1-Samuel 23
[1-Samuel 23:1] THEN THEY TOLD DAVID, SAYING, BEHOLD, THE PHILISTINES
FIGHT AGAINST KEILAH, AND THEY ROB THE THRESHING FLOORS.
David received this news while he was hiding in "THE FOREST OF HARETH"
[1-Samuel 22:5]. Keilah was near the border in the southwest of Judah
between Hebron and Gath northeast of Lachish.
David was the chief warrior of Israel who was expected to save the
people from foreign oppressors.
The Philistines were robbing the harvest product.
[1-Samuel 23:2] THEREFORE DAVID ENQUIRED OF THE LORD, SAYING, SHALL I
GO AND SMITE THESE PHILISTINES? AND THE LORD SAID UNTO DAVID, GO,
AND
SMITE THE PHILISTINES, AND SAVE KEILAH.
The Philistines apparently were not overtly threatening the lives of
the Hebrews just entering their lands and storehouses and robbing them.
Saul may at that stage have been overcome by weakness and refrained from
reaction. David had only six hundred men at this stage (1-Samuel 23:13)
and it was no longer his task to defend border settlements. Nevertheless
David felt responsibility but he could not be sure. It was one thing to
risk
his own live but he was also responsible for the lives of his followers.
He therefore inquired of the Almighty and was told to go ahead and do all
he could. This incident became a basis of a legal principle in Hebraic Law
that the border must be defended at all costs even when the dispute is
centered around what appears to be a trivial matter. So too, the USA
under President Bush in effect acquiesces in the de facto invasion of
border
regions by Mexicans to the possible future detriment of the American
population.
[1-Samuel 23:3] AND DAVID'S MEN SAID UNTO HIM, BEHOLD, WE BE AFRAID
HERE IN JUDAH: HOW MUCH MORE THEN IF WE COME TO KEILAH AGAINST THE ARMIES
OF
THE PHILISTINES?
The followers of David were doubtful of the wisdom of his course.
David listened to them and once again asked for direction from the
Almighty, then he acted. One does not have to always follow
the advice of
others but it should always be considered.
[1-Samuel 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.
[1-Samuel 23:5] SO DAVID AND HIS MEN WENT TO KEILAH, AND FOUGHT WITH
THE PHILISTINES, AND BROUGHT AWAY THEIR CATTLE, AND SMOTE THEM
WITH A
GREAT SLAUGHTER. SO DAVID SAVED THE INHABITANTS OF KEILAH.
Yehudah Kiel suggests that part of the cattle had been brought by the
Philistines to carry away the booty they intended to take from the
settlement Keilah. Some of it may also have been intended to feed
the
Philistines in their campaign since there were a great many of them
who were slaughtered. The Radak (Kimchi) says that David used his
discretion to impose a punitive levy: The Philistines had come against
Israel to
deprive the Hebrew of their means of livelihood but had been
defeated, David beat them and pursued them over the border helping
himself to their livestock in the process.
This cattle would have supplied David and his men with a supply of
food on the hoof and also would have been distributed to his men to enable
them
to somehwhat relieve the burden on their families.
The Hebrew word for "Cattle" is "Mikneh". This word can refer to either
beef or sheep or both together
As can the English word "cattle" in its original meaning.
The Hebrew word used here is "MiKNeH" from the root "KNH". There
is
an archaic word in English "kine" which is defined as "plural" of cow".
The word "kine" would appear to be derived from Hebrew.
<<A GREAT SLAUGHTER>>: David was a military genius and
a great warrior
in his own right together with an ability to inspire others to superhuman
levels of achievement. We will see below that the citizens of Keilah
must have greatly outnumbered David and his men yet it was David who had
to
save them and succeeded in doing so.
[1-Samuel 23:6] AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN ABIATHAR THE SON OF AHIMELECH
FLED TO DAVID TO KEILAH, THAT HE CAME DOWN WITH AN EPHOD IN HIS HAND.
Scripture is here explaining to us through what means David had
inquired of God as to his course of action that was described above.
