1 Samuel 23

1 Samuel 23

Pink - "And the Lord said, 'They will deliver thee up.' This must have been saddening to David's heart for base ingratitude wounds deeply. Yet, let us not forget that the kindness of other friends, whom the Lord often unexpectedly raises up, counterbalances the ingratitude and fickleness of those we have served." (Life of David - chapter 11) Howard Vos has a slightly different comment than Pink - "The inhabitants would give up to save themselves. This revelation sounds like horrible ingratitude after what David had just done for them. But no doubt, the memory of the Nob massacre was fresh in the minds of the people of Keilah. They knew Saul was perfectly capable of pulling down the walls, burning the city, and killing all of its inhabitants. David and his force, which had now grown to 600, withdrew from Keilah and wandered about." (Borrow 1, 2 Samuel : Bible Study Commentary) Don Anderson - The treachery of the people of Keilah was like that of Judas. David had risked his life to save the town from the Philistines. You would think that they would be grateful, but evidently they had no sense of honor. They would do the thing they though best for their own self-interest. We can really sit back and talk about how awful they are, but not so fast. Judas and the people are not the only ones who betray the rightful king. In business and social life, there comes almost every day opportunities to stand for Christ against his enemies. But how often for fear of man or in the hope of gaining favor or making money will a child of God, like a coward, betray the Lord by an act or by a laugh, or worst of all, by silence when he should speak. Guilty, anyone? Henry Blackaby - Thanks a Lot! Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will surrender you.”1 Samuel 23:12 (NASB) Have you ever done something nice for someone and then had them turn against you? It hurts, doesn’t it? It happened to David. As he was fleeing for his life, with King Saul’s army in hot pursuit, he became aware of a city under attack by the Philistines. As if they didn’t have enough to worry about, David and his army stopped long enough to help the town of Keilah repel its enemy. The problem was, Saul was still after him. David might have been safe within the walls of Keilah, but he received word from God that the people he had just risked his neck to help were going to betray him! So David was forced to escape again and try to make up for lost time. How do you respond when people you have helped are hateful in return? Did you stand up for a friend who was being criticized or bullied? Then, when you were under attack and needed a friend, he turned on you! Maybe you’ve gone out of your way to be kind to someone, only to find out she’s been gossiping about you behind your back. Have you ever made a big sacrifice to help out a friend, and your thoughtfulness was never even acknowledged? How do you respond in times like these? David just moved on. He didn’t waste valuable time fretting over the ingratitude of others. He trusted that God knew about his kindness, and God did, indeed, reward him. Don’t be discouraged if people are not always thankful for what you do for them. All you need to be concerned about is what God wants to do in you. Let God deal with those who have not treated you as they should. The Father is working to produce a godly character in you, and he will see to it that your kindness is rewarded. (Borrow The experience : a devotional and journal : day by day with God) 1 Samuel 23:13 Then David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the pursuit. BGT 1 Samuel 23:13 καὶ ἀνέστη Δαυιδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ ὡς τετρακόσιοι καὶ ἐξῆλθον ἐκ Κεϊλα καὶ ἐπορεύοντο οὗ ἐὰν ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ τῷ Σαουλ ἀπηγγέλη ὅτι διασέσωται Δαυιδ ἐκ Κεϊλα καὶ ἀνῆκεν τοῦ ἐξελθεῖν LXE 1 Samuel 23:13 And David arose, and the men with him, in number about four hundred, and they went forth from Keila, and went whithersoever they could go: and it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keila, and he forbore to come. KJV 1 Samuel 23:13 Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth. NET 1 Samuel 23:13 So David and his men, who numbered about six hundred, set out and left Keilah; they moved around from one place to another. When told that David had escaped from Keilah, Saul called a halt to his expedition. CSB 1 Samuel 23:13 So David and his men, numbering about 600, left Keilah at once and moved from place to place. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition. ESV 1 Samuel 23:13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. NIV 1 Samuel 23:13 So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there. NLT 1 Samuel 23:13 So David and his men-- about 600 of them now-- left Keilah and began roaming the countryside. Word soon reached Saul that David had escaped, so he didn't go to Keilah after all. NRS 1 Samuel 23:13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, set out and left Keilah; they wandered wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. NJB 1 Samuel 23:13 At this, David made off with his men, about six hundred in number; they left Keilah and went where they could. