1 Samuel 23:21-28

21 dixitque Saul benedicti vos a Domino quia doluistis vicem mea

22 abite oro et diligentius praeparate et curiosius agite et considerate locum ubi sit pes eius vel quis viderit eum ibi recogitat enim de me quod callide insidier ei

23 considerate et videte omnia latibula eius in quibus absconditur et revertimini ad me ad rem certam ut vadam vobiscum quod si etiam in terra se abstruserit perscrutabor eum in cunctis milibus Iuda

24 at illi surgentes abierunt in Ziph ante Saul David autem et viri eius erant in deserto Maon in campestribus ad dextram Iesimuth

25 ivit ergo Saul et socii eius ad quaerendum et nuntiatum est David statimque descendit ad petram et versabatur in deserto Maon quod cum audisset Saul persecutus est David in deserto Maon

26 et ibat Saul ad latus montis ex parte una David autem et viri eius erant in latere montis ex parte altera porro David desperabat se posse evadere a facie Saul itaque Saul et viri eius in modum coronae cingebant David et viros eius ut caperent eos

27 et nuntius venit ad Saul dicens festina et veni quoniam infuderunt se Philisthim super terram

28 reversus est ergo Saul desistens persequi David et perrexit in occursum Philisthinorum propter hoc vocaverunt locum illum petram Dividentem

1 Samuel 23:21-28 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.