SAUL PURSUES DAVID When the enemies attacked ‘Keilah,’ its people looked at David and his few men (about 600 men) as their refuge; while disregarded Saul the official king with all his army, having lost their confidence in him. Many realized that David, the fugitive, worked for the sake and edification of the holy congregation; and that Saul did not care except for opposing David and chasing him without any reason; The wicked do not stand the children of God. Scholar Tertulian says: [The world does not stand the Church, so it persecutes it; while the Church loves the world and serves it. 1- David saves Keila 1 – 13. 2-David in the wilderness of Ziph 14. 3- A covenant with Jonathan 15 – 18. 4- Saul pursues David 19 – 29. 1- DAVID SAVES KEILAH David heard that the enemy attacked Keilah1, a city in the valley of Judah, close to the territory of the Philistines (Joshua 15: 44), about 3 miles away from the cave of Adullam, and 3 1/2 miles north-west of Hebron; called nowadays Kherbet- Keilah. The word Keilah in Hebrew means (a fortress) or (surrounded by a wall) 2. Saul did not move, probably because he was unable to protect his kingdom against the enemy as all his mental, psychological, and military energies, were wasted on planning to kill David. As a result of the anger that clouds the eyes; man sees his friends and helpers as enemies who should be opposed and got rid of; but forgets about the real enemy who destroys his life. David’s heart was inflamed with love for his brethren; So he inquired of the Lord - probably through Gad the prophet or Abiathar the priest - if he should go and attack the Philistines to save Keilah; and God’s response was positive. But, for his men were hesitant because of their few number, he inquired again of the Lord to make sure; and God’s response was the same. So, he and his men went and fought against the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, saved Keilah, and enjoyed a great spoil. Now David and his men realized why the Lord commanded them to depart from the stronghold, and to go to the land of Judah; as they were used by the Lord to save His children, thus preparing the way for David to reign. Saul lost all discernment and wisdom; He should have used the chance of David’s victory over the enemy, to be recon ciliated with him, to gain his support against the enemy; But, on the contrary he assumed that God rejected David saying: “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars”(1 Samuel 23: 7). He counted David’s entrance into Keilah, the fortified city (Joshua 11: 13), as a divine break given by the Lord to deliver his enemy into his hand. His saying “delivered him” in Hebrew implies that he became rejected by the Lord as a foreigner. It is something serious for man to lose the spirit of wisdom, to see things distorted and contrary to the truth. How would it be, if the spiritual leader loses that spirit, to cast himself, as well as Christ’s flock into perdition instead of security?. That 1 Westminster Dict. Of the Bible, p. 534. 2 Strong/s Exh. Concordance of the Bible, article 7084. 2 is why St. John Chrysostom believes that a priest should be prudent and knowledgeable in various fields; not less than those under him; and to be at the same time free of the world, more so than the monks of the wilderness1. Saul assumed that David would never escape from his hand having been shut in by the Lord; either the city will fall under siege, or its inhabitants will deliver him. He did not realize that the Lord, who granted David victory over the mighty Goliath, by a tiny smooth stone, was also able to save him. Saul called to himself all the men of war; while David resorted to the Lord, asking Abiathar to bring him the ephod - that was used when the priest used to enter into the sanctuary before God (Exodus 28: 29), and at inquiring something of the Lord concerning a certain issue (Exodus 28: 30). Inquiring of the Lord, David knew that Saul would seek to come to Keilah, and that the men of Keilah would deliver him to his enemy. How amazing is God’s exalted care for us: He granted David the victory over the enemy to save the city of Keilah; Yet He commanded him to escape from that same city, to avoid getting killed by Saul, who was far weaker than the enemy. Why? a- To let David realize that his victory was from the Lord; By Him he would conquer the strong enemy; but alone by himself, he would be helpless before the weak Saul... It is as though God meant for David to stay humble forever. b- To keep David from fighting against Saul and his army by which he would be an adversary to his own people, a disgrace for him. God, in His care, commanded David to go to Keilah to fight; and with that same care, he commanded him to depart from it, to live together with his men in the wilderness as fugitives; as it is said: “They arose and departed from Keilah, and went wherever they could go” (1 Samuel 23: 13) God in His care, grants us sometimes, conquest and victory; and by this same care, He opens before us a gate to escape danger. 2- DAVID IN THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH The honest shepherd got away from the laborer, who cared only for his own benefit, even at the expense of his flock. The Ziphites were also ready to deliver David; and, having told Saul about his hideouts in the wilderness of Maon and Saul starting to search for him, God allowed it for the Philistines to invade the land, in order to distract Saul from his search for David. We may give an excuse to the inhabitants of Keilah, having been a small city, unable to stand before Saul and his army; But as for those of Ziph, who feared David, and told Saul about his hideouts in some natural strongholds, they could have demanded from David to depart from their land, rather than to betray him. ‘Ziph’ was a city in the mountains of Judah (Joshua 15: 55), close to a wilderness and a forest, fortified by ‘Rehoboam’; called nowadays ‘Tel-Zeif,’ a plateau elevated 2882 feet above the sea level; 4 miles south-east of Hebron2. As the Ziphites came to Saul to say: “Is David not hiding with us?!,” David uttered his fifty-fourth psalm: “Save me, O God, by your name, and vindicate me by your strength. Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. For stangers have risen up against me, and oppressors have sought after my life. They have not set God before them” (Psalm 54: 1 - 3) St. Augustine believes that the word ‘Ziph’ means (adorned) or (flowering); as though those who betrayed David, were like grass, that would grow and flower, but 1 On Priesthood 6: 4. 2 Westminster Dict. Of the Bible, p. 1025. 3 would soon wither. The Ziphites assumed that they flowered or flourished by their treason to David; but their plan failed and they perished, while David got out of afflictions, a conqueror and victorious. Their treason neither benefited them nor harmed David. David was hiding at the beginning; while his enemies were flourishing. Behold the hiding David in the apostle’s words, concerning the members of Christ: “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3: 3). They were hiding (hidden in Christ); so when will they be flourishing? He says: “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3: 4). Then, those “hidden in Christ” will flourish, while the Ziphites will wither. Behold to which flower is the Ziphites compared: “All flesh is grass; and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field” (Isaiah 40: 6). What will be the end? “The grass withers; the flower fades” (Isaiah 40: 7). What will be the end of David? Behold what is said after that: “But the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40: 8). Do you want to be like the Ziphites? They flourish in the world, but fade and wither in eternity, to be cast in an everlasting fire; Would you wish to be like that?! Your Lord was hidden here; and so were the saints; as their goodness is hidden inside the heart, where faith, love, and hope, are; where their treasure is... All those good things are hidden; so is also their reward. St. Augustine1 3- A COVENANT WITH JONATHAN The last encounter between David and Jonathan, took place in the midst of those hard times (1 Samuel 23: 15 - 18). Jonathan remained true in his love and loyalty to his friend David, risking his life to see him, at a time when Saul’s hatred was at its maximum. It was impossible for Jonathan to offer anything to his friend; However, coming to him alone in secret, he offered him his love, that is beyond evaluation. He proclaimed to him that his only weapon was the company and promises of God, asking to become next to him, when the time would come for him to reign over Israel; In joy and pleasure, he said to him: “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you; Even my father Saul knows that” (1 Samuel 23: 17) They renewed their covenant before the Lord, and departed not to meet again in this world. Jonathan died before David ascended the throne of Israel. It was to be very difficult, not on Jonathan, but on David himself, to take the throne from such a loyal friend, who was ever ready to sacrifice his life for him. We do not know, what would have happened if Saul died alone, to leave David and Jonathan, the loving friends, who would never compete for the throne... But God allowed it for David to be spared of such difficult situation. 4- SAUL PURSUES DAVID We do not know why the Ziphites betrayed David; Was it out of their fear of Saul? They could have asked David to depart of their territory, to spare them any conflict with the king; Or had they done that out of hatred toward David? 1 On Ps. 54. 4 They informed Saul that David was hiding in the strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah (meaning dark or depressing); called nowadays “Bekin”; a height over the wilderness, from which man can see the mountains of ‘Ein-El- Gedi,’ the Dead Sea, and the mountains of Moab1. Saul was very pleased for what they did, counting it as something from the Lord, who showed him compassion against David’s assumed oppression; So he said to them: “Blessed are you of the Lord, for you have compassion on me” (1 Samuel 23: 21) So corrupted was his insight, to count himself as the oppressed party, and David as the oppressor; that he was the subject of the Lord, and David was the one rejected by Him; Therefore they were blessed for their compassion on the oppressed subject of the Lord! He asked the Ziphites to search for David’s footprints on the sand as they might do with a wild beast they chase. As the Ziphites, followed by Saul and his men, set forth searching for David, David set forth to the wilderness of Maon [called nowadays ‘Maen,’ 8 miles south of Hebron (Joshua 15: 55); It was the dwelling place of Nebal (1 Samuel 25: 2). The word ‘Maon’ means a (dwelling place)]. Saul went to one side of the mountain, while David went to the other side, and in between them was a rugged rocky domain, that was very difficult to cross. They were watching one another, but Saul could not reach him except by a long way around. He sent one party in one direction, and another in the other, in order to give David no chance to escape; Yet God granted him a way out; as a messenger came to Saul to say: “Hasten and come; For the Philistines have invaded the land” (1 Samuel 23: 27). It is said that the enemy had invaded his personal land; or else he would not have moved against them. It was called ‘Sakhret- El-Zelicat’ (the sliding rock); as there Saul slide, that is to say, stumbled, and so did not catch David. David ascended from there to dwell in ‘Ein-Gedi,’ in some natural strongholds of rocks and caves; previously called ‘Hazezon Tamar’ or (Strongholds of Tamar) (Genesis 14: 7; 2 Chronicles 20: 2), on the west bank of the Dead Sea, 35 miles away from Jerusalem, and one mile from the Dead Sea; with about 400 feet high above sea level. It is still called ‘Ein Gedi’ to this day, as it has a rich flowing spring, whose waters falls from up high, over a rocky mountain, before it goes down to a fertile land2.
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