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he abandoned the expedition. NAB 1 Samuel 23:13 So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and wandered from place to place. When Saul was informed that David had escaped from Keilah, he abandoned the expedition. YLT 1 Samuel 23:13 And David riseth -- and his men -- about six hundred men, and they go out from Keilah, and go up and down where they go up and down; and to Saul it hath been declared that David hath escaped from Keilah, and he ceaseth to go out. GWN 1 Samuel 23:13 So David and his men, about six hundred in all, left Keilah. They went wherever they could go. Then Saul was told, "David has escaped from Keilah!" So he gave up the campaign. six hundred: 1Sa 22:2 25:13 30:9,10 1 Samuel 23 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID'S ENLARGED FORCES LEAVE THE FORTRESS Then David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah (means "fortress"), and they went wherever they could go - David listened to the words of the LORD. They left and began roaming the countryside. In other words, they did not stay in one place for very long, lest Saul discover their location and surprise attack. When it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the pursuit - So much for Saul's "word" that the LORD had delivered David into his hands. Anderson comments that "A guided life is dependent upon a clean heart. If we ask for wisdom and want it for the purpose of continuing in the will of God, He will give it to us. But on the other hand, if we want it so that we might sit in judgement and decide whether we want to do the will of God or not, then God will not show us. THOUGHT - As Jesus put it "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself." (John 7:17) If we do not do the will He has revealed, rest assured, we are not going to see the next step He would have for us to take in the will of God. Once again this distills down to trust and obey His revealed will and He will reveal His will! 1 Samuel 23:14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand. BGT 1 Samuel 23:14 καὶ ἐκάθισεν Δαυιδ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἐν Μασερεμ ἐν τοῖς στενοῖς καὶ ἐκάθητο ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἐν τῷ ὄρει Ζιφ ἐν τῇ γῇ τῇ αὐχμώδει καὶ ἐζήτει αὐτὸν Σαουλ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας καὶ οὐ παρέδωκεν αὐτὸν κύριος εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ LXE 1 Samuel 23:14 And he dwelt in Maserem in the wilderness, in the narrow passes; and dwelt in the wilderness in mount Ziph, in the dry country. And Saul sought him continually, but the Lord delivered him not into his hands. KJV 1 Samuel 23:14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. NET 1 Samuel 23:14 David stayed in the strongholds that were in the desert and in the hill country of the desert of Ziph. Saul looked for him all the time, but God did not deliver David into his hand. CSB 1 Samuel 23:14 David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him. ESV 1 Samuel 23:14 And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand. NIV 1 Samuel 23:14 David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. NLT 1 Samuel 23:14 David now stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and in the hill country of Ziph. Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn't let Saul find him. NRS 1 Samuel 23:14 David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but the LORD did not give him into his hand. NJB 1 Samuel 23:14 David stayed in the desert, in the strongholds; he stayed in the mountains, in the desert of Ziph; Saul kept looking for him day after day, but God did not deliver him into his power. NAB 1 Samuel 23:14 David now lived in the refuges in the desert, or in the barren hill country near Ziph. Though Saul sought him continually, the LORD did not deliver David into his grasp. YLT 1 Samuel 23:14 And David abideth in the wilderness, in fortresses, and abideth in the hill-country, in the wilderness of Ziph; and Saul seeketh him all the days, and God hath not given him into his hand. GWN 1 Samuel 23:14 David lived in fortified camps in the desert, and he lived in fortified camps in the mountains of the desert of Ziph. Saul was always searching for him, but God didn't let him capture David. Hill : Ps 11:1-3 the wilderness: Jos 15:24,55 Saul: 1Sa 27:1 Ps 54:3,4 Pr 1:16 4:16 but God: 1Sa 23:7 Ps 32:7f 37:32,33 Ps 54:3,4 Pr 21:30 Jer 36:26 Ro 8:31 2Ti 3:11 4:17,18 1 Samuel 23 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries The Barren, Rugged Wilderness of Judea! DAVID STAYS IN STRONGHOLDS AND STRONG ARMS OF YAHWEH David stayed in the wilderness (midbār; Lxx = eremos) in the strongholds (metsad; Lxx = eremos), and remained in the hill country in the wilderness (midbār) of Ziph - See #11 on map above. The town of Ziph lay about 4 miles south of Hebron. The wilderness of Ziph was the wilderness area that surrounded the city. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand - Note another one of the great uses of the phrase "but God!" Saul sought, but Jehovah kept safe. Saul's incessant desire to kill David reminds us of the Jewish religious leaders who were plotting and seeking an opportunity to kill the Son of David! (cf Mt 26:4, 16) Warren