The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 439

first would have been n very trying lot, and Jixity he encourages them still to keep a it was better for Jonathan that he should close watch upon all David's movements, so dio a soldier's death, even granting that he as to know his place where his haunt is. would hnve felt a lively joy in David's suc- Literally, "his place where his foot will be " cess and the glory of his empire. But their the place whither he goes for rest and refuge. love was to he expnsed to no vicissitunes, The reason he gives for this long and close and the two friends parted never to meet observation of David's doings is that it is told again - David remaining at Horesh, while him that he dealeth very sobtilly. That is, Jonathan returned to his home at GibeaL. according to Saul's information, he behaved Vers. 19, 20. -The Ziphitee. Rather, with the utmost prudence, ever keeping a "some Ziphites," or "people of Ziph," as careful look-out against surprise, and using there is no article. They tell Saul that much skill to conceal bis movements an,l to David was hiding in the fastnesses of the provide for bis escape from danger. Finally, wild region in their neighbourhood, ann they are to return with the certainty--with especially in the hill of Hachilah, a ijdge trustworthy and accurate infonnati0n, and that ran along eastward of Maon. Conder then Saul will gather his forces ann search recognises it _in the long ridge called El David out throughout all the thousands o! K6lah, running out of the Ziph plateau Judah. These are the larger divisions of the towards the Dead Sea desert. It lay on the territory of the tribe (Num. i. 16; x. 4), south of Jeshimon, or rather " on the right throughout which Saul will hunt for him hand of the desert." J eshimon is not a till he has got him in to his power. ;,roper name, but means any desert (Ps. cvii. Ver. 24.-While the Ziphites were con- 4 ; Isa. xliii. 19), though it is used specially fening with Saul and gathering information of the desert of Sinai in-Deut. xx.xii. 10, and David had moved about six miles to the of that of Judah here and in Num. xxi 20; south of Ziph, and was in the wildemeSB xxiii. 28. Conder (' Handbook,' p. 213) of Maon. This town is still called Main, calls it "the dreary desert which extends and occupies a conical hill, whence Robinson between the Dead Sea and the Hebron (' Bibi. Res.,' ii. 433) counted no less than mountains. It is called J eshimon, or ' Soli- nine cities belonging to the hill country of tude,' in the Old Testament, and 'wilderness Judah. Conder ('Tent Work,' ii. 90) calls of Judea' in the New (Matt. iii. 1). It is it a great hun1p of rock. In the plain on a plateau of white chalk, 2000 feet lower the south of Jeshimon. Literally, "iu the than the watershed, and terminated on the 'Ara bah to the right of the desert." The east by cliff's which rise vertically from the 'Arabah was the name of the low-lying Dead Sea shore to a height of about 2000 desert tract extending along the valley of feet. The scenery is barren and wild beyond the Jordan from the lake of Gennesareth tu all description. The chalky ridges are scored the Dead Sea. Maon lny upon the edge of by innumerable torrents, and their narrow this depression, in the southern portiou of ~rests are separated by broad flat valleys. the J eshimon or Solitude. Peaks and knolls of fan tn.stic forms rise Vcrs. 25, 26.-He came down into a rock. suddenly from the swelling downs, and mag- Hebrew, sela', a cliff or l'recipice. In the nificent precipices of ruddy limestone stand next verse it is described as a mountain, on up like fortress-walls above the sea. Not one side of which was David and his men, a tree nor a spring is visible in the waste, in full view of Saul and his army on the and only the desert partridge and the ibex other. But as Saul's forces were much more are found ranging the solitude. It was in numerous, they were preparing to separate, this pathless desert that David found refuge and so enclose David, while he made haste. rrom Saul's persecution, and the same has The word expresses anxiety and fear, and been a place of retreat from the days of may be trnnsiated, "And David sought Christ to the present time." The Ziphites anxiously to go from before the face oi assure Saul that from their knowledge of Saul." Condor's description of the spot this region they shall be able, if he come in (' Tent Work,' ii. 91) sets the whole scene force, so to guide him ns that David must most vividly before us. It is as follows : - fall into his hands. " Between the ridge of El K6lah (the ancient Vei·s. 21-23.-Ye have compassion on hill of Hachilah) and the neighbourhood 0£ me. Thero is something pitiable in Saul's Mo.on there is a great gorge called ' the auswer. He had brooded over his rejection Valley of Rocks,' a narrow but deep chasm, from being king, nnd the many iudications impassl\ble except by a detour of many miles, that David was to be his successor, till he so that Saul might have stood within sight had become the prey of abject melancholy. of David, yet quite unable to overtake his Ho evidently regarded himself as a wronged onemy ; and to this " cliff of division" the s.n<l injured man, while David to his disensed name Malaky now applies, a word closely imagination was ever conspiring against him approaching the Hebrew Mahlekoth. The and plotting his murder. With much pro- neighbourhood is seamed with many torrent.  44G THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. [Cl!. XXIII. 14-29.