1 Samuel 23:15-29

15 While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that^[a] Saul had come out to take his life.

16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.

17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.”

18 The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.

19 The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon?

20 Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving him into your hands.”

21 Saul replied, “The LORD bless you for your concern for me.

22 Go and get more information. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty.

23 Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track him down among all the clans of Judah.”

24 So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon, in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.

25 Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David.

26 Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them,

27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.”

28 Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.^[b]

29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.^[c]

1 Samuel 23:15-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 23

This chapter gives an account of David's relieving Keilah, when it had like to have fallen into the hands of the Philistines, 1Sa 23:1-6; and of Saul's design to surprise him there, which David having notice of, and inquiring of the Lord, departed from thence; which when Saul heard of, he forbore to come forth, 1Sa 23:7-13; and of David's being in the wilderness of Ziph, where, in a wood there, he had an interview with Jonathan, 1Sa 23:14-18; and of the Ziphites offering to deliver him up to Saul, for which he commends them, and gives them instructions how they should behave to him in that affair, 1Sa 23:19-23; and of his seeking him in the wilderness of Maon, where David and his men were in great danger of being taken; which was prevented by the news of the Philistines invading the land coming to Saul just at the nick of time, 1Sa 23:24-29.

Cross References

• 1. S 1 Samuel 20:1
• 2. 1 Samuel 30:6; Psalms 18:2; Psalms 27:14
• 3. S 1 Samuel 20:31; 1 Samuel 24:20
• 4. S 1 Samuel 18:3; 1 Samuel 20:16,42; 2 Samuel 9:1; 2 Samuel 21:7
• 5. 1 Samuel 26:1
• 6. Psalms 54 Title
• 7. 1 Samuel 26:3
• 8. ver 12
• 9. Ruth 2:20; 2 Samuel 2:5
• 10. 1 Samuel 22:8
• 11. S Genesis 31:36
• 12. S Joshua 15:55; 1 Samuel 25:2
• 13. 1 Samuel 26:1
• 14. Psalms 17:9
• 15. 1 Samuel 24:22
• 16. S Joshua 15:62; 2 Chronicles 20:2; Song of Songs 1:14

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "he was afraid because"
• [b]. "Sela Hammahlekoth" means "rock of parting."
• [c]. In Hebrew texts this verse (23:29) is numbered 24:1.