1 Samuel 23:14

14 But David dwelled in the desert, in full strong places, and he dwelled in the hill of (the) wilderness of Ziph, in a dark hill; nevertheless Saul sought him in all days, and the Lord betook not him into the hands of Saul. (And David lived in the wilderness, in secure places, and he stayed in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph, on a dark hill; and Saul continued to seek after him in all days, but the Lord did not deliver him into Saul's hands.

1 Samuel 23:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 23:14

And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds
In the wilderness of Ziph, in high and strong rocks there, as it seems to be explained by what follows:

and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph;
which had its name from a city in the tribe of Judah, of which (See Gill on Joshua 15:55);

and Saul sought him every day;
for though he did not go forth from the place where he was to Keilah, yet hearing which way he went, and whereabout he lurked, he sought after him continually, if haply he might find him:

but God delivered him not into his hand:
which suggests, that it was only the providence of God that secured him, or, in all probability, such was the diligence of Saul, that he would have found him out, and he must have fallen into his hands, as he expected.

1 Samuel 23:14 In-Context

12 And David said again, Whether the men of Keilah shall betake me, and the men that be with me, into the hands of Saul? And the Lord said, They shall betake thee to Saul, if thou abidest him there. (And David asked, Shall the men of Keilah deliver me, and my men, into the hands of Saul? And the Lord said, They shall deliver thee to Saul, if thou waitest here for him.)

13 Therefore David rose, and his men, as six hundred; and they went out of Keilah, and wandered uncertain hither and thither. And it was told to Saul, that David had fled from Keilah, and was saved; wherefore Saul dissembled to go out. (And so David and his men, about six hundred in all, rose up; and they went out of Keilah, and wandered about with uncertainty. And it was told to Saul, that David had fled from Keilah, and so he was saved; and for a short while Saul left off going after him.)

14 But David dwelled in the desert, in full strong places, and he dwelled in the hill of (the) wilderness of Ziph, in a dark hill; nevertheless Saul sought him in all days, and the Lord betook not him into the hands of Saul. (And David lived in the wilderness, in secure places, and he stayed in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph, on a dark hill; and Saul continued to seek after him in all days, but the Lord did not deliver him into Saul's hands.

15 And David saw, that Saul went out, that he would seek his life. And David was in the desert of Ziph, in a wood. (And David saw, that Saul went out to seek his life. And David was in the wilderness of Ziph, in a forest.)

16 And Jonathan, the son of Saul, rose up, and went to David into the wood, and comforted his hands in God. (And Saul's son Jonathan rose up, and went to David in the forest, and strengthened his hand in God/and encouraged him in the name of God.)