Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
1 Kings (1 Samuel) Chapter 23
Overview
Sa1 23:1, David, enquiring of the Lord by Abiathar, rescues Keilah; Sa1 23:7, God shewing him the coming of Saul, and the treachery of the Keilites, he escapes from Keilah; Sa1 23:14, In Ziph Jonathan comes and comforts him; Sa1 23:19, The Ziphites discover him to Saul; Sa1 23:25, At Maon he is rescued from Saul by the invasion of the Philistines; Sa1 23:29, He dwells at En-gedi.
Keilah: Keilah was a city of Judah, situated, according to Eusebius, eight miles from Eleutheropolis, towards Hebron. Sozomen says that the prophet Habakkuk's tomb was shewn there. Jos 15:44; Neh 3:17, Neh 3:18
rob the: Lev 26:16; Deu 28:33, Deu 28:51; Jdg 6:4, Jdg 6:11; Mic 6:15
inquired: In what way David made this enquiry we are not told; but it was probably by means of Abiathar; and therefore it would seem, that with Houbigant, we should read the Sa1 23:6 immediately after the Sa1 23:1. - This adventure was truly noble and patriotic. Had not David loved his country, and been above all motives of private and personal revenge, he would have rejoiced in this invasion of Judea, as producing a strong diversion in his favour, and embroiling his inveterate enemy. In most cases, a man with David's wrongs would have joined with the enemies of his country, and avenged himself on the author of his calamities; but he thinks of nothing but succouring Keilah, and using his power and influence in behalf of his brethren. Sa1 23:4, Sa1 23:6, Sa1 23:9-12, Sa1 30:8; Num 27:21; Jos 9:14; Jdg 1:1; Sa2 5:19, Sa2 5:23; Ch1 14:10; Psa 32:8; Pro 3:5, Pro 3:6; Jer 10:23
Behold: Sa1 23:15, Sa1 23:23, Sa1 23:26; Psa 11:1; Jer 12:5
for I will: Jos 8:7; Jdg 7:7; Sa2 5:19; Kg2 3:18
when Abiathar: Sa1 22:20
an ephod: Sa1 14:3, Sa1 14:18, Sa1 14:36, Sa1 14:37; Exo 28:30, Exo 28:31
am 2943, bc 1061, An, Ex, Is 430
God hath: Sa1 23:14, Sa1 24:4-6, Sa1 26:8, Sa1 26:9; Psa 71:10, Psa 71:11
he is shut: Exo 14:3, Exo 15:9; Jdg 16:2, Jdg 16:3; Job 20:5; Luk 19:43, Luk 19:44
David: Jer 11:18, Jer 11:19; Act 9:24, Act 14:6, Act 23:16-18
Bring: Sa1 23:6, Sa1 14:18, Sa1 30:7; Num 27:21; Jer 33:3
destroy the city: Sa1 23:8, Sa1 22:19; Gen 18:24; Est 3:6; Pro 28:15; Rom 3:15, Rom 3:16
And the Lord: Psa 50:15; Jer 33:3; Mat 7:7, Mat 7:8
deliver: Heb. shut up, Psa 31:8
They will: Sa1 23:7; Psa 62:1, Psa 118:8; Ecc 9:14, Ecc 9:15; Isa 29:15; Heb 4:13
six hundred: Sa1 22:2, Sa1 25:13, Sa1 30:9, Sa1 30:10
a mountain: Psa 11:1-3
the wilderness: Ziph is mentioned in Joshua with Carmel and Maon, near which it seems to have been situated; and as we have mention of Carmel and Maon in the history of David, as adjoining to Ziph, it cannot be doubted that by the Ziph, in the wilderness of which David now lay, and where was the hill of Hachilah, is to be understood Ziph near Carmel and Maon. Jos 15:24, Jos 15:55
Saul: Sa1 27:1; Psa 54:3, Psa 54:4; Pro 1:16, Pro 4:16
but God: Sa1 23:7; Psa 32:7, Psa 37:32, Psa 37:33, Psa 54:3, Psa 54:4; Pro 21:30; Jer 36:26; Rom 8:31; Ti2 3:11, Ti2 4:17, Ti2 4:18
life: Heb. nephesh, soul, Gen 44:30
strengthened: Deu 3:28; Neh 2:18; Job 4:3, Job 4:4, Job 16:5; Pro 27:9, Pro 27:17; Ecc 4:9-12; Isa 35:3, Isa 35:4; Eze 13:22; Luk 22:32, Luk 22:43; Eph 6:10; Ti2 2:1; Heb 12:12, Heb 12:13
