Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. XXIII.

Vers. 1. THen they told David, saying, behold the Philistines fight against Keilah, &c.] Keilah was in the land of Judah, Josh. 15.44. Being there∣fore now invaded by the Philistines their near neighbours, because David lay with his men not farre from them, in the forrest of Hareth, chap. 22.5. and so might af∣ford them that speedy succour which Saul could not, it seems that some body from them, or in their behalf, acquainted him with this, and desired his help.

Vers. 2. Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines?] Though David could not but be willing to approve his faith∣fulnesse both to Saul and his countrey, by seeking to help them against the Phili∣stines; and might well think that God would approve his fighting against Gods ene∣mies in the defence of his people: yet, because he was not yet actually king, and and used hitherto to go forth against them onely at Sauls command; and besides, he would not rashly go forth against the Philistines with so little strength, as he had now about him, without a speciall commission and promise from God, therefore he enquired of the Lord. But by whom? It is most likely that it was by Gad the pro∣phet, of whom mention is made before, that he was with David, chap. 22.5. for •••• seems, by verse 6. that Abiathar came not to him with the Ephod, till he was come to Keilah; but of this, see the note there.

Vers. 3. And Davids men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah &c.] In this speech of theirs, they labour to discourage David from going to Ke••∣lah; for, say they, being here in Judah, that is, in the midst of the land of J••••••▪ we are in continuall jeopardy and fear, to wit, least Saul or any of his troops sh•••••• come upon us, how much more dangerous must it then needs be for us to go ag•••••• such a potent enemy as the Philistines, and that even in the borders of their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 where we may happely be hemmed in with the Philistines before, and Sa•••••••• ••is men behind us.

Vers. 4. Thou David enquired of the Lord yet again.] Though David 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••••ly satisfied upon his first enquiring of God, having received that expresse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah: yet because his men were 〈◊〉〈◊〉

credulous and fearful, for their better satisfaction and encouragement, he enquired again.

Vers. 5. So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattell, &c.] That is, either the cattell which they had brought out of their own countrey for the provision of their armies (for Keilah lay close upon the land of the Philistines) or the cattell which the Israelites found in Palestina, the land of the Philistines, when having vanquished them at Keilah, they chased them a while in their own countrey.

Vers. 6. And it came to passe, when Abiathar the sonne of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an Ephod in his hand.] Which was more then if many thousand souldiers had come to David; for this bringing of the Ephod to him, was a visible pledge, that God had totally forsaken Saul, and would be with him to direct him in all his wayes: yea, and some conceive also, that this is here the rather expressed, to let us know how David enquired of the Lord, as in the foregoing verses, it is twice said he did, namely, by the preists wearing the Ephod, according to the judgement of Urim and Thummim: for by Abiathars coming to David to Keilah, they understand onely that he came to David when he was near about Keilah.

Vers. 9. And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him.] This word secretly makes it manifest that though Saul called the people together to besiege David & his men, as it is said in the foregoing verse, that is, with a purpose so to imploy them, yet he did not openly professe that, but pretended, he raised those forces to fight against the Philistines.

Vers. 11. And the Lord said, He will come down.] That is, if thou stayest here (for that it was which David desired to know, whether if he stayed in Keilah Saul would come against him) and doubtlesse had he stayed he would have come against him: for God knows future contingent things that shall never be, even what might be and would be, if he did not otherwise dispose of it.

Vers. 13. Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose, &c.] It seems the number of Davids followers still encreased: for before he had but foure hundred, chap. 22. but now he had six hundred with whom he departed out of Kei∣lah, and went whithersoever they could go; that is, being perplexed, and not know∣ing whither to go, they sought up and down for some place or other, to shelter them∣selves in.

Vers. 16. And Jonathan Sauls sonne arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.] That is, he laboured to make him comfortable and couragious, by putting him in mind of Gods promises, and Gods power, and by assuring him of Gods grace and favour towards him.

Vers. 17. Thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee.] To wit, by promise and covenant betwixt them: But God otherwise disposed of it▪ Jona∣than was taken to a better kingdome, and never lived to see David sit in the throne of Israel.

Vers. 18. And they two made a covenant before the Lord.] That is, a covenant confirmed by oath as in Gods presence.

Vers. 19. Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah saying, Doth not David

hide himself with us? &c. [Though David had lately driven the Philistines out of the land, yet like ungratefull wretches, partly to curry favour with Saul, partly per∣haps terrified with that severity wh••ch Saul had used against Nob, and the Priest of the Lord, chap. 22.18.19. they went to him, and discovered where David was in a wood near them, to wit in the wildernesse of Ziph. This no doubt sorely wounded Davids heart, that his own brethren of the tribe of Judah should deal thus treache∣rously with him. But therefore we see that God had immediately before this triall, sent Jonathan to comfort him, and strengthen his hand in God, ver. 16. that so he might be the better able to endure it, as captains use to encourage their souldiers be∣fore the fight, and as Physicians use to give some preparative before sharper physick, that it may not be too tedious and hard to be born: and indeed, that David did sup∣port himself now with hope in Gods promises, is evident by the 54. Psalme, which he composed at this time, as appears by the expresse words of the title of that Psalme; A Psalme of David when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?

Vers. 24. But David and his men were in the wildernesse of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.] For it was told David that the Ziphites had disco∣vered him, and that Saul with them and his army was coming to take him, as is ex∣pressed in the next verse they told David: and thereupon he left the wildernesse of Ziph, and fled to a plain in the wildernesse of Maon, which lay more southward from Jeshimon.

Vers. 29. And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Enge∣di.] Called aso Hazazon Tamar, 2. Chron. 20.2. a city of Judah, Josh. 15 62. It was it seems a place exceeding fruitfull for vines and other pleasant fruit, whence is that expression in Solomons song chap. 1.14. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi: but yet there was a wildernesse adjoyning to it, whither it was that David now fled, chap. 24.1.