1Sa 23:5 | KD | STEP | But his men said to him, “ Behold, here in Judah we are in fear (i.e., are not safe from Saul’s pursuit); how shall we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines? ” In order, therefore, to infuse courage into them, he inquired of the Lord again, and received the assurance from God, “ I will give the Philistines into thy hand .” He then proceeded with his men, fought against the Philistines, drove off their cattle, inflicted a severe defeat upon them, and thus delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. In a supplementary remark is added in explanation of the expression “ inquired of the Lord ,” to the effect that, when Abiathar fled to David to Keilah, the ephod had come to him. The words “ to David to Keilah ” are not to be understood as signifying that Abiathar did not come to David till he was in Keilah, but that when he fled after David ( ), he met with him as he was already preparing for the march of Keilah, and immediately proceeded with him thither. For whilst it is not stated in that Abiathar came to David in the wood of Hareth, but the place of meeting is left indefinite, the fact that David had already inquired of Jehovah (i.e., through the oracle of the high priest) with reference to the march to Keilah, compels us to assume that Abiathar had come to him before he left the mountains for Keilah. So that the brief expression “to David to Keilah,” which is left indefinite because of its brevity, must be interpreted in accordance with this fact.

‏ 1 Samuel 23:5

But his men said to him, “Behold, here in Judah we are in fear (i.e., are not safe from Saul’s pursuit); how shall we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?” In order, therefore, to infuse courage into them, he inquired of the Lord again, and received the assurance from God, “I will give the Philistines into thy hand.” He then proceeded with his men, fought against the Philistines, drove off their cattle, inflicted a severe defeat upon them, and thus delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. In 1Sa 23:6 a supplementary remark is added in explanation of the expression “inquired of the Lord,” to the effect that, when Abiathar fled to David to Keilah, the ephod had come to him. The words “to David to Keilah” are not to be understood as signifying that Abiathar did not come to David till he was in Keilah, but that when he fled after David (1Sa 22:20), he met with him as he was already preparing for the march of Keilah, and immediately proceeded with him thither. For whilst it is not stated in 1Sa 22:20 that Abiathar came to David in the wood of Hareth, but the place of meeting is left indefinite, the fact that David had already inquired of Jehovah (i.e., through the oracle of the high priest) with reference to the march to Keilah, compels us to assume that Abiathar had come to him before he left the mountains for Keilah. So that the brief expression “to David to Keilah,” which is left indefinite because of its brevity, must be interpreted in accordance with this fact.