. 24—26". . . chapters 24—26 form a discrete literary unit within 1 Samuel.Chapters 24 and 26 are virtually mirror images of each other, beginningwith Saul's receiving a report about David's latest hiding place (24:1;26:1), focusing on David's refusal to lift a hand against Saul, 'the Lord'sanointed' (24:6, 10; 26:11), and concluding with the words of a remorsefulSaul and his returning home from his pursuit of David (24:17-22; 26:21,25). The two chapters form a frame around the central chapter 25, wherethe churlish Nabal functions as an alter ego of the rejected Saul. Inaddition, divine protection that keeps David from shedding innocent bloodruns as a unifying thread through all three chapters." 261Saul, who had disregarded God's Law, became a deadly threat to David (23:19-28).However, David, who regarded God's Law, became a source of life to Saul (23:29—24:22) and to others in Israel (ch. 25).In the previous section, Saul sought the opportunity to take David's life. In this one(23:29—24:22), given the opportunity to take Saul's life, David spared him.David's first sparing of Saul's life ch. 24The incident recorded in this chapter concerns cutting off (vv. 4, 5, 11, 21). David had theopportunity and received encouragement to cut off Saul's life but chose to cut off only hisrobe hem. He ended up promising not to cut off Saul's descendants and name."The verb 'cut off' forms something of a recurring theme, a leit-motiv, in 1Samuel 20-24." 262David's cutting off of Saul's hem 24:1-7Engedi lay near the Salt Sea's western shore close to its mid-point north to south. Eventoday it is a refreshing oasis with waterfalls, tropical plants, and wild goats. The Hebrewword means "spring of the kid." It may have been while David was hiding in this cavethat he wrote Psalm 57 and or Psalm 142 (see their titles; cf. 22:1).261 Youngblood, p. 745.262 Baldwin, p. 146. Cf. 15:28; 20:14-17; 24:4.
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1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

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