We saw above that Abiathar the Priest who was the sole survivor of
the
massacre at Nobe the city of Priests fled to David (1-Samuel 22:20)
and David told him to abide with him. The section in question did not say
where David was when Abiathar came to him, nor did it say there that Abiathar
brought the Ephod with him. There are three ways of understanding what
actually happened in this case:
a. The verses are mixed, i.e. Abiathar fled
to David with the ephod
then went with David to Keilah.
b. Abiathar fled to David with the Ephod while David was encamped
before Keilah but had not received the final decision to actually undertake
an
engagement and that ONLY THEN did Abiathar reach him. The account of
Abiathar fleeing to David was first related (1-Samuel 22:20) before
telling us of the campaign at Keilah because it was part of the event described
there. In other words David had already began preparations for a
possible campaign at Keilah before Abiathar reached him and before he heard
of
the massacre at Nob.
c. Abiathar fled from Nob took the Ephod and hid it then fled to David
who gave him protection. Abiathar then went and took the ephod from its
place of hiding and returned to the camp of David.
The second explanation (b) is the one I prefer.
[1-Samuel 23:7] AND IT WAS TOLD SAUL THAT DAVID WAS COME TO KEILAH. AND
SAUL SAID, GOD HATH DELIVERED HIM INTO MINE HAND; FOR HE IS SHUT IN, BY
ENTERING INTO A TOWN THAT HATH GATES AND BARS.
[1-Samuel 23:8] AND SAUL CALLED ALL THE PEOPLE TOGETHER TO WAR, TO GO
DOWN TO KEILAH, TO BESIEGE DAVID AND HIS MEN.
[1-Samuel 23:9] AND DAVID KNEW THAT SAUL SECRETLY PRACTISED MISCHIEF
AGAINST HIM; AND HE SAID TO ABIATHAR THE PRIEST, BRING HITHER THE
EPHOD.
[1-Samuel 23:10] THEN SAID DAVID, O LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, THY SERVANT
HATH CERTAINLY HEARD THAT SAUL SEEKETH TO COME TO KEILAH, TO DESTROY
THE
CITY FOR MY SAKE.
[1-Samuel 23:11] WILL THE MEN OF KEILAH DELIVER ME UP INTO HIS HAND?
WILL SAUL COME DOWN, AS THY SERVANT HATH HEARD? O LORD GOD OF
ISRAEL, I
BESEECH THEE, TELL THY SERVANT. AND THE LORD SAID, HE
WILL COME DOWN.
Saul had shown what he was capable of doing when he gave Doeg the
Edomite the go-ahead to wipe out the City of Nob. The people of Keilah had
their own families to worry about and would not be prepared to defy Saul
for
the sake of David. They also must have greatly outnumbered the band of
David who in an enclosed urban space would have difficulty resisting
them. Nevertheless we see here a typical malaise of the Israelite
nation in times of degradation: They were not prepared (or did not
feel able)
to defend themselves against foreigners but when it came to encounters
with their own kith and kin they were liable to suddenly found themselves
full of fighting spirit. In addition not everyone was on David's side.
Saul
also had a following that at first encompassed MOST of Israel.
Today we find Israeli of the "Peace" party who are against violence
being done to the "Palestinians" and convince themselves that they are
working to prevent war altogether yet they often seem quite prepared to
exert
force against those Jews who think differently on these matters.
On a wider perspective the whole State of Israel is a "border" region
for the Israelite nations in general. If the State of Israel is harmed all
the Israelite Tribes are liable to suffer.
The Bible is the life force of the Israelite nation.
[1-Samuel 23:12] THEN SAID DAVID, WILL THE MEN OF KEILAH DELIVER ME
AND MY MEN INTO THE HAND OF SAUL? AND THE LORD SAID, THEY WILL
DELIVER THEE UP.
[1-Samuel 23:13] THEN DAVID AND HIS MEN, WHICH WERE ABOUT SIX HUNDRED,
AROSE AND DEPARTED OUT OF KEILAH, AND WENT WHITHERSOEVER THEY COULD
GO. AND IT WAS TOLD SAUL THAT DAVID WAS ESCAPED FROM KEILAH; AND HE
FORBARE TO GO FORTH.
1-Samuel 23-2
From: Carol Hawke
Subject: Re: 1-Samuel 23-1
Question:
Where exactly is or was Keilah and what was it insofar as relates to the
land of Israel?
Answer:
Keila was to the southwest of Jerusalem and northwest of Hebrew
i.e. between Jerusalem and Hebron but to the west towards the
Philistine border.
It appears to have been quite a large settlement and apparently a
regional center for a wide area.