Fear not: Isa 41:10, Isa 41:14; Heb 13:6
shall not: Job 5:11-15; Psa 27:1-3, Psa 46:1, Psa 46:2, Psa 91:1, Psa 91:2; Pro 14:26; Isa 54:17
thou shalt be: Luk 12:32
I shall be: Pro 19:21; Act 28:16; Rom 15:24
that also Saul: Sa1 20:31, Sa1 24:20; Act 5:39
Sa1 18:3, Sa1 20:12-17, Sa1 20:42; Sa2 9:1, Sa2 21:7
the Ziphites: Sa1 22:7, Sa1 22:8, Sa1 26:1; Psa 54:1 *title Psa 54:3, Psa 54:4; Pro 29:12
Hachilah: Calmet states, that Hachilah was a mountain about ten miles south of Jericho, where Jonathan Maccabeus built the castle of Massada, west of the Dead Sea, and not far from En-gedi. Sa1 26:1, Sa1 26:3
on the south: Heb. on the right hand
Jeshimon: or, the wilderness, Eusebius places Jeshimon ten miles south of Jericho, near the Dead Sea; which agrees extremely well with the position of Hachilah, as stated by Calmet.
all the desire: Deu 18:6; Sa2 3:21; Psa 112:10; Pro 11:23
our part: Kg1 21:11-14; Kg2 10:5-7; Psa 54:3; Pro 29:26
Sa1 22:8; Jdg 17:2; Psa 10:3; Isa 66:5; Mic 3:11
haunt is: Heb. foot shall be, Job 5:13
take knowledge: Mar 14:1, Mar 14:10, Mar 14:11; Joh 18:2, Joh 18:3
I will search: Sa2 17:11-13; Kg1 18:10; Pro 1:16; Rom 3:15, Rom 3:16
the thousands: Num 10:36; Mic 5:2
the wilderness: Maon, from which the adjoining mountainous district derived its name, was city in the most southern parts of the tribe of Judah, and a neighbouring town to Carmel. Hence Nabal (Sa1 25:2) is described as a man of Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and though he might dwell generally in Maon, yet he is styled Nabal the Carmelite, from the place where his estate lay. Calmet supposes it to be the city Minois, which Eusebius places in the vicinity of Gaza; and the Moenoemi Castrum, which the Theodosian code places near Beersheba.
the south: Sa1 23:19
into a rock: or, from the rock, Sa1 23:28; Jdg 15:8
David made haste: Sa1 19:12, Sa1 20:38; Sa2 15:14, Sa2 17:21, Sa2 17:22; Psa 31:22
away: Ch2 20:12; Psa 17:9, Psa 17:11, Psa 22:12, Psa 22:16, Psa 118:11-13, Psa 140:1-9; Co2 1:8; Rev 20:9
there came: Gen 22:14; Deu 32:36; Kg2 19:9; Psa 116:3
the Philistines: Kg2 19:9; Rev 12:16
invaded: Heb. spread themselves upon, Ch1 14:13
Selahammahlekoth: that is, the rock of divisions, Because, says the Targum, "the heart of the king was divided to go hither and thither." Here Saul was obliged to separate himself from David, in order to go and oppose the invading Philistines; which deliverance of David was of such a nature as made the Divine interposition fully visible. Sa1 23:28
The district around En-gedi, near the western coast of the Dead Sea, is reported by travellers to be a mountainous territory, filled with caverns; and consequently, proper for David in his present circumstances. Dr. Lightfoot thinks this was the wilderness of Judah, in which David was when he penned the Psa 63:1, which breathes as much pious and devout affection as almost any of his Psalms; for in all places and in all conditions he still kept up his communion with God. - If Christians knew their privileges better, and acted up thereto, there would be less murmuring at the dark dispensations of Divine Providence.
Sa1 24:1; Gen 14:7; Jos 15:62; Ch2 20:2; Sol 1:14; Eze 47:10