Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 23:15
And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David [was] in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
15. in a wood ] The word chresh translated “wood” in 1Sa 23:15-16 ; 1Sa 23:18-19 does not occur again in Samuel. Lieut. Conder argues from the dry unwatered character of the district that no wood of trees can ever have flourished there, and conjectures that Chresh was a proper name with a different signification. He found the ruin of Khoreisa and the Valley of Hiresh in the neighbourhood of Ziph. It is perhaps too bold to assert that no wood can ever have existed, and it seems best to understand Chresh as a quasi-proper name for a district overgrown with brushwood.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
David saw; either by information from his spies, or by prospect from the top of the mountain where he was.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life,…. Either he saw him with his bodily eyes from the top of the mountain where he was, 1Sa 23:14; or he perceived, he understood by information given him by his friends, it may be by Jonathan, or by spies he sent to observe his motions:
and David [was] in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood; where he and his men could hide themselves among the trees in it; sometimes he was in a mountain in this wilderness, and sometimes in a wood, where he thought himself the safest; thus was this great man obliged to shift about for his safety.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
David in the Deserts of Ziph and Maon. – The history of David’s persecution by Saul is introduced in 1Sa 23:15-18, with the account of an attempt made by the noble-minded prince Jonathan, in a private interview with his friend David, to renew his bond of friendship with him, and strengthen David by his friendly words for the sufferings that yet awaited him. 1Sa 23:15, 1Sa 23:16 are to be connected together so as to form one period: “ When David saw that Saul was come out … and David was in the desert of Ziph, Jonathan rose up and went to David into the wood.” , from , with paragogic, signifies a wood or thicket; here, however, it is probably a proper name for a district in the desert of Ziph that was overgrown with wood or bushes, and where David was stopping at that time. “There is no trace of this wood now. The land lost its ornament of trees centuries ago through the desolating hand of man” (v. de Velde). “ And strengthened his hand in God,” i.e., strengthened his heart, not by supplies, or by money, or any subsidy of that kind, but by consolation drawn from his innocence, and the promises of God (vid., Jdg 9:24; Jer 23:14). “ Fear not,” said Jonathan to him, “ for the hand of Saul my father will not reach thee; and thou wilt become king over Israel, and I will be the second to thee; and Saul my father also knows that it is so.” Even though Jonathan had heard nothing from David about his anointing, he could learn from David’s course thus far, and from his own father’s conduct, that David would not be overcome, but would possess the sovereignty after the death of Saul. Jonathan expresses here, as his firm conviction, what he has intimated once before, in 1Sa 20:13.; and with the most loving self-denial entreats David, when he shall be king, to let him occupy the second place in the kingdom. It by no means follows from the last words (“ Saul my father knoweth ”), that Saul had received distinct information concerning the anointing of David, and his divine calling to be king. The words merely contain the thought, he also sees that it will come. The assurance of this must have forced itself involuntarily upon the mind of Saul, both from his own rejection, as foretold by Samuel, and also from the marvellous success of David in all his undertakings.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(15) In a wood.Some have understood this as a proper name, Horesh. There is no trace of the wood now. The land lost its ornament of trees centuries ago, through the desolating hand of man.Van der Velde.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 23:15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David [was] in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
Ver. 15. And David saw. ] By his scouts and intelligence, he well perceived his present danger.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a Relentless Pursuit Foiled
1Sa 23:15-29
Amid outward strife, God is sure to provide some rill of human love-a tender friendship, a Jonathan. See Psa 106:46. This is the mission of a friend-to strengthen our hands in God, whisper words of hope, and enter into renewed covenants with us. Is not this what our best Friend does? He finds us out in the deepest woods, and whispers His Fear not. There is no hunted soul to whom Jesus will not come to pour in the oil and wine of His presence.
Let us always strengthen our friends hands in God. We sometimes weaken their good resolutions by our timid entreaties, as Peter did when he urged the Lord to spare Himself, Mat 16:22. No, you must always help your friend to be his noblest and strongest. The angel strengthened the Redeemer in the garden. The one word for us to pass on is, O man, greatly beloved, fear not; peace be unto thee; be strong, yea, be strong, Dan 10:19.
The Ziphites made a direct bid for Sauls favor, but their plot miscarried. When a man puts his life into Gods hands, he has no need to fear the arrow by day nor the terror by night. Whatever difficulties threaten him, there is ever a way of escape.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
life: Heb. nephesh, soul, Gen 44:30
Reciprocal: Jos 15:55 – Ziph 1Sa 23:3 – Behold 2Sa 4:8 – sought Dan 10:18 – he Heb 11:38 – wandered
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
David in the wilderness of Ziph 23:15-23
David had sought and received divine guidance and had succeeded at Keilah (1Sa 23:1-14). Now Saul sought and received human guidance and failed near Ziph (1Sa 23:15-23). Jonathan visited David to encourage his friend in this wilderness, but David had to flee again because the inhabitants of Ziph also threatened to betray him.
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Jonathan’s encouragement of David 23:15-18
The town of Ziph was 12 miles southeast of Keilah, and the wilderness of Ziph was near the town. Ziph stood in the wilderness area of Judah whereas Keilah was in the more hospitable Shephelah. The sites of Horesh (1Sa 23:15) and Hachilah (1Sa 23:19) are not certain.
Jonathan risked his own safety to encourage his friend again. God had used Abiathar to encourage David recently in Keilah (1Sa 23:6). Jonathan encouraged David "in God" (cf. 1Sa 30:6). What he said to David rested on God’s promises and plans for David that both Jonathan and Saul now knew (cf. 1Sa 20:2; 1Sa 20:31). Jonathan cooperated with God’s plans, but Saul resisted them. It is curious that Jonathan could find David, but Saul and his intelligence experts could not locate him. God was protecting His servant. Jonathan and David made another covenant (cf. 1Sa 18:3; 1Sa 20:8; 1Sa 20:12-17). This is the last meeting of these "soul brothers" that the text records.