It was considered a very fertile region.
A "Keila" Fig was a type of fig (apparently from the Keila region)
with an apparently high sugar content and a Priest serving in the
Templewho are such a fig (together with the syrup?) would be liable for
punishment(Kritut 13:2 discussed by Yigal Ariel, "Oz Meleck" p.108 n.29)
since
the figwas liable to have fermented making the priest lightly intoxicated.
In Biblical Law drinking intoxicating liquor in moderation was
permittedbut Priests serving in the Temple or Judges on duty or anybody
fulfillingsimilarly sensitive tasks were strictly forbidden to touch any
substancewhatsoever that was liable to adversely affect their judgement.
Yair
Keila was a very fertile area near the border with the Philistines. It
stands to reason that the Philistine side opposite Keila would also
have been fertile and productive of much cattle that David relieved the
Philistines of the burden of having to care for.
So too the Arabs use their oil wealth to fund terrorist activities and
subversion against the west.
They therefore frefeit their right to control the said product or
receive remuneration for it.
[1-Samuel 23:14] AND DAVID ABODE IN THE WILDERNESS IN STRONG HOLDS,
AND REMAINED IN A MOUNTAIN IN THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH. AND SAUL SOUGHT
HIM
EVERY DAY, BUT GOD DELIVERED HIM NOT INTO HIS HAND.
We have to remember that Saul had been annointed king by the Prophet
Samuel (1-Samuel chapter 10, cf. 1-Samuel 12:3 ). Later Samuel had
informed Saul that he was to be demoted (1-Samuel 13:14 15:26, 28-29) but
this
had not been made public and at the request of Saul Samuel had continued
to
honor Saul as a monarch before the people (1-Samuel 15:30-31).
Samuel had then annointed David (1-Samuel 16:13) as King over Israel
but hardly anybody knew about it. As far as the community was concerned
Saul was the legal monarch who had been made king at the express
command
of the Almighty through his Prophet.
There were those (such as Jonathan the son of Saul) of developed
sensitivity who intuitively understood that David was the coming
monarch pre-ordained by the Almighty but most of Israel would not have been
at
that level. The person of the reigning king had an innate sanctity
as the
attitude of David himself to Saul was to show.
<<THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH>>: This was in the southwestern section
of the
Wilderness of Judah south of Hebron roughly between the settlements of
Carmel and Ein Gedi by the Dead Sea shore.
David and his men stayed in small fortresses scattered around the
wilderness. Such edifices were used to control and protect the
borderland regions.
<<GOD DELIVERED HIM NOT>>: Every day was a miracle. So too,
every day
we exist is also a miracle. God is helping us and watching over each of
us. The closer we draw to God the more aware we can become of HIS presence
which is always there.
[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.
In those days (as we often repeat) the climate was somewhat different
than it is at present. There was more greenery and wetness. Trees
and
vegetation cool the climate and increase precipitation. Arabic-speaking
muslims no matter what their actual ethnic origin adopt an Arabic
mentality, destroy the vegetation overgraze the fields and create desert
type conditions where previously there had existed fertile cultivation.
Even
in the Arabian Peninsula there were areas in the south and east that were
once quite fertile but the Islamic conquest changed all that.
A lot of "left-wing" types are sympathetic towards ecological
considerations but when it comes to the Arabs they turn a blind eye.
[1-Samuel 23:16] AND JONATHAN SAUL'S SON AROSE, AND WENT TO DAVID INTO
THE WOOD, AND STRENGTHENED HIS HAND IN GOD.
Jonathan had either undergone a prophetic experience himself (most
likely, cf. Targum Yehonatan) or he bore a message from a Prophet to David.
Jonathan, according to Isaac Luria (the "Ari" 153472), a famous Jewish
mystic who is greatly revered, had the soul of the future Messiah son
of Joseph. Whatever that means I cannot say (mainly because I do not
know, and not because I do not want to) but one aspect of this Messiah son
of
Joseph is that he represents a force within the Lost Ten Tribes in the
End Times that seeks to reconcile itself with Judah and also redeem and
rebuild the Land of Israel. Judah is to serve as a forerunner for
the other
tribes as we have explained in our writings.
