N P 1. Keilah. Assault by Philistines.
Q l 2. David's inquiries.
m 3. David and his men.
l 4. David's inquiries.
m 5-. David and his men.
P -5. Keilah. Delivered by David.
Q n 6. David and Abiathar.
o 7,8. Information given to Saul.
n 9-13-. David and Abiathar.
o -13. Information given to Saul.966 B.C.
1 Samuel 23)
1: Then they told David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah (= fortress. Lowlands of Judah where grain crops were), and they rob the threshing-floors.”
2: Therefore David inquired of the Lord (through the High Priest who had the Urim and Thummim), saying, “Shall I go and smite these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.”
3: And David's men said to him, “Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
4: Then David inquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hands.” (a raiding party for supplies)
5: So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines,
and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. (God always keeps His word)
966 to 964 B.C.
6: And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7: And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that has gates and bars.”
8: And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9: And David knew that Saul contrived mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring to this place the ephod.”
10: Then said David, “O the Lord God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
11: Will the masters (or lords) of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, according as Your servant has heard? O the Lord God of Israel, I beseech You, tell Your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.”
12: Then said David, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will deliver you up.” (like Saul and any leader that has NO CHARACTER, things will slip up. True even to this day. Look around you!)
13: Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went to which ever place they could go.
And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
14: And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
15: And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his soul: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
16: And Jonathan Saul's son arose (a spy for David?), and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
17: And he said to him, “Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you; and you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you; and that also Saul my father knows. (Jonathan wasn't jealous like his father)
18: And they two made a covenant in a wood before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house. (they parted company)
J R 23:19-26. Place of refuge.
S 23:27,28. Philistines.
R 23:29–26:25. Places of refuge.
S 27:1-4. Philistines.,
19: Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah (see title of Ps. 54), saying, “Does not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
20: Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of our soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.”
21: And Saul said, “Blessed be you all of the Lord; for you all have compassion on me.
22: Go, I pray you, and prepare yet, and know and see his place where his track (or trail) is, and who has seen him there: for it is told me that he deals very subtlety.
23: See therefore, and get to know of all the lurking places where he hides himself, and come you all again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.”
24: And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon (= a wild forest or park-like country. Carmel of Judah. Not Carmel of Manasseh), in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
25: Saul also and his men went to seek David. And they told David: wherefore he came down from the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26: And Saul and his men went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away from the face of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
27: But there came a messenger to Saul, saying, “Haste you, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.”
28: Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth (= the cliff of divisions or separations. Now Wady Malaky, where 2 forces could be inaccessible the one to the other, and yet within sight and hearing).
R T 23:29–24:22. Desert of En-gedi.
U 25:1-. Trouble. Death of Samuel.
U 25-1-44. Trouble. Action of Nabal.
T 26:1-25. Desert of Ziph.
T p 23:29–24:1. Information brought to Saul.
q r 24:2. Search by Saul.
s 24:3-7. Proof obtained by David.
q r 24:8. Sight by Saul.
s 24:9-22-. Proof exhibited by David.
p 24:-22. Separation from Saul.29: And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.