Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

1 Samuel 23

Saul, having made himself drunk with the blood of the priests of the Lord, is here, in this chapter, seeking David’s life, who appears here doing good, and suffering ill, at the same time. Here is, I. The good service he did to his king and country, in rescuing the city of Keilah out of the hands of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 23:1-23:6. II. The danger he was thereby brought into from the malice of the prince he served and the treachery of the city he saved, and his deliverance, by divine direction, from that danger, 1 Samuel 23:7-23:13. III. David in a wood and his friend Jonathan visiting him there and encouraging him, 1 Samuel 23:14-23:18. IV. The information which the Ziphites brought to Saul of David’s haunts, and the expedition Saul made, in pursuit of him, 1 Samuel 23:19-23:25. The narrow escape David had of falling into his hands, 1 Samuel 23:26-23:29. “Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth them out of them all.” MHBCC 260.1