[1-Samuel 23:17] AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, FEAR NOT: FOR THE HAND OF SAUL
MY FATHER SHALL NOT FIND THEE; AND THOU SHALT BE KING OVER ISRAEL,
AND I
SHALL BE NEXT UNTO THEE; AND THAT ALSO SAUL MY FATHER KNOWETH.
Jonathan was the son of his father and in tune with a higher side of
the personality of Saul. We shall see below that Saul almost
captures
David and then lets him go ostensibly because his presence is needed
elswhere. There was a part of Saul that despite everything wanted
David to succeed. Jonathan gave expression to this facet of
his father.
<<AND I SHALL BE NEXT UNTO THEE>>: Previously Jonathan
had requested
that David not desert expression of kindness to his descendants (1-Samuel
20:15) now he asks that he himself be made second-in-command? (see
Bar-Ephrat).
Jonathan was destined to be killed in battle against the Philistines
alongside his father well before David was to reign. Descendants of
Jonathan were destined to reign over Israelites alongside descendants
of David. The USA was originally nicknamed "Brother Jonathan" before
the alternative appellation "Uncle Sam" was accepted.
[1-Samuel 23:18] AND THEY TWO MADE A COVENANT BEFORE THE LORD: AND
DAVID ABODE IN THE WOOD, AND JONATHAN WENT TO HIS HOUSE.
[1-Samuel 23:19] THEN CAME UP THE ZIPHITES TO SAUL TO GIBEAH, SAYING,
DOTH NOT DAVID HIDE HIMSELF WITH US IN STRONG HOLDS IN THE WOOD, IN THE
HILL
OF HACHILAH, WHICH IS ON THE SOUTH OF JESHIMON?
They informed on David. Maybe David and his men were irritating the
neighbors by requesting an occasional donation of livestock (as we
shall see later) or maybe people of Ziph were afraid of being accused of
complicity in treason once Sault discovered that David had been in
their region? Maybe they were misguided and felt it was their duty to turn
David over to the reigning king? Or maybe they were just bad, or jealous?
We
all have (or should have) an innate tendency to respect and obey existing
authority. Usually we should do what the ruling powers expect of us but
there are occasions when we should not.
[1-Samuel 23:20] NOW THEREFORE, O KING, COME DOWN ACCORDING TO ALL THE
DESIRE OF THY SOUL TO COME DOWN; AND OUR PART SHALL BE TO DELIVER HIM
INTO THE KING'S HAND.
<< O KING>> This style of address shows a call on the reigning
power to
exert itself. Saul was a reigning king. In Jewish philosophical
exegesis the monarch is sometimes described as representing those he rules
over,
as the "heart" of his people. He gives expression to the deeper
wishes
of his people like Pharaoh the King of Egypt who oppressed the Hebrews
because he was in "tune" with what his people wanted. Maybe the darker
side of
Saul gave expression to a darker side of the Israelite people? Maybe
subconsciously we do not really fully want the House of David
to rule over us?
<<Against three things were the Children of Israel destined to show
contempt: Against the Rule of Heaven, against the Kingdom of David, and
against the Holy Temple Israel will not see a blessing until they
return and seek out the three things they rejected. As it says in Hosea:
AFTERWARD SHALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL RETURN, AND SEEK THE LORD THEIR
GOD, AND DAVID THEIR KING; AND SHALL FEAR THE LORD AND HIS GOODNESS IN THE
LATTER DAYS (Hosea 3:5).
(Midrash Shmuel 13, Yalkut Shomeoni-2, remez 106, Rashi on Hosea 3;5).
See the quotation in full and what we wrote on this matter in "Joseph.
The Israelite Destiny of America", chapter seven (in the new revised edition).
[1-Samuel 23:21] AND SAUL SAID, BLESSED BE YE OF THE LORD; FOR YE
HAVE COMPASSION ON ME.
Saul felt himself oppressed by David. In his eyes David was pursuing
him! So too the enemies and oppressors of the Jewish people usually invent
lies that the Jews are doing them harm.
[1-Samuel 23:22] GO, I PRAY YOU, PREPARE YET, AND KNOW AND SEE HIS
PLACE WHERE HIS HAUNT IS, AND WHO HATH SEEN HIM THERE: FOR IT IS TOLD ME
THAT
HE DEALETH VERY SUBTILLY.
