Comments on 1 Samuel 23

v1-5  Even though David has fled Israel and is in hiding, the
people still consider him their deliverer.  They are not
resorting to Saul, but to David when the Philistines plunder the
city of Keilah.  And in this case, David once again, with the
Lord's assistance, acts as deliverer to Israel.

v3 "we be afraid here in Judah", i.e., "we be afraid of the
Philistines even in our own lands".  They are afraid even in
their own strongholds, let alone going up to the Philistines in
battle.

v6-14  Saul hears of David's activities, and takes this as a
token of God's favor (v. 7) despite all of the evidence to the
contrary.  He takes his armies up to surround the city of Keilah
(v. 8), which David has just delivered from the Philistines (v.
1-5).  David is aware of Saul's desires to kill him (v. 9), so by
revelation David discerns the imminent events and escapes into
the wilderness (v. 10-14).  

v8  Note the irony here, Saul doesn't take his armies up to
deliver Keilah from the Philistines, he takes them up to besiege
Keilah to get them to turn David over to him.  He is attacking
and besieging his own people.

v14 "God delivered him not into his hands", contrary to Saul's
statement in v. 7 the reality is God is actively thwarting him as
v. 10-12 indicate.

v15-18  Jonathan abandons Saul and joins with David,
acknowledging the Lord's endorsement of him as the king of
Israel.

v19-29  David is sold out to Saul by some self-promoting locals
(v. 19-20).  Saul appreciates their doing so and ironically
pronounces them "blessed...of the Lord" (v. 21).  He then sends
them to spy out David's exact location (v. 22-23) and he summons
his armies and takes them to the place to capture David (v. 24). 
David learns of Saul's approach, and a chase ensues (v. 25-26). 
Just as David is about to be trapped, Saul gets word that the
Philistines are attacking Israel's lands (v. 27) and he must
abandon the pursuit of David (v. 28).  David then moves to a more
secure location (v. 29).

v27-28  Internal conflict which leads to foreign invasion is a
typical covenant curse, and in this case the details as to why it
happened are spelled out in great detail.  The same type of
things happens repeatedly in the BofM.



Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller <kurtn@cybcon.com>.  All rights 
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