The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 426

ilcring it of the produce of its harvest. This southern portion of the Shephelah (Josh. xv, fllace lay a few miles south of the strong- 44). Iiold of Adullarn, and itself occupied a de- Ver. 6. -When Abiathar . . . 11.ed to fensible position, being perched on a steep David to Xeilah, he came down with an hill overlooking the valley of Elah, not far ephod in his hand. Literally, ff an ephod from the thickets of Hareth (Conder, • Tent came down in his hand," and so, word for Work,' ii. SS). Being thus at no great dis- word, the Syriac. The object of this verse fance from the Philistine border, a band of is to explain how it was that David (in vers. men ~tarted thence on a foray for the purpose 2 and 4) was able to inquire of Jehovah. of robbing the threshing-11.oors. As no raiu The words to Xeilah- Hebrew, Ke lah- falls in Palestine in the harvest season (eh. wards-do not mean that it was at Keilah xii. 17), the corn is threshed out in the open that Abiathar joined David, but that he e.1r by a heavy wooden sledge made of two came in time to go thither with him. In boards, and curved up in front, with pieces of eh. xxii 20 it seems as if Abiathar must basalt inserted for teeth, drawn over it by have joined David even at an earlier date, horses, or it is trampled out by cattle. Con- for he is represented as fleeing to him imme- <ler (' Tent Work,' ii. 259) describes the diately after the massacre of the priests at threshing-floor as "a hroad flat space on Nob. Now, granting that David's stay at ope_n ground, generally high. Sometimes the Gath with Achish was very brief, he must floor is on a flat roc1.--y hill-top, and occasion- have remained at Adullam a considerable aJly it is in an open valley, down which time, inasmuch as men joined him there in there is a current of air; but it is always large numbers (eh. xxii. 2), which seems situated where most wind can be found, be- to show that his hiding-place had become cause at the threshing season high winds generally known. It was probably this con- never occur, and the grain is safely stored course of men to him that was "discovered," before the autumn storms commence." As i. e. made known, to Saul, and, as being an the grain after winnowing is made into heaps act of formal revolt, so raised his ire. As until it can be carried home, there is always being supposed to be in league with David, a period when the threshing-floors have to Saul put the priests to death, and Abiathar be 'IS"atched to guard them from depredation, fled; but probably the news of this terrible and this was the time chosen by the Philis- act had already reached David, and, in tines for a foray in force. anxiety about his father and mother, he ho.d Vcrs. 2-5.-David enqnired of Jehovah. gone to find refuge for them in Moab_ This seems to show that Abiathar was already Thither Gad follows him, bringing prophetic 1'ith David, as the prophet Gad had no appro,al of his conduct, but ordering him to ephod, and at this time, and for a consider- return into the territory of his own tribe. If able period subseqnently, the usual way of then David was on his way to Moab when consulting God was by the Urim and Thwn- Abiathar reached Adullam, he may have mim (see ver. 6). Though the answer was remained in hiding there till David's return a command to go, yet David's men hesi- to the thickets of Hareth. • But, possibly, tated ; not that they had any doubt of the even before Abiathar joined him the news immediate result, bnt, regarding Saul as their may have arrived of the Philistine foray, and most dangerons enemy, they were unwilling David's mind was set Keilah-wards. But to embroil themselves also with the Philis- there were those who doubted of the pru- tines. They argue, We be afraid here in dence of this proceeding, and Abiathar's Judah: why then should we close the Philis- arrival with the ephod enabled him to con- tine territory against us by attacking their sult Jehovah'a will. By his presence also armies! Hebrew, "ranks," men disciplined David had now the approval of the priest- and drawn up in array (see eh. xvii 22). In hood, order to remove these prudential doubts, Vers. 7, 8.-It was well-nigh a hopeless David again consults God, and being a second matter to hunt David o.s long as he remained time encouraged to undertake the rescue of 011 the borders of the desert of Judah, but Keilah, .proceeds thither with his men. This once shut up in a town his capture was in- attack, being uneicpected, was entirely snc- evitable. When Saul, therefore, heard that cessful The Philistines were driven back David was at Keilah, he said, God hath de- with great slaughter, and David brought livered him into my haud. The Syriac, away their cattle. The word signifies Chaldee, and Vulgate translate in the " small cattle,'' such as sheep and goats. same way, probably as the nee.rest equiva- Besides robbing the threshing-floors, the lent to the Hebrew, while the Septuagint Philistines apparently had been driving off has a different readi.ng-aold. The Hebrew tl1e flocks from the neighbouring pastures. phrase is a very strong one; literally, ff God Both Hareth, where David and his men hath ignored him," bath treated him WI a had lain hid in the thickets (eh. xxii. 5), stranger, and so let him fall "into my anrl Keilah were in the tribe of Judah, in the hand." Possibly Saul's metaphor WWI taken OR. XXIJI. 1-13.] TIIE FIRST BOOK OF 8,\J-!CEL.