[1-Samuel 23:23] SEE THEREFORE, AND TAKE KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THE LURKING
PLACES WHERE HE HIDETH HIMSELF, AND COME YE AGAIN TO ME WITH THE
CERTAINTY, AND I WILL GO WITH YOU: AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS,
IF HE BE IN THE
LAND, THAT I WILL SEARCH HIM OUT THROUGHOUT ALL THE THOUSANDS OF JUDAH.
[1-Samuel 23:24] AND THEY AROSE, AND WENT TO ZIPH BEFORE SAUL: BUT
DAVID AND HIS MEN WERE IN THE WILDERNESS OF MAON, IN THE PLAIN ON THE SOUTH
OF JESHIMON.
I once dwelt for a few years in this area. It is extremely beautiful
and
invigorating. It is a desert region of potential great fertility.
[1-Samuel 23:25] SAUL ALSO AND HIS MEN WENT TO SEEK HIM. AND THEY TOLD
DAVID; WHEREFORE HE CAME DOWN INTO A ROCK, AND ABODE IN THE WILDERNESS
OF MAON. AND WHEN SAUL HEARD THAT, HE PURSUED AFTER DAVID IN THE
WILDERNESS OF MAON.
[1-Samuel 23:26] AND SAUL WENT ON THIS SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, AND DAVID
AND HIS MEN ON THAT SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN: AND DAVID MADE HASTE TO GET AWAY
FOR FEAR OF SAUL; FOR SAUL AND HIS MEN COMPASSED DAVID AND HIS MEN ROUND
ABOUT TO TAKE THEM.
[1-Samuel 23:27] BUT THERE CAME A MESSENGER UNTO SAUL, SAYING, HASTE
THEE, AND COME; FOR THE PHILISTINES HAVE INVADED THE LAND.
<<A MESSENGER>> The Hebrew word "Malach" is used which word
also means
Angel. The Commentators point out that this messenger was indeed like
an angel of deliverance.
[1-Samuel 23:28] WHEREFORE SAUL RETURNED FROM PURSUING AFTER DAVID, AND
WENT AGAINST THE PHILISTINES: THEREFORE THEY CALLED THAT PLACE
SELAHAMMAHLEKOTH.
<<SELAHAMMAHLEKOTH>> In Hebrew "SELA" (The Rock) HAMMAHLEKOTH
"of
Division" but also meaning "dispute". The Sages said that at
this
point the heroes of Israel in the Camp of Saul disputed amongst themselves:
Some said that since David was almost in their grasp and the opportunity
might not return their first priority was to finish David off and then worry
about the rest of Israel. Others said that the well being of the
general populace was more important than anything else, the situation was
urgent and everything else must be put aside immediately while they went
at
once to save the nation (Midrash Shocher Tov 18)..
[1-Samuel 23:29] AND DAVID WENT UP FROM THENCE, AND DWELT IN STRONG
HOLDS AT ENGEDI.
On the occasion of his deliverance from the treachery of Ziph and
consequent near-escape from the hands of Saul david composed the following
Psalm:
Psalms 54
TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN ON NEGINOTH, MASCHIL, A PSALM OF DAVID, WHEN
THE
ZIPHIM [i.e. People of Ziph] CAME AND SAID TO SAUL, DOTH NOT DAVID HIDE
WITH US?
[Psalms 54:1] SAVE ME, O GOD, BY THY NAME, AND JUDGE ME BY THY STRENGTH.
[Psalms 54:2] HEAR MY PRAYER, O GOD; GIVE EAR TO THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH.
[Psalms 54:3] FOR STRANGERS ARE RISEN UP AGAINST ME, AND OPPRESSORS
SEEK AFTER MY SOUL: THEY HAVE NOT SET GOD BEFORE THEM. SELAH.
[Psalms 54:4] BEHOLD, GOD IS MINE HELPER: THE LORD IS WITH THEM THAT
UPHOLD MY SOUL.
[Psalms 54:5] HE SHALL REWARD EVIL UNTO MINE ENEMIES: CUT THEM OFF IN THY
TRUTH.
[Psalms 54:6] I WILL FREELY SACRIFICE UNTO THEE: I WILL PRAISE THY
NAME, O LORD; FOR IT IS GOOD.
[Psalms 54:7] FOR HE HATH DELIVERED ME OUT OF ALL TROUBLE: AND MINE EYE
HATH SEEN HIS DESIRE UPON MINE ENEMIES.
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