The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 438

EXPOSITION. SAUL S PURSUIT OY DAVID IN THE WILDER· 0 a growing conviction, uot only in Jonathan's KESSOFZIPH (vers. 14-28). Vers.14, 15.- mind, but generally, that Jehovah had trans- Strong holds. Natural fortresses in the woods ferred the kingdom from Saul to David, and mountains are meant, and places diffi- and that consequently David's final suc- cult of access. The wilderness of Ziph. This cess was inevitable. He strengthened bis lay to the south of Hebron, upon the edge of (Da·vid's) hand in God. Such a visit, and the great dese1t of Judah (Josh. xv. 55). the expression of Jonathan's strong con- Saul sought him every de.y. The pursuit viction that Jehovah was with David, must -:was maintained constantly, with men ahvays necessarily have had a powerful moral effect spying David's movements, and ready to re- upon his mind. Under such trying circum- port to Saul ar.y opportunity of seizing him ; stances David must often have been tempted hut apparently there was no body of men at to despair; but the assurance of Jonathan's 1iresen t perpetually in quest of him. In a unbroken love for him,and the knowledge that wood. Many rightly regard this as a proper he and many more regarded him as chosen by 11ame. Horesh, and as the same place as the God to be Israel's king, woul:i revive his cour- mountain mentioned in ver. 14 ; for, as age and make him content to bear the hard- ·Conder remarks (' Tent ·work,' ii. 89), "a ships of his present lot. I shall be next nnto moment's reflection will convince any travel- thee. Had he not been killed in Mount ler that, as the dry, porous formation of the Gilboa, it seems that, unlike Ishbosheth, plateau must be unchanged since David's Jonathan would-have resigned all claim to the time, no wood of trees can then have flour- crown. But the feeling must often have dis- ished over this unwatered and sun-scorched tressed David, that the kingdom could be- region." come his only by dispossessing his trne and Vers. 16-18. - Jone.than . . . went to unselfish friend. Nor would such a regret be :David into the wood. To Horesh, as in ver. altogether removed by Jonathan's ready ac- 15. This visit suggests two things : the first, quiescence in it as God's will, though, as next that, o.fter the scene in eh. xxii. 8, Saul was to him, and beloved as he deserved, his posi- ..,siranged from his son, and treated him tion as the king's friend would have been 11 harshly, regarding him as a fellow-conspira- not unenviable one. Still, to be second where tor with David ; the second, that there was by right of inheritan~e he ~hould have been CH. XXIII, 14-29.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 446