Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 23:4
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 thine hand.
1Sa 23:4-26
Arise, go down to Keilah.
The training in the wilderness
The contrast between David at Nob or Gath and at Hareth and Keilah is most marked.
1. It is Gods will he desires to know (1Sa 23:4). Truly David at this time waited only upon God, and his expectation was from Jehovah (Psa 62:1-12). Hunger for Divine guidance is a gracious sign! The Master blessed such (Mat 5:6). Such a state of heart is preparation surely for larger blessing.
2. Obedience and humble reliance upon God may not lessen difficulties? Davids own people oppose his advance upon Keilah. So he and his enter Keilah. All now is well surely! Yes, all is well, but it looked not so. Strange that in obeying God he found more difficulties! Not so if we understand he is in training for the crown. Is this not so of all those who are unto God a nation of priestly kings? Not a murmur escapes Davids lips. Into Ziph, a small place at the edge of the Southern desert, David enters, concealing himself in the ravines there. The time spent in Ziph was a time of separation and solitariness.
3. Obedience leading to apparently hopeless disaster. To seek the favour of the king the Ziphites send word to him of David. Deceit generally sets its face toward power. It is well to be on the side which looks like winning at any rate. From their point of view their part might be justified. What can we say, however, concerning Souls reception of these Ziphites? What a whimpering, hypocritical utterance: Blessed be ye of the Lord, for ye have compassion on me! How horrid the forms of piety when the thing itself is gone! A benediction in the name of God from Saul! Success is with these plotters! They track their prey. Before Saul and his men David flees down the face of the rock into the wilderness. Here truly they are enclosing him in the net they have spread. Strangers had risen up against him, and the oppressor sought for his soul. (Psa 54:3). Hope began to droop her wings. (1Sa 23:27). Times of deepest distress are hours of Gods deliverances. Have we no record indelibly written of Gods delivering mercy?–no place called Sela-hammahlekoth (1Sa 23:28), or Rock of Divisions, to which memory leads? Psa 54:1-7, ascribed to this period, tells of calmness of heart during this exciting time, Behold, God is mine helper (verse 4). (H. E. Stone.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 4. David inquired of the Lord yet again] This was to satisfy his men, who made the strong objections mentioned in the preceding verse.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
David inquired of the Lord yet again; not for his own, but for his soldiers satisfaction and encouragement, as Gideon did, Jdg 7.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then David inquired of the Lord yet again,…. Not for his own sake, who firmly believed it was the will of God he should go and succeed, but for the sake of his men, and to remove the doubts and fears that hung on their minds:
and the Lord answered him, and said, arise, go down to Keilah; immediately, make no stay, nor hesitate about it, but go with all haste to the relief of the place:
for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hands; which is still more explicit, and is a promise not only of delivering Keilah out of the hands of the Philistines, but of delivering them into David’s hands, and so of an entire: victory; and therefore none of David’s men had anything to fear after such a declaration of the will of God.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(4) David enquired . . . yet again.This second enquiry, made for the sake of inspiring his little army with confidence before embarking on the seemingly desperate attempt, was, as in the previous case mentioned in 1Sa. 23:2, no doubt through the prophet Gad. Abiathar had not yet arrived with the ephod.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 23:4 Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
Ver. 4. Then David enquired of the Lord yet again, ] viz., For the confirmation and encouragement of his soldiers, whose rule should have been Nec temere, nec timide, Neither rashly nor timorously.
For I will deliver.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
hand. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, and Syriac, read “hands”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
yet again: 1Sa 28:6, Jdg 6:39
for I will: Jos 8:7, Jdg 7:7, 2Sa 5:19, 2Ki 3:18
Reciprocal: Exo 23:31 – deliver the Num 21:34 – for I have Jdg 20:28 – Shall I yet 1Sa 14:37 – Shall I go 1Sa 22:10 – he inquired 1Sa 23:2 – inquired 1Sa 28:15 – answereth 1Sa 30:8 – inquired 2Sa 2:1 – inquired 2Sa 21:1 – of the Lord 1Ki 22:5 – Inquire 2Ch 18:4 – Inquire Pro 20:8 – General Isa 55:10 – as the rain